LIVE
PFE
Pfizer Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
$25.62
-0.23% this month
VERSUS
⟷
COMPARE
MRNA
Moderna, Inc. · Biotechnology
$47.60
-12.42% this month
AI Score
41.2vs43.0
MRNA ↑1Y Return
+9.72%vs+73.34%
MRNA ↑Forward P/E
9.18xvs-11.28x
MRNA ↑Target Upside
+12.09%vs-8.94%
PFE ↑Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
PFE
2
MRNA
3
Metrics last refreshed: 6/9/2026
Quick take
PFE vs MRNA: Pfizer vs Moderna Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Pfizer is a large diversified pharmaceutical company managing the post-COVID revenue normalization while building out ADC oncology through the Seagen acquisition; Moderna is a much smaller, more concentrated mRNA platform company still highly dependent on COVID vaccine revenue while racing to commercialise its pipeline. Pfizer is the defensive value position; Moderna is the higher-risk, higher-potential-reward platform bet.
Use this PFE vs MRNA comparison to choose between large-cap pharma value and mRNA platform optionality. Pfizer offers a high dividend yield and diversified revenue while navigating COVID headwinds; Moderna offers exposure to the mRNA platform's broader potential, anchored by a potentially landmark personalised cancer vaccine, at the cost of significant cash burn risk.
Live analysis · updated 6/9/2026
MRNA holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. MRNA leads on both 1-year return (+73.34%) and forward P/E (-11.28x vs 9.18x for PFE), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. On fundamentals, MRNA is growing revenue faster (260.20%), while PFE maintains the higher operating margin (31.62%) — a classic growth-versus-profitability split. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for PFE (+12.09%) than for MRNA (-8.94%).
Comparison scoreboard
MRNA LEADS 3/5AI Score
PFE 41.2
MRNA ✓43.0
1Y Return
PFE +9.72%
MRNA ✓+73.34%
Fwd P/E
PFE 9.18
MRNA ✓-11.28
Target Up.
PFE ✓+12.09%
MRNA -8.94%
Op. Margin
PFE ✓31.62%
MRNA -131.10%
Normalized 1Y performance
PFE
MRNA
Recent returns
PFE
MRNA
Analyst price targets & sentiment
PFE · 23 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (2.4/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$23.00
analyst high$42.00
analyst mean$29.19
current price$25.62
+12.1% upside to analyst mean
MRNA
Price target range
analyst mean$43.20
current price$47.60
-8.9% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
PFE may suit investors who:
- →Want a high-dividend-yield large-cap pharma with a diversified product portfolio
- →Value ADC oncology exposure through the Seagen acquisition as a pipeline catalyst
- →Prefer a more defensive pharma position with established blockbuster revenue
- →Are patient with post-COVID revenue normalisation as a temporary headwind, not a structural decline
MRNA may suit investors who:
- →Want exposure to the mRNA platform's potentially transformative impact beyond COVID vaccines
- →Believe mRNA-4157 personalised cancer vaccine could be a landmark product if Phase 3 confirms Phase 2 data
- →Have a higher risk tolerance and are comfortable with meaningful cash burn during the pipeline build-out period
- →View Moderna as a biotech platform investment rather than a traditional dividend pharma holding
Performance & AI score
| Metric | PFE | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 41.2 | 43.0 |
| AI rank | #1001 | #835 |
| Latest close | $25.62 | $47.60 |
| 1M return | -0.23% | -12.42% |
| 6M return | -1.58% | +71.84% |
| 1Y return | +9.72% | +73.34% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | PFE | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $10.69K (+6.9%) started 2025-06-09 | $16.92K (+69.2%) started 2025-06-09 |
| 5Y ago | $9.56K (-4.4%) started 2021-06-09 | $2.19K (-78.1%) started 2021-06-09 |
| 10Y ago | $17.63K (+76.3%) started 2016-06-09 | $25.59K (+155.9%) started 2018-12-07 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | PFE | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $148.41B | $18.82B |
| Trailing P/E | 19.88 | N/A |
| Forward P/E | 9.18 | -11.28 |
| Price/Sales | 2.13 | N/A |
| EV/Revenue | 3.17 | 6.70 |
| Analyst target | $29.19 | $43.20 |
| Target upside | +12.09% | -8.94% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | PFE | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 5.40% | 260.20% |
