NVS vs NVO: which was the better investment?
Novartis AG against Novo Nordisk A/S on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Nov 7, 1996 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did NVS beat NVO?
No — measured from Nov 7, 1996 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, NVO came out ahead: $966,546 versus $128,931 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 16.6% annual return against 9.0%.
What would $10,000 in NVS be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Novartis AG (NVS) on Nov 7, 1996 would be worth about $128,931 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 1189.3% (9.0% per year). The same $10,000 in NVO would be worth $966,546.
Which was riskier — NVS or NVO?
NVS swung with an annualized volatility of 21.3% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -42.7%; NVO ran at 31.2% volatility with a -74.7% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.33 for NVS vs 0.47 for NVO.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Nov 7, 1996 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with NVS vs NVO. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.