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Pfizer (PFE) explained: how it makes money, how it's doing, what protects it

A plain-English guide to the company behind Eliquis, Prevnar and Comirnaty. See what it sells, where the money goes, who it competes with and what protects it.

⚡What does Pfizer do, in 30 seconds?

Pfizer discovers, makes and sells medicines and vaccines worldwide through its Biopharma business 23. It took in $62.6bn ✓ in FY2025, and its Biopharma business brought in 98% ✓ of that. Its largest product in 2025 was Eliquis, a blood thinner it developed with Bristol-Myers Squibb 303.

Revenue, FY2025
$62.6bn✓
Profit, FY2025
$7.8bn✓
Sales growth, 4 quarters to 27 Sep 2026
1.3%✓
Net cash (cash and investments minus borrowings; leases and stakes in other companies not counted), 27 Sep 2026
-$51.7bn✓
Headquarters
New York City 221
Founded
1849, by Pfizer's own account 33
Employees
About 75,000 at December 31, 2025 21
CEO
Albert Bourla, since January 2019 31
Sold in
About 200 countries and territories 5
Fiscal year ends
31 December for US units, 30 November for units outside the US 19

📱What does Pfizer sell?

Pfizer reports one main business, Biopharma, which brings in almost all of its money. A small contract-manufacturing arm makes up the rest. Here is what each one is and who pays for it.

💊

Biopharma

Biopharma finds, makes and sells Pfizer's medicines and vaccines, and it brought in $61.2bn ✓ in FY2025. It has three groups: Primary Care with $26,820 million of revenue in 2025, Specialty Care with $17,546 million and Oncology with $16,834 million 23. Primary Care sells Eliquis for blood clots, migraine medicines, vaccines such as Prevnar and Comirnaty, and Paxlovid for COVID-19 4. Specialty Care sells medicines for immune diseases and rare diseases, such as the Vyndaqel family for a heart and nerve disease 43. Oncology sells cancer medicines such as Ibrance, Xtandi and Padcev 4.

👥 Pfizer sells its prescription medicines mainly to wholesalers, and also to hospitals, pharmacies, clinics and governments 5. Its three largest US wholesaler customers in 2025 were McKesson (25% of Pfizer's revenue), Cencora (16%) and Cardinal Health (13%) 3.

🏭

Other: contract manufacturing

Pfizer CentreOne develops and makes medicines for other companies and supplies special drug ingredients 23. It had $1,338 million of revenue in 2025, and Pfizer Ignite, a research service Pfizer chose to close, had $41 million 23. Together, everything outside Biopharma came to $1.4bn ✓ in FY2025.

👥 Drug companies that hire Pfizer to develop or make their medicines, or that buy its drug ingredients 23.

How the mix has shifted

Revenue mix by productFY2023Biopharma: $58.2bn (98%)Biopharma 98%Other: $1.3bn (2%)FY2024Biopharma: $62.4bn (98%)Biopharma 98%Other: $1.2bn (2%)FY2025Biopharma: $61.2bn (98%)Biopharma 98%Other: $1.4bn (2%)
Revenue mix by productFY23Biopharma: $58.2bn (98%)98%Other: $1.3bn (2%)FY24Biopharma: $62.4bn (98%)98%Other: $1.2bn (2%)FY25Biopharma: $61.2bn (98%)98%Other: $1.4bn (2%)BiopharmaOther
Share of revenue by business line, by fiscal year. Source: PFIZER INC 10-K filed 2026-02-26.

Where the customers are

The United States brings in most of Pfizer's money, $37.1bn ✓ or 59% ✓ in FY2025. Rich countries outside the US added 26% ✓, and emerging markets 15% ✓. China was Pfizer's largest market outside the US in 2025, at 5% of total revenue 5.

Revenue by regionUnited States$37.1bn 59% of salesDeveloped markets outside the US$16.2bn 26% of salesEmerging markets$9.3bn 15% of sales
Revenue by regionUnited States$37.1bn 59%Developed markets outside the US$16.2bn 26%Emerging markets$9.3bn 15%
Revenue by region, FY2025. Source: PFIZER INC 10-K filed 2026-02-26.

💸How does Pfizer make money?

Follow the money: what customers pay for, what it costs to make, and what is left as profit.

