AZN vs ABBV vs MRK Stock Comparison

Astrazeneca, AbbVie and Merck Prices as of Nov 3, 2026 Peers: Industry group
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AZN Astrazeneca Plc
$183.90 +17.2% 1M +12.5% 1Y
Market cap
$293.19B
P/E
26.6x
Revenue (TTM)
$59.37B
Div. yield
–
Pharmaceuticals Healthcare
5 wins
ABBV AbbVie Inc.
$285.97 +8.8% 1M +34.9% 1Y
Market cap
$520.19B
P/E
50.3x
Revenue (TTM)
$66.01B
Div. yield
–
Pharmaceuticals Healthcare
5 wins
MRK Merck & Co., Inc.
$144.68 +0.3% 1M +75.4% 1Y
Market cap
$370.06B
P/E
116.6x
Revenue (TTM)
$66.57B
Div. yield
0.02%
Pharmaceuticals Healthcare
1 win

Head to Head

11 decided of 12

AbbVie leads on 5 of the 12 questions below (AbbVie 5, Astrazeneca 5, Merck 1). Which ones matter depends on what you are buying for; a cheap multiple and slow growth often come together.

QuestionAZNABBVMRKLeader
Larger companyMarket capitalisation $293.19B $520.19B $370.06B ABBV
Cheaper on earningsLower P/E, profitable companies only 26.6x 50.3x 116.6x AZN
Cheaper on forward earningsLower price / next fiscal year consensus EPS 18.4x 21.4x 58.3x AZN
Faster revenue growthRevenue growth, trailing twelve months +7.8% +10.7% +4.6% ABBV
More profitableNet margin, trailing twelve months 18.6% 15.7% 4.8% AZN
Better return on capitalReturn on invested capital 24.1% 24.3% 3.6% ABBV
Less leveragedLower net debt / EBITDA -0.9x 2.4x 3.6x AZN
Higher dividend yieldTrailing dividend yield 0.00% 0.00% 0.02% –
Better 1-year returnPrice return, last 12 months +12.5% +34.9% +75.4% MRK
Better 5-year returnAnnualised price return, 5 years +7.6%/yr +19.6%/yr +9.8%/yr ABBV
Less volatileAnnualised volatility, 1 year 28.4% 25.4% 29.7% ABBV
Higher overall scoreMean of the five percentile scores vs peers 75/100 70/100 61/100 AZN

Percentile Scorecard

AZNABBVMRK

Each axis is the mean percentile of its metrics against the company's industry group. 100 is the best in the group, 50 the middle.

Scores by Axis

AxisAZNABBVMRK
Valuation 85 #94 of 634 91 #59 of 634 80 #131 of 634
Growth 60 #246 of 607 69 #192 of 607 37 #386 of 607
Profitability 94 #36 of 557 96 #23 of 557 91 #53 of 557
Financial Health 66 #224 of 654 16 #550 of 654 20 #521 of 654
Shareholder Returns 69 #126 of 401 80 #82 of 401 80 #83 of 401
Overall 75 70 61
  • AZN ranked among 671 companies in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
  • ABBV ranked among 671 companies in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
  • MRK ranked among 671 companies in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology

Price Performance

Price return, split-adjusted, before dividends. Click a name to hide or show it.

Returns

PeriodAZNABBVMRKSPY
1 month +17.2%+8.8%+0.3% -2.0%
3 months +18.2%+17.3%+13.0% -2.2%
6 months +1.5%+38.7%+27.9% +4.2%
Year to date +0.0%+25.2%+37.5% +10.6%
1 year +12.5%+34.9%+75.4% +10.4%
3 years +43.8%+102.2%+39.9% +73.6%
3 years, per year +12.9%+26.5%+11.9% +20.2%
5 years +44.1%+144.3%+59.8% +61.6%
5 years, per year +7.6%+19.6%+9.8% +10.1%
10 years +231.5%+411.7%+147.6% +261.3%
10 years, per year +12.7%+17.7%+9.5% +13.7%

Risk

MeasureAZNABBVMRKSPY
Volatility, 1Y 28.4%25.4%29.7% 12.8%
Downside volatility, 1Y 27.2%23.8%24.3% 12.8%
Beta vs S&P 500, 1Y 0.13-0.140.09 1.00
Return / volatility, 1Y 0.441.372.54 0.81
Max drawdown, 5Y -27.9%-24.3%-44.7% -25.4%
From 52-week high -12.2%-2.7%-7.5% -3.2%
52-week high $209.48$293.80$156.45 $779.14
52-week low $155.60$197.38$82.49 $631.97

Valuation History

Weekly multiples on trailing twelve-month fundamentals. Negative or extreme readings (a loss year, a collapsed denominator) are left out so the chart stays readable.

