COMPARE · Data as of August 24, 2026
AZN vs NVS
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. AZN scored 74.5, NVS scored 53.4 — AZN leads.
Compare another set
AZN
AstraZeneca PLC
74.5
$166.71 · $258.5B
fundamentals as of
Score gap
21.1
AZN leads
NVS
Novartis AG
53.4
$158.02 · $300.4B
fundamentals as of
At a glance · who leads each dimension, on the model's own rules
- CheapestNVS24.0x
- Fastest growthAZN+8.6%
- Strongest balance sheetAZN0.64
- Highest qualityNVS87 / 100
- Largest discount to fair valueNVS-4%
Side by side · every name on one set of axes
Growth against the P/E multiple. Up and to the right is cheaper and faster — the quality-growth idea in one picture. Points beyond the axis are pinned to the edge and marked off-scale rather than allowed to compress everything else.
The model, pillar by pillar (0–100 each)
AZN
stronger →← stronger
NVS
78
Qualityreturns · margins · balance sheet
87
78
Growthrevenue & earnings expansion
68
68
Valuevaluation vs sector peers
26
AZN is stronger on 2 of 3 pillars.
Fundamentals, head-to-head
AZN
NVS
$11.8bA-
FCF
$17.6bA-
+8.6%B
Rev
+8.4%B
0.64C+
D/E
1.17C
24.9xB
P/E
24.0xB+
1.43B
PEG
3.63D
Winner per row is the stronger grade; where grades tie, the better figure breaks it. A true tie or a missing value shows no highlight.
Valuation · DCF cross-check
AZN
NVS
20% above
Price vs fair valuelower is cheaper
4% below
~13%/yr
Growth the price implies10-yr FCF · lower = less priced in
~7%/yr
-27%
1-yr DCF upside
-7%
-17%
5-yr DCF upside
+4%
+0%
10-yr DCF upside
+21%
These two disagree on this pair: the Value pillar ranks cheapness against sector peers, while price-vs-fair-value is an absolute read. A name can be the better value in its sector and still the dearer one on cash flows.
The DCF is a cross-check on intrinsic value, separate from the quality-growth score above.
Model signals
AZN
Why this score
- Raising its dividend
NVS
Why this score
- Buying back stock
- Raising its dividend
The companies
AZNAstraZeneca PLC
Why now
Drug Manufacturers - General · market cap $258.5b. Down 22% from 52-week high of $212.71 — deep drawdown territory. 10 sell-side analysts rate this a Strong Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $213.99 (implying +28% upside).
Moat
Net margin 17% beats the market median by a meaningful margin — the company is keeping more of every revenue dollar than the average S&P constituent. ROE 21% sits above Buffett's preferred 15% threshold — the equity base is compounding at a rate the market struggles to discount accurately. FCF converts 115% of net income — earnings translate cleanly into cash, a sign that working capital and capex are well-disciplined.
Risk
Trial-readout binary — late-stage clinical trials carry approve/reject outcomes that swing valuation 30%+; the equity is effectively a portfolio of these binary events, not a steady cash-flow business.
NVSNovartis AG
Why now
Drug Manufacturers - General · market cap $300.4b. 7% off the 52-week high of $170.46. 11 sell-side analysts rate this a Hold with a mean 1-yr target of $157.15 (implying -1% upside).
Moat
Net margin 26% sits well above the S&P median (~11%) — suggests structural pricing advantage or cost discipline competitors can't quickly close. ROE 30% — top-decile capital efficiency. Either pricing leverage, low capital intensity, or aggressive buybacks; the durability story depends on which. FCF converts 126% of net income — earnings translate cleanly into cash, a sign that working capital and capex are well-disciplined.
Risk
Trial-readout binary — late-stage clinical trials carry approve/reject outcomes that swing valuation 30%+; the equity is effectively a portfolio of these binary events, not a steady cash-flow business.
Verdict — model-derived comparison
Generating verdict… typically 5–10 seconds
Not investment advice. The Bull Rankings publishes a quantitative ranking model and accompanying analysis for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security; nothing is personalized to your circumstances, risk tolerance, or tax situation. Investing carries the risk of loss — invest at your own risk and consider consulting a licensed financial professional before acting on anything you read here. See terms and methodology for full disclosures.
Where AZN and NVS diverge
On the headline score the gap is 21.1 points in favor of AZN. They get there differently, though — each leads on a different pillar, so the better pick depends on which you weight.
- ValueAZN 67.5 · NVS 25.8AZN +41.7
- GrowthAZN 78.5 · NVS 68.3AZN +10.2
- QualityAZN 78.1 · NVS 86.5NVS +8.4
Pillars run 0–100 against sector peers, so a score is a statement about a company relative to its own industry rather than to the other name here. A wide Value gap usually means the market already prices the difference in quality or growth — which is the trade-off this comparison comes down to.