Money map FY2025: how revenue turns into profitBiopharma → Revenue: $61.2bnOther → Revenue: $1.4bnRevenue → Gross profit: $46.5bnRevenue → Cost of sales: $16.1bnGross profit → Operating profit: $16.3bnGross profit → R&D: $10.4bnGross profit → Selling & admin: $13.8bnGross profit → Other operating costs: $6.0bnOperating profit → Net income: $7.5bnTax credit → Net income: $0.3bnOperating profit → Other costs: $8.8bnBiopharma$61.2bn · 98%Other$1.4bn · 2%Revenue$62.6bnGross profit$46.5bn · 74%Cost of sales$16.1bn · 26%Operating profit$16.3bn · 26%R&D$10.4bn · 17%Selling & admin$13.8bn · 22%Other operating costs$6.0bn · 10%Net income$7.8bn · 12%Other costs$8.8bn · 14%Tax credit$0.3bn · <1%
Money map FY2025: how revenue turns into profitBiopharma: $61.2bnOther: $1.4bnBiopharma$61.2bn · 98%Other$1.4bn · 2%Revenue: $62.6bnRevenue$62.6bn · 100%Gross profit: $46.5bnCost of sales: $16.1bnGross profit$46.5bn · 74%Cost of sales$16.1bn · 26%Operating profit: $16.3bnR&D: $10.4bnSelling & admin: $13.8bnOther operating costs: $6.0bnOperating profit$16.3bn · 26%R&D$10.4bn · 17%Selling & admin$13.8bn · 22%Other operating costs$6.0bn · 10%Net income: $7.8bnTax credit, added to profit: $0.3bnOther costs: $8.8bnNet income$7.8bn · 12%Tax credit, added to profit$0.3bn · <1%Other costs$8.8bn · 14%
Money map (a Sankey diagram): band widths are to scale. Hover a band for the amount. Source: PFIZER INC 10-K filings.

Pfizer took in $62.6bn ✓ from its medicines and vaccines in FY2025. Making them cost $16.1bn ✓. What is left is gross profit, the money kept after paying for what was sold. That came to $46.5bn ✓.

Next come the costs of running the company. Research and development took $10.4bn ✓, and selling, marketing and admin took $13.8bn ✓. Other operating costs took $6.0bn ✓. What remains is operating profit, the profit from the main business, which was $16.3bn ✓. Items outside the main business, such as interest costs, came to -$8.8bn ✓. Tax came to -$0.3bn ✓, a small credit rather than a bill. That left net income of $7.8bn ✓. Put simply, out of every hundred dollars of sales, Pfizer kept about $12 ✓ as profit and spent $17 ✓ on research.

Out of every $100 customers paid in FY2025…

Making the products and services $26Research and development $17Selling and admin $22Other operating costs $9Other costs (interest and losses) $14Profit kept $12
💡
Pfizer is almost a one-business company: Biopharma made up 98% ✓ of FY2025 sales. Inside it, Eliquis was the biggest product, with $7,961 million of revenue in 2025 303. Pfizer shares Eliquis profits and losses equally with Bristol-Myers Squibb in most countries 303.

⏱️ Pfizer by the clock

Spread the FY2025 totals evenly over its 365 days and you get this. Source: PFIZER INC 10-K [6].

🛒
$171m
in sales every day
⏱️
$246
of profit every second
🔬
$29m
on research every day
🎁
$27m
handed to shareholders every day

📈How is Pfizer doing?

Pfizer's sales barely moved in FY2025 and in the four quarters to 27 September 2026, after a big swing up and down. Sales were $62.6bn ✓ in FY2025, down 1.6% ✓ on FY2024. Operating margin was 26.1% ✓, so about a quarter of sales became operating profit. Free cash flow was $9.1bn ✓, down from $9.8bn ✓ in FY2024.

The swing shows in the yearly numbers. Sales jumped 95.2% ✓ in FY2021 and reached $101.2bn ✓ in FY2022. Then they fell 41.1% ✓ to $59.6bn ✓ in FY2023, when operating margin dropped to just 3.1% ✓.

In the four quarters to 27 September 2026, sales were $63.6bn ✓, up 1.3% ✓ on the four quarters before. Operating margin was 24.9% ✓. In the third quarter of 2026, revenue was $16.6 billion, about flat on a year earlier 19. Leaving out Comirnaty and Paxlovid, it grew 7% excluding currency effects 19. Eliquis revenue rose 25% and Padcev revenue rose 55% in that quarter, excluding currency effects 19. Paxlovid revenue fell 63% and Comirnaty revenue fell 29% on the same basis 19. On November 3, 2026, Pfizer raised its 2026 revenue forecast to $62.0 to $64.0 billion 19.

From FY2018 to FY2025, sales grew 6.3% ✓ a year on average. Sales rose in 5 ✓ of those 7 ✓ years.

📝 The report card

Pfizer earns middle marks for profit and cash, and low marks for growth, debt and steadiness. Every company is graded on the same fixed scale, so an A means the same thing on every page. The strip shows where Pfizer (orange) and its 4 peers land; further right is better.