| Earnings growth | -10.10% | N/A |
| EPS growth | -10.10% | N/A |
| FCF margin | +19.55% | -0.90% |
| Operating margin | 31.62% | -131.10% |
| Profit margin | 11.83% | -143.55% |
| ROIC proxy | 8.31% | -36.56% |
| Return on equity | 8.31% | -36.56% |
| Dividend yield | 6.61% | N/A |
| Beta | 0.29 | 1.03 |
| Debt/equity | 71.60 | 17.52 |
| Current ratio | 1.25 | 2.41 |
| Quick ratio | 0.85 | 2.23 |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
PFE max drawdown11.47%
MRNA max drawdown35.51%
PFE max wkly drop9.46%
MRNA max wkly drop19.17%
5Y risk snapshot
PFE max drawdown58.96%
MRNA max drawdown95.38%
PFE max wkly drop11.19%
MRNA max wkly drop33.81%
10Y risk snapshot
PFE max drawdown58.96%
MRNA max drawdown95.38%
PFE max wkly drop15.34%
MRNA max wkly drop33.81%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | PFE | MRNA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +6.88% | +69.15% |
| CAGR | +6.91% | +69.53% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.21 | 1.07 | |
| Max drawdown | 11.47% | 35.51% | |
| Max daily drop | 3.98% | 8.28% | |
| Max wkly drop | 9.46% | 19.17% | |
| 5Y | Growth | -22.28% | -78.11% |
| CAGR | -4.92% | -26.21% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.25 | -0.20 | |
| Max drawdown | 58.96% | 95.38% | |
| Max daily drop | 6.72% | 21.01% | |
| Max wkly drop | 11.19% | 33.81% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +11.57% | +155.91% |
| CAGR | +1.10% | +13.34% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.02 | 0.47 | |
| Max drawdown | 58.96% | 95.38% | |
| Max daily drop | 7.73% | 21.01% | |
| Max wkly drop | 15.34% | 33.81% |
Business comparison
| Category | PFE | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Pfizer Inc. | Moderna, Inc. |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Drug Manufacturers - General | N/A |
| Core business | One of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. Products include Paxlovid (COVID antiviral), Eliquis (blood thinner), Prevnar (pneumococcal vaccine), Vyndaqel (ATTR-cardiomyopathy), and an extensive oncology, rare disease, and vaccine pipeline. Recent acquisitions include Seagen (ADC oncology). | Biotechnology company focused on mRNA medicines. Currently markets Spikevax (COVID vaccine) and Mresvia (RSV vaccine for older adults). Extensive pipeline includes influenza, personalised cancer vaccines (with Merck), CMV, and rare disease programs. |
| Investor focus | Post-COVID revenue floor stabilisation, non-COVID business growth, Seagen ADC oncology ramp, pipeline productivity, cost restructuring, and dividend sustainability. | mRNA pipeline beyond COVID — RSV launch, flu vaccine combination, personalised cancer vaccine (mRNA-4157) data, and cash burn management against the product timeline. |
PFE strengths
- →Massive diversified pharmaceutical portfolio with multiple blockbuster drugs across therapeutic areas
- →Seagen acquisition positions Pfizer as a leader in antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) oncology — a high-growth area
- →One of the highest dividend yields among large-cap pharma, backed by substantial free cash flow
MRNA strengths
- →Pioneered commercial mRNA medicine with COVID vaccines — unique platform expertise and manufacturing know-how
- →mRNA-4157 personalised cancer vaccine (with Merck) is potentially the most significant oncology catalyst in years
- →RSV vaccine approval establishes the second commercial mRNA product and validates the broader platform
Risks to watch — PFE
- →COVID product revenues (Paxlovid, Comirnaty) declined sharply from pandemic peaks and have been volatile
- →Heavy M&A has increased debt levels, requiring successful execution to justify acquisition premiums
- →Patent cliff risk on several major products over the next few years requires pipeline to fill revenue gaps
Risks to watch — MRNA
- →COVID vaccine revenues continue declining — Moderna is burning significant cash as it awaits pipeline approvals
- →mRNA-4157 cancer vaccine timeline risk — Phase 3 results needed to confirm Phase 2 signal before commercial reality
- →Competition in RSV vaccine market (GSK, Pfizer Abrysvo) limits Mresvia's revenue upside
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