NVS vs PFE: which was the better investment?
Novartis AG against Pfizer Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Nov 7, 1996 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did NVS beat PFE?
Yes — measured from Nov 7, 1996 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, NVS came out ahead: $131,272 versus $48,142 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 9.1% annual return against 5.4%.
What would $10,000 in NVS be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Novartis AG (NVS) on Nov 7, 1996 would be worth about $131,272 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 1212.7% (9.1% per year). The same $10,000 in PFE would be worth $48,142.
Which was riskier — NVS or PFE?
NVS swung with an annualized volatility of 21.3% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -42.7%; PFE ran at 26.5% volatility with a -69.3% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.33 for NVS vs 0.13 for PFE.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Nov 7, 1996 through Jul 13, 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 PFE. 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.