F

Growth

Sales growth per year, last 3 fiscal years
-14.8% · peer median 4.4%
#5 of 5 in the peer group
A ≥ 15.0%B ≥ 10.0%C ≥ 5.0%D ≥ 0.0%F below 0.0%

Pfizer's yearly sales growth over its last three fiscal years was -14.8% ✓, so sales shrank, which earns an F ✓. That period starts from FY2022, when sales were $101.2bn ✓. Eli Lilly grew 31.7% ✓ a year over the same years, an A ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Growing sales is the engine of a business. Mature giants rarely grow fast, so 5% a year already earns a C.

C

Profitability

Operating margin, last 3 years combined
17.8% · peer median 24.7%
#5 of 5 in the peer group
A ≥ 30.0%B ≥ 20.0%C ≥ 10.0%D ≥ 5.0%F below 5.0%

Over the last three years combined, Pfizer kept 17.8% ✓ of sales as operating profit, which earns a C ✓. FY2023 holds it down, with an operating margin of just 3.1% ✓. In FY2025 alone the margin was 26.1% ✓. The peer median was 24.7% ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Operating margin is the share of each sales dollar left after running the business. Software and platforms often clear 30%; hardware makers usually sit below 10%.

C

Cash generation

Free cash flow as a share of sales, last 3 years combined
12.8% · peer median 21.2%
#4 of 5 in the peer group
A ≥ 20.0%B ≥ 15.0%C ≥ 10.0%D ≥ 5.0%F below 5.0%

Over the last three years combined, Pfizer turned 12.8% ✓ of sales into free cash flow, which earns a C ✓. AbbVie earns an A ✓ at 33.6% ✓, while Eli Lilly earns a D ✓ at 9.4% ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Free cash flow is the cash left after paying for factories, data centres and equipment. It funds dividends, buybacks and new bets.

F

Balance sheet

Net cash (cash and investments minus borrowings; leases and stakes in other companies not counted) as a share of a year's sales
-87.0% · peer median -53.0%
#4 of 5 in the peer group
A ≥ 20.0%B ≥ 5.0%C ≥ -10.0%D ≥ -30.0%F below -30.0%

At the end of FY2025, Pfizer's net cash (cash and investments minus borrowings; leases and stakes in other companies not counted) was -87.0% ✓ of a year's sales, an F ✓. In dollars, net cash was -$54.5bn ✓, because borrowings were larger than cash and investments. AbbVie also earns an F ✓, at -91.9% ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

More cash than debt gives a company room to ride out bad years. Some debt is normal; a lot of it makes a company fragile.

F

Steadiness

How much yearly sales growth swings (standard deviation, up to 10 years)
41.5% · peer median 10.5%
#5 of 5 in the peer group
A ≤ 5.0%B ≤ 8.0%C ≤ 12.0%D ≤ 18.0%F above 18.0%

Pfizer's yearly growth swings a great deal, with a standard deviation of 41.5% ✓, which earns an F ✓. Sales grew 95.2% ✓ in FY2021 but fell 41.1% ✓ in FY2023. Johnson & Johnson is the steadiest peer at 2.2% ✓, an A ✓.

Why this measure? (lower is better)

Steady growers are easier to plan around. Big swings mean sales depend on product cycles, the economy or one-off events.

🧑‍🏫 How the grades work
  1. Same scale for everyone. Each measure has fixed cut-offs (shown under each strip). Clear the A line and you get an A, whatever your peers do.
  2. Three years together. Profitability and cash generation add up the last three fiscal years before dividing, so one unusual year counts for less than it would on its own (a year much bigger than the others still weighs most).
  3. Peers for context. The rank shows how Pfizer compares with the group. Companies within 0.1 percentage point share a rank.
  4. Same source. Every company's figures come from its own latest annual report (10-K), so fiscal years end in different months.
  5. Judgement, openly stated. The cut-offs are QuantVantage.ai's view of what good looks like for a large, established company. They are not a forecast or a recommendation.

