AstraZeneca plc vs Novartis AG — how do they compare? AstraZeneca plc trades at $166.66 (market cap $253.13B), while Novartis AG trades at $150.12 (market cap $288.65B). The key difference: AstraZeneca plc and Novartis AG are close in size by market cap, and Novartis AG pays the higher dividend (3.15%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AZN | NVS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $253.13B | $288.65B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $209.48 | $168.62 |
52-Week Low | $137.44 | $113.50 |
Enterprise Value | $279.37B | $328.67B |
Dividend Yield | 1.92% | 3.15% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AstraZeneca (AZN) trades at $169.47, down 1.25% amid recent volatility following a Phase III trial failure for Wainua. The stock shows bearish technical signals with key support at $168 and resistance at $170. Fundamentally, the company reported strong 2025 results with revenue of $58.74B and net income of $10.23B, though a recent $1.5B licensing deal for a lung cancer drug highlights ongoing pipeline investments. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 47.5% buy ratings but recent downgrades from firms like HSBC citing trial setbacks.
The outlook balances robust financials against pipeline execution risks. Revenue growth and high margins support valuation, but the Wainua failure raises concerns about future catalysts. Investors should weigh the company's strong cash flow and market position against clinical trial volatility and potential legal investigations. Near-term price action may hinge on Q2 2026 earnings due July 27, 2026.
Novartis (NVS) trades at $153.37, down 0.44% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported $56.67B revenue in 2025 with strong profitability margins (net income margin 23.92%) and recently expanded its oncology pipeline through acquisitions like Myricx Bio. Earnings have been mixed, with a miss in Q1 2026 but a beat in Q4 2025.
Outlook remains stable with revenue projections near $56.6B for 2026, though debt-to-asset ratio has risen to 30.26%. Risks include pipeline execution and competitive pressures. Analysts show cautious optimism with 68% hold ratings, reflecting balanced growth and valuation concerns.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A merger between Astra of Sweden and Zeneca Group of the United Kingdom formed AstraZeneca in 1999. The firm sells branded drugs across several major therapeutic classes, including gastrointestinal, diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer, and immunology. The majority of sales come from international markets with the United States representing close to one third of its sales.
Read more on AZN →Novartis develops and manufactures healthcare products through two segments: Innovative Medicines and Sandoz. It generates the vast majority of its revenue from Innovative Medicines segment consisting global business franchises in oncology, ophthalmology, neuroscience, immunology, respiratory, cardio-metabolic, and established medicines. The company sells its products globally, with the United States representing close to one third of total revenue.
Read more on NVS →