Amgen vs. Novo Nordisk: Which Pharma Giant Is the Better Buy?

Core Insights - Amgen (AMGN) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) are leading companies in the pharmaceutical industry, with Amgen focusing on oncology and rare diseases, while Novo Nordisk specializes in diabetes and obesity treatments [1][2] Group 1: Amgen (AMGN) - Amgen has a diverse portfolio with strong growth products such as Repatha, Prolia, and Xgeva, which have helped offset declines in legacy drug sales [3][4] - The acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics has expanded Amgen's rare disease offerings, adding drugs like Tepezza and Krystexxa [4] - Amgen is developing an obesity drug, MariTide, which is in late-stage trials and has shown promising weight loss results, although slightly below investor expectations [5][6] - The company has a strong pipeline with drugs targeting various therapeutic areas, including bemarituzumab for gastric cancer and olpasiran for cardiovascular disease [7] - Amgen has launched biosimilars for popular drugs and is developing more in the oncology space [8] - Despite growth prospects, Amgen faces pricing pressures and expected declines in sales for some of its best-selling drugs due to patent expirations [9] Group 2: Novo Nordisk (NVO) - Novo Nordisk leads the GLP-1 market with a 54% market share, driven by successful products like Ozempic and Wegovy [12] - The company is expanding its manufacturing capacity to support the growing demand for its diabetes and obesity treatments [13] - Novo is pursuing new indications for semaglutide, which could enhance its market position [14] - However, the company faces competition from Eli Lilly and challenges related to disappointing data from its next-generation obesity drug, CagriSema [15][16] - A leadership transition is underway as CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen steps down, which may impact investor sentiment [16] - Novo is also working to expand its rare disease portfolio, with plans to submit a regulatory filing for Mim8 [17] Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - Amgen's 2025 sales and EPS estimates suggest a 5% year-over-year increase, with positive revisions in the past 60 days [18] - In contrast, Novo's 2025 sales and EPS estimates imply a significant increase of around 20% and 21%, respectively, although 2026 EPS estimates have declined [20] - Year-to-date, Amgen's shares have gained 17%, while Novo's shares have dropped 22%, against a 3% decline in the industry [21] - From a valuation perspective, Novo Nordisk trades at a higher P/E ratio of 15.51 compared to Amgen's 14.5 [22] - Amgen offers a higher dividend yield of 3.1% compared to Novo's 2.5% [26] Group 4: Investment Considerations - Both companies hold a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), making it challenging to choose one over the other [28] - Amgen is viewed as a better pick due to its diversified portfolio and attractive valuation, despite facing short-term challenges [29] - Novo Nordisk's strong revenue growth in the GLP-1 space is tempered by limited diversification and ongoing challenges [30]