8 years at a glance

Revenue
$62.6bn
FY2025
Revenue by fiscal yearFY2018: $40.8bnFY2019: $40.9bnFY2020: $41.7bnFY2021: $81.3bnFY2022: $101.2bnFY2023: $59.6bnFY2024: $63.6bnFY2025: $62.6bnFY2018FY2025
Operating margin
26.1%
FY2025
Operating marginFY2018FY2025
Free cash flow
$9.1bn
FY2025
Free cash flow by fiscal yearFY2018: $13.8bnFY2019: $10.5bnFY2020: $12.2bnFY2021: $29.9bnFY2022: $26.0bnFY2023: $4.8bnFY2024: $9.8bnFY2025: $9.1bnFY2018FY2025
Net cash
-$54.5bn
end of FY2025
Net cash by fiscal yearFY2018: -$22.4bnFY2019: -$42.2bnFY2020: -$28.2bnFY2021: -$14.0bnFY2022: -$16.3bnFY2023: -$64.5bnFY2024: -$52.4bnFY2025: -$54.5bnFY2018FY2025

Where the cash goes

Over the 8 fiscal years from FY2018 to FY2025, Pfizer paid out less cash than its free cash flow. It spent $93.8bn ✓ on buybacks and dividends, against $116.2bn ✓ of free cash flow. It bought back no shares in FY2025, with buybacks of $0 ✓, but paid $9.8bn ✓ in dividends. That equalled 108% ✓ of its free cash flow that year.

Free cash flow vs cash returned to shareholders$0bn$10bn$20bn$30bnFY2018 free cash flow $13.8bnFY2018 buybacks + dividends $20.2bnFY18FY2019 free cash flow $10.5bnFY2019 buybacks + dividends $16.9bnFY19FY2020 free cash flow $12.2bnFY2020 buybacks + dividends $8.4bnFY20FY2021 free cash flow $29.9bnFY2021 buybacks + dividends $8.7bnFY21FY2022 free cash flow $26.0bnFY2022 buybacks + dividends $11.0bnFY22FY2023 free cash flow $4.8bnFY2023 buybacks + dividends $9.2bnFY23FY2024 free cash flow $9.8bnFY2024 buybacks + dividends $9.5bnFY24FY2025 free cash flow $9.1bnFY2025 buybacks + dividends $9.8bnFY25
Free cash flow vs cash returned to shareholders$0bn$10bn$20bn$30bnFY2020 free cash flow $12.2bnFY2020 buybacks + dividends $8.4bnFY20FY2021 free cash flow $29.9bnFY2021 buybacks + dividends $8.7bnFY21FY2022 free cash flow $26.0bnFY2022 buybacks + dividends $11.0bnFY22FY2023 free cash flow $4.8bnFY2023 buybacks + dividends $9.2bnFY23FY2024 free cash flow $9.8bnFY2024 buybacks + dividends $9.5bnFY24FY2025 free cash flow $9.1bnFY2025 buybacks + dividends $9.8bnFY25
■ Free cash flow   ■ Buybacks + dividends. Source: PFIZER INC 10-K filings.

🧮Ratios 101: what are Pfizer's key financial ratios?

Ratios shrink Pfizer's big numbers into easy comparisons, and they show high gross margins, more borrowings than cash and a large asset base. A ratio divides one number by another so companies of any size can be compared. Each card shows the formula with Pfizer's real FY2025 numbers, the peer median and the trend.

💰 Profitability: how much of each sale is kept?

Higher is better

Gross margin

74.3%
Gross profit$46.5bn$62.6bnSales=74.3%

What is left from each sale after paying to make the product or deliver the service.

👉 At 74.3% ✓, Pfizer is a little above the 72.5% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 40% usually signals pricing power or a big software or services mix.

Peer median 72.5% (4 peers)FY2019 80.3%
Gross margin by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025
Higher is better

Operating margin

26.1%
Operating profit$16.3bn$62.6bnSales=26.1%

What is left after also paying for research, marketing and running the company.

👉 Pfizer's 26.1% ✓ is below the 30.5% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 20% is strong for a large company.

Peer median 30.5% (4 peers)FY2019 39.5%
Operating margin by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025
Higher is better

Net margin

12.4%
Net income$7.8bn$62.6bnSales=12.4%

The bottom line: profit after interest and taxes, per dollar of sales.

👉 Pfizer kept 12.4% ✓ of sales as final profit, far below the 28.3% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 15% is strong; one-off tax items can move it in a single year.

Peer median 28.3% (4 peers)FY2019 39.2%
Net margin by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025
It depends

Return on equity (ROE)

9.0%
Net income$7.8bn$86.5bnShareholders' equity=9.0%

Profit earned for each dollar that shareholders have left in the company.

👉 ROE of 9.0% ✓ is well below the 34.7% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Around 15% or more is good, but buybacks shrink equity and can make ROE look huge.

Peer median 34.7% (3 peers)FY2019 25.4%
Return on equity (ROE) by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025

⚙️ Efficiency: how hard do the assets work?

Higher is better

Return on assets (ROA)

3.7%
Net income$7.8bn$208.2bnTotal assets=3.7%

Profit earned from everything the company owns, however it was paid for.

👉 ROA of 3.7% ✓ is far below the 13.4% ✓ peer median, because total assets of $208.2bn ✓ are large next to net income of $7.8bn ✓.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 10% is strong; banks and factories usually earn less.

