GILEAD SCIENCES, INC. vs NOVO NORDISK A/S, two Drug Manufacturers stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
What is priced in runs backwards from the operating facts: Gilead at 17.3 times earnings carries the higher multiple over Novo Nordisk's 14.2, despite Novo earning the better margins, 41.3% operating against 37.2%, and the better returns, 52.8% on equity against 39.2% (Gilead's assisted by a full turn of debt where Novo carries none). Both are antiviral-and-metabolic franchises at scale, $160B and $213B. Gilead pays the visible 2.5% dividend and yields 6.4% in free cash against 4.1%. The three-turn premium on the weaker margins is the market pricing HIV-franchise stability above GLP-1 franchise growth-with-competition; a strange season, when the defensive asset is the drugmaker without the obesity drug.
Comparison updated 2026-07-10.
| Metric | GILD | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $127.25 | $48.01 |
| Market cap | $159.6B | $213.3B |
| Sector | Drug Manufacturers | Drug Manufacturers |
| Stage | Mature | Growth |
| Implied growth (priced in) | -0.5% | — |
| P/E | 17.3 | 14.2 |
| P/B | 6.79 | 7.47 |
| P/S | 5.37 | 4.69 |
| EV/EBITDA | 17.1 | 10.0 |
| Revenue growth | +3.5% | +22.1% |
| Gross margin | — | 81.0% |
| Operating margin | 37.2% | 41.3% |
| Net margin | 31.0% | 33.1% |
| Return on equity | 39.2% | 52.8% |
| Return on assets | 16.4% | 18.9% |
| Return on invested capital | 17.3% | 51.6% |
| FCF yield | 6.4% | 4.1% |
| Dividend yield | 2.5% | — |
| Debt / equity | 1.00 | 0.00 |
| Current ratio | 1.97 | 0.80 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 7.23 | 4.25 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 6 / 9 | 4 / 9 |
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The stronger value is highlighted per metric where one is strictly better on that single number; it is not an overall verdict on either company. For informational and research purposes only. Not investment advice. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. boothcheck is not a registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results.