MultipleAZNABBVMRK
P/E now vs peer median 25.8xmedian 18.4x 48.9xmedian 18.4x 112.6xmedian 18.4x
P/S now vs peer median 4.8xmedian 9.0x 7.7xmedian 9.0x 5.4xmedian 9.0x
EV/EBITDA now vs peer median 12.5xmedian 16.0x 19.9xmedian 16.0x 30.8xmedian 16.0x
P/FCF now vs peer median 26.8xmedian 21.8x 26.8xmedian 21.8x 22.2xmedian 21.8x
P/B now vs peer median 5.5xmedian 2.1x -110.3xmedian 2.1x 8.5xmedian 2.1x
PEG now vs peer median 1.12median 0.37 2.94median 0.37 70.89median 0.37

Financial History

Reported figures by fiscal period, placed on the calendar year (or quarter) each period ended in, so companies with different fiscal years line up.

Trailing twelve monthsAZNABBVMRK
Revenue $59.37B $66.01B $66.57B
Gross profit $51.12B $48.67B $48.57B
Operating income $14.78B $21.23B $6.38B
Net income $11.03B $10.35B $3.17B
Free cash flow $10.63B $18.87B $16.06B
R&D $15.30B $9.96B $30.45B
EPS (diluted) $7.06 $5.84 $1.28
Cash & equivalents $7.94B $10.77B $6.85B
Total debt -$11.96B $80.90B $53.91B
Shares (diluted) 1.56B 1.77B 2.47B
Enterprise value $267.08B $488.20B $324.43B

All Metrics

58 metrics · best in bold

Bold marks the best reading: the lowest positive value for multiples, leverage and payout, the highest for everything else. The bar under each value is its percentile against that company's own peers. Hover a value for its rank and the peer median.

Valuation

12 metrics
MetricAZNABBVMRK
P/E 25.8x 48.9x 112.6x
P/FCF 26.8x 26.8x 22.2x
P/Operating cash flow 21.5x 25.2x 17.9x
P/S 4.8x 7.7x 5.4x
P/B 5.5x -110.3x 8.5x
P/Tangible book 20.9x -8.3x 21.0x
EV/EBITDA 12.5x 19.9x 30.8x
EV/EBIT 17.9x 27.1x 63.3x
EV/Revenue 4.5x 8.7x 6.1x
EV/FCF 24.9x 30.5x 25.1x
EV/Operating cash flow 20.0x 28.7x 20.2x
PEG (3Y EPS CAGR) 1.12 2.94 70.89

Growth

14 metrics
MetricAZNABBVMRK
Revenue growth (1Y) 7.8% 10.7% 4.6%
Revenue CAGR (3Y) 10.3% 6.2% 4.5%
Gross profit growth (1Y) 6.7% 17.0% -0.3%
Gross profit CAGR (3Y) 12.3% 10.3% 4.5%
Operating income growth (1Y) 15.4% 134.9% -66.6%
Operating income CAGR (3Y) 22.4% 12.1% 1.9%
Net income growth (1Y) 17.3% 331.9% -80.7%
Net income CAGR (3Y) 23.2% 16.6% 0.5%
EPS growth (1Y) 17.5% 333.1% -80.3%
EPS CAGR (3Y) 23.2% 16.6% 1.6%
Operating cash flow growth (1Y) -12.6% -3.7% 7.7%
Operating cash flow CAGR (3Y) – -7.7% 9.8%
Free cash flow growth (1Y) -22.8% -4.1% 9.1%
Free cash flow CAGR (3Y) – -8.6% 14.0%

Profitability

14 metrics
MetricAZNABBVMRK
Gross margin 86.1% 73.7% 73.0%
EBITDA margin 35.7% 43.9% 19.7%
Operating margin 24.9% 32.2% 9.6%
Pretax margin 22.4% 19.4% 8.9%
Net margin 18.6% 15.7% 4.8%
FCF margin 17.9% 28.6% 24.1%
Operating cash flow margin 22.3% 30.4% 30.0%
Return on equity 21.6% – 7.2%
Return on assets 9.4% 7.3% 2.5%
Return on invested capital 24.1% 24.3% 3.6%
Return on capital employed 9.9% 21.6% 6.3%
Asset turnover 0.5x 0.5x 0.5x
Cash conversion (OCF / net income) 1.2x 1.9x 6.3x
Stock comp / revenue – 1.4% 1.3%

Financial Health

11 metrics
MetricAZNABBVMRK
Debt / assets -10.0% 54.8% 41.5%
Debt / equity -0.2x -17.7x 1.3x
Net debt / EBITDA -0.9x 2.4x 3.6x
Debt / FCF -1.1x 4.3x 3.4x
Liabilities / assets 56.8% 103.1% 67.7%
Equity / assets 43.2% -3.1% 32.3%
Interest coverage 16.1x – –
Current ratio -1.0x 0.9x 1.3x
Quick ratio -0.8x 0.6x 0.7x
Cash ratio -0.3x 0.2x 0.3x
Altman Z-score 4.20 2.71 3.88

Shareholder Returns

7 metrics
MetricAZNABBVMRK
Dividend yield 1.3% 2.4% 2.4%
Net buyback yield 0.0% 0.3% 1.1%
Shareholder yield 1.3% 2.7% 3.5%
Payout ratio (earnings) – – 261.8%
Payout ratio (FCF) – – 51.7%
Dividend growth (1Y) – – 3.3%
Dividend CAGR (3Y) – – 4.7%

Analyst Estimates

Solid lines are reported fiscal-year results; dashed lines are the consensus for the years ahead. Hover a year for the analysts' high and low, and how each result compared with its estimate.