Peer median 13.4% (4 peers)FY2019 9.6%
Return on assets (ROA) by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025
Higher is better

Asset turnover

0.3x
Sales$62.6bn$208.2bnTotal assets=0.3x

Dollars of sales squeezed out of each dollar of assets.

👉 Pfizer's sales are only 0.3x ✓ the value of everything it owns, below the 0.5x ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Retailers often top 2x; asset-heavy businesses can sit below 0.5x.

Peer median 0.5x (4 peers)FY2019 0.2x
Asset turnover by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025
Lower is better

Inventory days

242 days
Inventory$10.7bn$16.1bnCost of sales× 365=242 days

How many days of products sit in warehouses before they are sold.

👉 Pfizer holds 242 ✓ days of stock, more than the peer median of 160 ✓ days.

📏 Rule of thumb: Fewer days means less cash tied up and less risk of products going stale.

Peer median 160 days (4 peers)FY2019 320 days
Inventory days by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025

🛟 Safety: could it survive a bad year?

It depends

Current ratio

1.2x
Current assets$42.9bn$37.0bnCurrent liabilities=1.2x

Can short-term assets (cash, money owed by customers, stock) pay the bills due within a year?

👉 At 1.2x ✓, Pfizer's short-term assets of $42.9bn ✓ cover its $37.0bn ✓ of bills due within a year, close to the 1.3x ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 1.0x is the classic comfort line, but cash-rich giants can run below it on purpose.

Peer median 1.3x (4 peers)FY2019 0.9x
Current ratio by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025
Lower is better

Debt to equity

0.7x
Total debt$64.8bn$86.5bnShareholders' equity=0.7x

How much the company has borrowed for each dollar shareholders have in it.

👉 Pfizer's 0.7x ✓ is below the 0.9x ✓ peer median, with total debt of $64.8bn ✓.

📏 Rule of thumb: Below 1.0x is conservative. Like ROE, it can rise when buybacks shrink equity, even if debt has not changed.

Peer median 0.9x (3 peers)FY2019 0.8x
Debt to equity by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025
Higher is better

Interest cover

6.1x
Operating profit$16.3bn$2.7bnInterest expense=6.1x

How many times over operating profit could pay the year's interest bill.

👉 Operating profit covers interest 6.1x ✓, far below the 21.2x ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 5x is comfortable; below 2x is a warning sign.

Peer median 21.2x (4 peers)FY2019 10.3x
Interest cover by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025

💵 Cash and owners: where does the money end up?

Higher is better

Cash conversion

1.2x
Free cash flow$9.1bn$7.8bnNet income=1.2x

Does reported profit turn into real cash? Free cash flow is operating cash minus capital spending.

👉 Pfizer turned profit into free cash at 1.2x ✓, above the 0.7x ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Near or above 1.0x means profits are backed by cash.

Peer median 0.7x (4 peers)FY2019 0.7x
Cash conversion by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025
It depends

R&D intensity

16.7%
R&D$10.4bn$62.6bnSales=16.7%

How much of each sales dollar goes into inventing future products.

👉 Pfizer spends 16.7% ✓ of sales on R&D, a little below the 18.0% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Tech companies often spend 10% to 20%; more is not always better if it does not pay off.

Peer median 18.0% (4 peers)FY2019 20.5%
R&D intensity by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025
Lower is better

Stock pay

1.3%
Share-based pay$0.8bn$62.6bnSales=1.3%

Pay given to staff in shares instead of cash. It is a real cost to owners because it adds shares.

👉 Stock pay is 1.3% ✓ of sales, the same as the 1.3% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Under 5% of sales is modest for a tech company.

Peer median 1.3% (4 peers)FY2019 1.7%
Stock pay by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025
It depends

Shareholder payout

125.7%
Dividends + buybacks$9.8bn$7.8bnNet income=125.7%

How much of the year's profit was handed back to owners.

👉 Pfizer paid out 125.7% ✓ of FY2025 profit, all as dividends, so it paid $9.8bn ✓ against net income of $7.8bn ✓. The peer median was 70.5% ✓.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 100% means it returned more than it earned, using cash savings or debt.

Peer median 70.5% (4 peers)FY2019 105.5%
Shareholder payout by fiscal yearFY2018FY2025

Ratios use fiscal-year-end balance sheet values. Inputs are shown rounded, so dividing them can differ from the result in the last digit. A peer median leaves out peers that do not report the inputs, or where the ratio means nothing (for example, negative shareholders' equity). Rules of thumb are general guides from QuantVantage.ai, not hard limits. No share-price ratios (like price-to-earnings) are shown on this page.

