Pfizer vs Bristol-Myers Squibb: Stock Comparison
Data as of November 7, 2026. Refreshed weekly from SEC filings and market data.
Bristol-Myers Squibb is cheaper on earnings, at 13.8 times against 41.4; Bristol-Myers Squibb keeps the higher net margin (18.5% against 6.3%); Bristol-Myers Squibb grew revenue faster over the last year (4.2% against 1.3%); Pfizer pays the higher dividend yield (5.9% against 4.0%). Pfizer clears 4 of this site's 8 value filters and Bristol-Myers Squibb 6. Figures are as of November 7, 2026; each is on the page below with its source.
How do Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb compare on the numbers?
| Measure | Pfizer (PFE) | Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) | Clearer lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share price | $29.39 | $62.14 | |
| Market value | $167 billion | $128 billion | |
| P/E ratio (trailing) | 41.4 | 13.8 | BMY |
| PEG ratio | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 7.1% | 7.3% | About the same |
| Net profit margin | 6.3% | 18.5% | BMY |
| Revenue growth, last year | 1.3% | 4.2% | BMY |
| Return on equity | 4.6% | 43.9% | BMY |
| Debt to equity | 0.70 | 1.83 | PFE |
| Dividend yield | 5.9% | 4.0% | PFE |
| Margin of safety (DCF) | +17.0% | +19.3% | BMY |
| Value filters passed (of 8) | 4 | 6 | BMY |
| Distance from 52-week high | -4.5% | -8.7% |
How have Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb shares done against each other?
Pfizer 61Bristol-Myers Squibb 105
Each share price set to 100 on Nov 2021, to Nov 2026. Price only: dividends are not included.
From Nov 2021 to Nov 2026, Pfizer shares are down 39% and Bristol-Myers Squibb shares up 5%, so Bristol-Myers Squibb has pulled ahead of Pfizer by 44 points of the starting price. The deepest fall from a prior high in that window was 62% for Pfizer and 50% for Bristol-Myers Squibb.
| Period | Pfizer (PFE) | Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) |
|---|---|---|
| Last 1 year | +18.3% | +33.3% |
| Last 3 years | -5.7% | +17.7% |
| Last 5 years | -39.5% | +4.5% |
Which has grown faster, Pfizer or Bristol-Myers Squibb?
Over 5 years, Pfizer grew revenue 8.5% a year and earnings per share -3.6% a year; Bristol-Myers Squibb grew revenue 2.5% and earnings per share n/a. Its net margin averaged 18.6% at Pfizer and 8.5% at Bristol-Myers Squibb.
| Measure | Pfizer (PFE) | Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest fiscal year ended | Dec 2025 | Dec 2025 |
| Revenue, first year to latest | $41.7 billion to $62.6 billion | $42.5 billion to $48.2 billion |
| Revenue growth per year | 8.5% | 2.5% |
| Earnings per share, first year to latest | $1.63 to $1.36 | $-3.99 to $3.46 |
| Earnings per share growth per year | -3.6% | n/a |
| Net margin, latest year | 12.4% | 14.6% |
| Net margin, average of the years | 18.6% | 8.5% |
| Free cash flow margin, latest year | 14.5% | 26.7% |
From each company's 10-K filings (SEC EDGAR), over its latest 5 years.
What growth does each share price assume?
| Measure | Pfizer (PFE) | Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) |
|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow growth the price implies | 3.4% a year | 2.7% a year |
| Free cash flow per share | $2.07 | $4.51 |
| Margin of safety on this site's DCF | +17.0% | +19.3% |
At $29.39, Pfizer's price implies free cash flow growth of 3.4% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is less growth than the 8% baseline.
At $62.14, Bristol-Myers Squibb's price implies free cash flow growth of 2.7% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is less growth than the 8% baseline.
The same model and baseline as every stock page. A price that asks for less growth is not a better company, only a lower bar to clear.
Where is each stronger?
