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AZN vs NVS
AZN vs NVS Stock Comparison: Oncology Momentum Clash
Key Takeaways
- AZN delivered 8% full-year 2025 revenue growth to $58.7B, driven by 14% oncology sales increase, with shares up ~69% over 52 weeks to near $206 highs.
- NVS achieved 9% revenue growth to $56.7B in 2025, but faces major 2026 generic pressures on Entresto; shares surged ~67% over 52 weeks to ~$163.
- Both stocks show low beta (AZN 0.19, NVS 0.46), offering defensive pharma exposure amid market volatility.
- AZN guides mid-high single-digit 2026 revenue growth with low double-digit core EPS; NVS eyes low single-digit sales amid patent cliffs.
- Pipeline catalysts abound: AZN's 20+ Phase 3 readouts vs NVS's seven pivotal trials, focusing on oncology and rare diseases.
- Tickeron AI models favor AZN for stronger revenue momentum and oncology trends in recent comparisons.
Introduction
AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS), two global biopharmaceutical leaders, offer compelling comparisons for investors navigating the healthcare sector's blend of innovation and patent risks. Both companies dominate oncology and cardiovascular markets, but differ in growth trajectories amid recent earnings beats and 2026 outlooks. Traders eyeing relative performance may appreciate AZN's oncology surge versus NVS's diversified portfolio facing generic headwinds. Long-term investors could weigh AZN's ambitious $80B revenue target by 2030 against NVS's margin resilience. This analysis dissects their business models, recent momentum, and market positioning to inform stock comparison decisions in today's environment.
AZN Overview and Recent Performance
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN), a UK-based biopharma giant, focuses on oncology, rare diseases, and bioPharmaceuticals, with key products like Tagrisso, Imfinzi, and Enhertu driving growth. In recent market activity, AZN reported full-year 2025 revenue of $58.7 billion, up 8% (9% product sales), powered by 14% oncology growth to $25.6 billion. Q4 revenue hit $15.5 billion, up 4%, with core EPS at $2.12 despite headwinds like U.S. pricing pressures. Shares rallied to 52-week highs near $206.71 from $122 lows, reflecting multi-year gains and positive Phase III data in respiratory and cancer trials. Sentiment boosted by 16 Phase III successes (~$10B peak sales potential), EU nods for Imfinzi, and a $50B U.S. investment plan, offsetting China procurement risks.
NVS Overview and Recent Performance
Novartis AG (NVS), headquartered in Switzerland, specializes in innovative medicines across immunology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular-renal-metabolism, with Sandoz generics complementing its portfolio. Recent quarters saw 2025 full-year revenue reach $56.7 billion, up 9%, with core margins hitting 40.1% ahead of targets. Q4 sales grew 1% to $13.3 billion, impacted by Entresto generics, though core operating income rose 14%. Stock climbed to 52-week peaks around $163 from $97 lows, up ~53% yearly, fueled by Vanrafia Phase III data in IgA nephropathy and radioligand expansions. Performance reflects pipeline wins like Rhapsido traction, tempered by 2026's largest-ever generic losses on Entresto and others.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
AZN and NVS share biopharma DNA but diverge in models: AZN's oncology-heavy focus (44% of sales) contrasts NVS's broader Innovative Medicines (75%) plus Sandoz generics, exposing NVS more to patent cliffs. Growth drivers highlight AZN's edge—14% oncology momentum vs NVS's 8% full-year sales amid Entresto erosion—while both eye mid-term catalysts (AZN's $80B 2030 goal vs NVS's seven 2026 readouts). Recent momentum favors NVS's 53% 52-week gain over AZN's 39%, but AZN's lower beta (0.19 vs 0.46) signals superior stability. Risks tilt toward NVS's 2026 generic wave (low single-digit sales) versus AZN's resilient guidance; sector exposure overlaps in cardio-onco but AZN leads rare disease. Sentiment leans bullish on AZN's pipeline breadth amid U.S./China investments, while NVS benefits from margin strength (40%+ core).
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models currently favor AZN over NVS, citing superior trend consistency in revenue growth (11% recent quarters vs NVS 7-11%), oncology catalysts, and relative stability amid NVS generic pressures. AZN's low-beta positioning and 20+ Phase 3 readouts enhance probabilistic upside, though NVS's pipeline could narrow the gap post-2026. This reflects observable momentum, not advice.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is AZN is a StrongBuy and NVS is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
AZN’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileNVS’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- AZN’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- NVS’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
AZN’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while NVS’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AZN’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
- NVS’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
AZN (@Pharmaceuticals: Major) experienced а +0.15% price change this week, while NVS (@Pharmaceuticals: Major) price change was -0.67% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Pharmaceuticals: Major industry was +0.22%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +2.11%, and the average quarterly price growth was +2.84%.
Reported Earning Dates
AZN is expected to report earnings on Jul 27, 2026.
NVS is expected to report earnings on Jul 21, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Pharmaceuticals: Major (+0.22% weekly)The Major Pharmaceuticals industry includes companies that are involved in various processes of creating drugs to treat/prevent diseases. These companies engage in research, testing and manufacturing, as well as the distribution of pharmaceuticals into markets. Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer Inc. and Novartis are among the largest companies in this category.
| AZN | NVS | AZN / NVS | |
| Capitalization | 288B | 285B | 101% |
| EBITDA | 20.1B | 22.4B | 90% |
| Gain YTD | 102.273 | 11.459 | 893% |
| P/E Ratio | 28.00 | 21.37 | 131% |
| Revenue | 60.4B | 56.6B | 107% |
| Total Cash | 7.68B | 6.98B | 110% |
| Total Debt | 33.9B | 47B | 72% |
AZN | NVS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 20 | 40 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 13 Undervalued | 5 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 4 | 7 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 41 | 27 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 38 | 49 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 55 | 37 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 39 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
NVS's Valuation (5) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is in the same range as AZN (13). This means that NVS’s stock grew similarly to AZN’s over the last 12 months.
AZN's Profit vs Risk Rating (4) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is in the same range as NVS (7). This means that AZN’s stock grew similarly to NVS’s over the last 12 months.
NVS's SMR Rating (27) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is in the same range as AZN (41). This means that NVS’s stock grew similarly to AZN’s over the last 12 months.
AZN's Price Growth Rating (38) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is in the same range as NVS (49). This means that AZN’s stock grew similarly to NVS’s over the last 12 months.
NVS's P/E Growth Rating (37) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is in the same range as AZN (55). This means that NVS’s stock grew similarly to AZN’s over the last 12 months.
| AZN | NVS | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | 5 days ago 58% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 73% | 2 days ago 52% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 50% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 68% | 2 days ago 42% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 43% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 48% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 57% | 2 days ago 51% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 45% | 5 days ago 45% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 55% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 47% |
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NVS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, NVS has been loosely correlated with GSK. These tickers have moved in lockstep 63% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if NVS jumps, then GSK could also see price increases.