🥊Who are Pfizer's competitors?

Pfizer competes with other big drug makers medicine by medicine, in vaccines, cancer and immune diseases 161715314111213.

Peer map: growth vs profitability, bubble size = revenue-15%-10%-5%0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%0%10%20%30%40%Sales growth per year, 3 years →Operating margin →Johnson & Johnson: revenue $94.2bn, growth 5.6%/yr, operating margin 26.8%JNJEli Lilly: revenue $65.2bn, growth 31.7%/yr, operating margin 40.4%LLYMerck: revenue $65.0bn, growth 3.1%/yr, operating margin 34.2%MRKPfizer: revenue $62.6bn, growth -14.8%/yr, operating margin 26.1%PFEAbbVie: revenue $61.2bn, growth 1.8%/yr, operating margin 24.6%ABBV
Peer map: growth vs profitability, bubble size = revenue-15%-10%-5%0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%0%10%20%30%40%Sales growth per year, 3 years →Operating margin →Johnson & Johnson: revenue $94.2bn, growth 5.6%/yr, operating margin 26.8%JNJEli Lilly: revenue $65.2bn, growth 31.7%/yr, operating margin 40.4%LLYMerck: revenue $65.0bn, growth 3.1%/yr, operating margin 34.2%MRKPfizer: revenue $62.6bn, growth -14.8%/yr, operating margin 26.1%PFEAbbVie: revenue $61.2bn, growth 1.8%/yr, operating margin 24.6%ABBV
Peer map from each company's latest 10-K. Bubble size = revenue. Source: SEC filings [6] [8] [9] [7] [10].
CompanyWhere they competeRevenueGrowth/yr (3y)Op. marginFCF margin
Pfizer (PFE, FY2025)Medicines and vaccines for blood clots, cancer, immune and rare diseases, and infections$62.6bn-14.8%26.1%14.5%
AbbVie (ABBV, FY2025)Pills for immune diseases: Xeljanz against AbbVie's Rinvoq 111213$61.2bn1.8%24.6%29.1%
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ, FY2025)Blood cancer: Elrexfio against Johnson & Johnson's Tecvayli for multiple myeloma 143$94.2bn5.6%26.8%20.9%
Eli Lilly (LLY, FY2025)Breast cancer: Ibrance against Lilly's Verzenio 153$65.2bn31.7%40.4%13.8%
Merck (MRK, FY2025)Pneumonia vaccines: Prevnar against Merck's Vaxneuvance and Capvaxive 1617$65.0bn3.1%34.2%19.0%

Amgen and Pfizer split Enbrel: Amgen markets it in the US and Canada, and Pfizer sells it elsewhere 3634. Makers of generic drugs and biosimilars are rivals too: Pfizer says that once their copies arrive, price competition can cut a medicine's revenue sharply, often very fast 18. In China, Pfizer expects more competition from generic makers from 2026 onwards 20.

🧭Pfizer SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

💪 Strengths

  • Revenue from the Vyndaqel family, for the heart and nerve disease ATTR amyloidosis, rose from $3,321 million in 2023 to $6,380 million in 2025 3.
  • Pfizer's newer and acquired products, such as Padcev, Nurtec ODT and Abrysvo, grew 32% in the third quarter of 2026, excluding currency effects 19.
  • Pfizer supplies its medicines and vaccines to about 200 countries and territories 5.
  • Pfizer kept 74.3% ✓ of its FY2025 sales as gross profit.

🩹 Weaknesses

  • At the end of FY2025, Pfizer's borrowings were well above its cash, with net cash of -$54.5bn ✓.
  • Comirnaty revenue fell from $11,220 million in 2023 to $4,367 million in 2025 3.
  • Pfizer's 2025 results included $3.9 billion of write-downs on drugs still in development 24.
  • Operating profit covered interest only 6.1x ✓ in FY2025, against a peer median of 21.2x ✓.

🚀 Opportunities

  • Pfizer bought Metsera, which develops obesity and heart-and-metabolism medicines, on November 13, 2025, for a total of $8.0 billion 2225.
  • In July 2026, the FDA approved Padcev with pembrolizumab for adults with a type of bladder cancer, before and after surgery 26.
  • In October 2026, Pfizer said a late-stage study of Elrexfio in multiple myeloma met its main goal 27.
  • In May 2026, Pfizer signed a deal with China's Innovent Biologics for 12 early-stage cancer medicines, paying $650 million upfront 28.