Where Pfizer leads
- Less debt for its equity: 0.70 against 1.83
- Higher dividend yield: 5.9% against 4.0%
- Faster revenue growth over its filed record: 8.5% against 2.5%
- A higher average net margin: 18.6% against 8.5%
Where Bristol-Myers Squibb leads
- Lower P/E: 13.8 against 41.4
- Higher net margin: 18.5% against 6.3%
- Faster revenue growth last year: 4.2% against 1.3%
- Higher return on equity: 43.9% against 4.6%
- Higher margin of safety on this site's DCF: +19.3% against +17.0%
- More of the 8 value filters: 6 against 4
- A higher net margin in its latest filed year: 14.6% against 12.4%
- A higher free-cash-flow margin in its latest filed year: 26.7% against 14.5%
About the same on: free-cash-flow yield. A lead needs a clear gap (10% apart on a ratio, 1 point on a percentage), so a rounding difference never names a winner. A lead on one measure is not a verdict on the company.
How do the businesses differ?
Pfizer. Pfizer develops and sells prescription drugs and vaccines across cancer, heart health, infections and rare disease, and expanded its cancer portfolio by buying Seagen in 2023.
Bristol-Myers Squibb. Bristol Myers Squibb develops and sells prescription medicines, with major products in cancer, blood disorders and heart disease.
Both are in the Pharmaceuticals industry on this site.
What stands out about Pfizer
- Misses 2 of the 8 value filters. It fails Trailing P/E < 25 (41.44) and EPS Growth YoY > -5% (-9.1%); the other 4 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- Strongest against peers: dividend yield. At 5.86% (peer median 2.29%) it ranks 1st of 11 among pharma & biotech stocks this site tracks.
- Weakest against peers: revenue growth. At 1.3% (peer median 6.5%) it ranks 13th of 15 among pharma & biotech stocks this site tracks.
What stands out about Bristol-Myers Squibb
- No filter fails. BMY passes 6 of the 8 value filters and 2 were not evaluated.
- The margin of safety is falling. It went from +55% on Oct 23 to +19% on Nov 7 across 4 weekly readings.
- Strongest against peers: P/E ratio. At 13.8× (peer median 37.6×) it ranks 2nd of 12 among pharma & biotech stocks this site tracks.
Frequently asked questions about Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb
Which is cheaper, Pfizer or Bristol-Myers Squibb?
On trailing earnings, Bristol-Myers Squibb is cheaper: Pfizer trades at 41.4 times and Bristol-Myers Squibb at 13.8 times. On free cash flow, the yields are 7.1% and 7.3%. Cheaper is not the same as better value: read the growth each price assumes below.
Which pays the higher dividend, Pfizer or Bristol-Myers Squibb?
Pfizer pays the higher yield: Pfizer 5.9% and Bristol-Myers Squibb 4.0% over the last year.
Which has grown faster, Pfizer or Bristol-Myers Squibb?
Over their latest filed five years, Pfizer grew revenue 8.5% a year and Bristol-Myers Squibb 2.5%; earnings per share grew -3.6% and n/a a year.
Which has more debt, Pfizer or Bristol-Myers Squibb?
Bristol-Myers Squibb has more debt for its equity: debt to equity is 0.70 for Pfizer and 1.83 for Bristol-Myers Squibb. A very high figure can also come from buybacks that shrank equity.
Which is more profitable, Pfizer or Bristol-Myers Squibb?
Bristol-Myers Squibb keeps more of each sales dollar as profit: 6.3% for Pfizer and 18.5% for Bristol-Myers Squibb, with a return on equity of 4.6% and 43.9%.
Which passes more of the 8 value filters?
Bristol-Myers Squibb clears more: Pfizer 4 of 8 and Bristol-Myers Squibb 6 of 8. The filters are this site's own value rules, not a prediction.
Where do these numbers come from?
Prices, ratios and yield are from this site's weekly data as of November 7, 2026; growth and margins by year are from each company's 10-K filings (sources on Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb). The DCF is the same model on every stock page. See Editorial Standards. Educational, not investment advice.