ConsensusAZNABBVMRK
Forward P/E 18.4xFY2026 21.4xFY2026 58.3xFY2026
EPS, next fiscal year $10.00FY2026 $13.38FY2026 $2.48FY2026
EPS growth, next FY +9.2%FY2026 +33.8%FY2026 -72.4%FY2026
EPS growth, the year after +6.1% +25.8% +257.3%
Revenue, next fiscal year $59.02BFY2026 $69.55BFY2026 $69.45BFY2026
Revenue growth, next FY +0.5%FY2026 +13.7%FY2026 +6.8%FY2026
Revenue growth, the year after +8.0% -0.6% -3.8%

Institutional Ownership

13F filings, quarter ended Jun 30, 2026
HoldersAZNABBVMRK
Held by institutions 52.1% 74.9% 79.9%
Institutions holding 1,498 4,180 3,802
Change in shares held, QoQ +7.8% +2.6% +2.6%
Institutions buying 809 2,204 1,843
Institutions selling 469 1,506 1,468
Buyers to sellers 1.72 1.46 1.26

Return Correlation

Daily returns, last 12 months

1.00 means two stocks move in lockstep, 0 that they move independently. Pairs below about 0.5 diversify each other.

AZNABBVMRK
AZN 1.00 0.43 0.50
ABBV 0.43 1.00 0.42
MRK 0.50 0.42 1.00

Add a Peer

Largest companies in the same industry

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is bigger, AZN, ABBV and MRK?

AbbVie (ABBV) is the largest by market capitalisation: Astrazeneca (AZN) $293.19B, AbbVie (ABBV) $520.19B, Merck (MRK) $370.06B.

Which stock is cheaper, AZN, ABBV and MRK?

Astrazeneca (AZN) trades on the lowest price-to-earnings ratio (Astrazeneca (AZN) 26.6x, AbbVie (ABBV) 50.3x, Merck (MRK) 116.6x). On next year's consensus earnings, Astrazeneca (AZN) is cheapest (Astrazeneca (AZN) 18.4x, AbbVie (ABBV) 21.4x, Merck (MRK) 58.3x). A lower multiple can reflect slower expected growth, so read it next to the growth figures.

Which company is growing faster?

AbbVie (ABBV) grew revenue fastest over the trailing twelve months: Astrazeneca (AZN) +7.8%, AbbVie (ABBV) +10.7%, Merck (MRK) +4.6%.

Which company is more profitable?

Astrazeneca (AZN) has the highest net margin (Astrazeneca (AZN) 18.6%, AbbVie (ABBV) 15.7%, Merck (MRK) 4.8%). On return on invested capital, AbbVie (ABBV) leads (Astrazeneca (AZN) 24.1%, AbbVie (ABBV) 24.3%, Merck (MRK) 3.6%).

Which stock has performed better?

Over the past year Merck (MRK) returned the most: Astrazeneca (AZN) +12.5%, AbbVie (ABBV) +34.9%, Merck (MRK) +75.4%. Over five years, AbbVie (ABBV) compounded fastest (Astrazeneca (AZN) +7.6%/yr, AbbVie (ABBV) +19.6%/yr, Merck (MRK) +9.8%/yr). Returns are price only, before dividends.

Which pays a higher dividend?

Only one of these companies pays a dividend: Astrazeneca (AZN) 0.00%, AbbVie (ABBV) 0.00%, Merck (MRK) 0.02%. Astrazeneca (AZN) and AbbVie (ABBV) pays no regular dividend.

Which stock is riskier?

By one-year price volatility, AbbVie (ABBV) has been the steadiest (Astrazeneca (AZN) 28.4%, AbbVie (ABBV) 25.4%, Merck (MRK) 29.7%). Volatility measures how widely the price swings, not the risk of the business.

Which is the better stock, AZN, ABBV and MRK?

There is no single answer; it depends on what you are buying for. On the 12 head-to-head measures on this page, AbbVie (ABBV) leads on 5. Business Quant does not give investment advice; use the comparison as a starting point for your own research.

Data from SEC filings, exchange prices and consensus estimates, via Business Quant. Percentile scores compare each company with its own peer group, so two companies' scores are each relative to different peers unless you rank against the whole market. Price returns exclude dividends. Nothing on this page is investment advice.