⚠️ Threats

  • Pfizer expects a significant drop in revenue as patents and other protections end from 2026 through 2030 1823.
  • A Medicare price set by the government took effect for Eliquis on January 1, 2026 23.
  • Pfizer faces lawsuits claiming that Zantac caused cancer and that the injection Depo-Provera caused meningioma, a tumour near the brain 2928.
  • Prevnar revenue fell 10% in the third quarter of 2026, excluding currency effects, partly from lower US vaccination rates and lost share in the adult vaccine 19.

🏰Does Pfizer have a moat?

Narrow moatPatents protect several newer Pfizer medicines into the mid-2030s or later 18, but Pfizer expects a big revenue drop as protections end from 2026 through 2030 1823.
Brand 3/5
Why 3?

Pfizer advertises its medicines directly to consumers in the US and some other markets, and says its trademarks matter a lot 518. But Prevnar revenue fell 10% in the third quarter of 2026, excluding currency effects, partly from lost share in the adult vaccine 19.

Switching costs 2/5
Why 2?

US laws generally allow, and sometimes require, pharmacists to swap a brand-name drug for a generic one 20. Pfizer says that once copies arrive, a medicine's revenue can fall sharply, often very fast 18.

Network effects 1/5
Why 1?

Pfizer says its products compete mainly on how well they work, how safe and easy to use they are, and cost 20.

Cost advantages and scale 3/5
Why 3?

At December 31, 2025, Pfizer ran 36 manufacturing plants worldwide 21. It supplies about 200 countries and territories 5. Pfizer expects its cost program to deliver about $5.7 billion of net savings through 2026, and $5.1 billion had been achieved through 2025 22.

Intangibles (patents, licences, regulation) 3/5
Why 3?

Several newer medicines have US patents running into the mid-2030s or later, such as Prevnar 20 to 2035 and Comirnaty to 2041 18. But rivals regularly challenge Pfizer's patents, and generic makers can rely on Pfizer's safety and efficacy data instead of running their own costly trials 20. Pfizer expects a significant drop in revenue as protections end from 2026 through 2030 1823.

A moat is what keeps rivals from taking a company's customers and profits. Scores are QuantVantage.ai's judgement (5 = strongest), set with the same rubric on every explainer (orange is Pfizer; grey dots are peers).

🔭What should you watch next?

November 2026

Eliquis patent

The US compound patent on Eliquis expires in November 2026 18. Under patent settlements, generic copies may launch on April 1, 2028, unless courts rule against Pfizer's 2031 formulation patent 18.

December 2026

Vyndaqel patent

The basic US patent on the Vyndaqel family runs to December 2026 under an interim extension, and Pfizer has applied to extend it to 2028 18.

Full year 2026

Revenue forecast for 2026

Pfizer expects 2026 revenue of $62.0 to $64.0 billion, including a hit of about $1.1 billion from generic and biosimilar competition 19.

2026

More patents ending

Pfizer's patent table lists 2026 as the year the main US patents end for Xeljanz, Prevnar 13 and Adcetris 18.

2027

Medicare prices for Ibrance and Xtandi

Medicare prices set by the government for the cancer medicines Ibrance and Xtandi take effect in 2027 23.

Expected January 2027

340B pilot program

A US Department of Health and Human Services 340B pilot program, expected to begin in January 2027, would include Eliquis, Ibrance and Xtandi, and it faces ongoing court cases 23.

📚Learn the words

Revenue (sales)All the money a company takes in from customers before paying any costs.
Gross marginThe share of each sales dollar left after paying to make the product. Higher means each sale is more profitable.
Operating profitProfit from the main business after paying for products, research, marketing and admin, but before interest and tax.
Net incomeThe profit left at the very end, after every cost and tax has been paid.
Free cash flowThe cash a business has left after running itself and buying equipment. It can pay dividends, buy back shares or pay down debt.
PatentA legal right that stops others from copying an invention for a set number of years.
Generic drugA cheaper copy of a brand-name medicine, sold once the original's patents run out.
BiosimilarA close copy of a medicine made from living cells, sold once the original's protection ends.
VaccineA shot that trains the body to fight a disease before a person catches it.
Fiscal yearA company's own 12-month accounting year. Pfizer's FY2025 ended on 31 December 2025.
Economic moatA lasting advantage, like a strong brand or patents, that keeps rivals from taking a company's customers.
Interest coverOperating profit divided by interest costs. It shows how easily a company can pay the interest on its debt.

❓Frequently asked questions about Pfizer

How does Pfizer make money?

Pfizer makes almost all its money selling medicines and vaccines through its Biopharma business, which brought in $61.2bn ✓ in FY2025. Its biggest product was the blood thinner Eliquis, with $7,961 million of revenue in 2025 303.

What is Pfizer's best-selling product?

Eliquis, a blood thinner, was Pfizer's largest product in 2025, with $7,961 million of revenue 303. The Prevnar vaccines, which protect against pneumonia and related diseases, had $6,494 million 3.

What happened to Pfizer's COVID-19 sales?

They have shrunk a lot. Comirnaty revenue fell from $11,220 million in 2023 to $4,367 million in 2025, and Paxlovid from $5,716 million in 2024 to $2,362 million in 2025 3. Pfizer shares Comirnaty 50-50 with BioNTech 30.

Who is Pfizer's CEO?

Albert Bourla has been Pfizer's CEO since January 2019 and its Chairman since January 2020 31. Cecile Guegan became Chief Financial Officer on November 1, 2026 32.

Who are Pfizer's biggest competitors?

Pfizer meets Merck in pneumonia vaccines, Eli Lilly in breast cancer and Johnson & Johnson in a blood cancer 161715314. It meets AbbVie in pills for immune diseases 111213.

What is Pfizer researching?

Pfizer's main research areas are cancer, internal medicine (including weight loss and migraine), vaccines, and immune diseases 22. Pfizer says taking a new drug or vaccine to possible approval can take more than ten years 22.

Does Pfizer pay a dividend?

Pfizer paid $9.8bn ✓ in dividends in FY2025. It bought back no shares that year, with buybacks of $0 ✓.

How old is Pfizer?

Pfizer's own 2009 company description says it was founded in 1849 33. The company was incorporated in Delaware on June 2, 1942 221.

🎮Play: higher or lower, then test yourself

Higher or lower · round 1 of 6

Figures come from each company's latest annual report (10-K); fiscal years end in different months. Sources: [6] [8] [9] [7] [10].

Score: 0

🧠 Test yourself

5 quick questions. Score: 0 / 5

1. What was Pfizer's largest product in 2025?

Eliquis, a blood thinner, was Pfizer's largest product in 2025, with $7,961 million of revenue 303.

2. Which company does Pfizer share its COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty with?

Comirnaty is a 50-50 partnership with BioNTech 30.

3. About what share of Pfizer's FY2025 sales came from the United States?

The US brought in 59% ✓ of Pfizer's sales in FY2025.

4. Pfizer bought Metsera in 2025. What does Metsera work on?

Metsera develops obesity and heart-and-metabolism medicines 2225.

5. Why can a medicine's sales drop fast when its patent ends?

Pfizer says that when generic or biosimilar competition starts, price competition can cut a medicine's revenue sharply, often very fast 18.

🔎Sources and method

Every figure comes from a source listed here or is calculated from those sources (marked ✓). Company financials come from the reports each company files with the SEC (10-K annual and 10-Q quarterly reports). Peer grades rank the same measures across the company and its peers. This page contains no share-price data and no valuation.

  1. Pfizer (PFE) Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025, filed 2026-02-26 — revenue and cost of sales by product, segment and geography (accessed 2026-11-04)
  2. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1 About Pfizer and Commercial Operations: incorporation, operating segments, 2026 commercial structure (accessed 2026-11-04)
  3. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Note 17C: significant customers and revenues by product for 2023-2025 (accessed 2026-11-04)
  4. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1 Commercial Operations: customer groups and select products in the Biopharma portfolio (accessed 2026-11-04)
  5. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1 International Operations and Sales and Marketing: countries, buyers, wholesalers, advertising (accessed 2026-11-04)
  6. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Pfizer (PFE) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  7. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: ELI LILLY & Co (LLY) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  8. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  9. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: JOHNSON & JOHNSON (JNJ) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  10. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  11. AbbVie Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 7 recent events (U.S. government agreement, Inflation Reduction Act selections) and net revenues by product 2023-2025 (accessed 2026-11-04)
  12. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Xeljanz 2025 worldwide revenues (accessed 2026-11-04)
  13. U.S. FDA drug safety communication on JAK inhibitors (September 1, 2021) — Xeljanz and Rinvoq named as JAK inhibitors for chronic inflammatory conditions; boxed warning (accessed 2026-11-04)
  14. Johnson & Johnson Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Tecvayli 2025 worldwide sales and multiple myeloma use (accessed 2026-11-04)
  15. Eli Lilly Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Verzenio uses and 2025 revenue (accessed 2026-11-04)
  16. Merck & Co. Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1 product sales table: 2025, 2024 and 2023 sales by segment and top product (accessed 2026-11-04)
  17. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — MD&A product revenues: Prevnar family 2025 worldwide revenues (accessed 2026-11-04)
  18. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1 Patents and Other Intellectual Property Rights: basic product patent table and expected exclusivity losses (accessed 2026-11-04)
  19. Pfizer third-quarter 2026 results press release (Form 8-K exhibit 99) — Third-quarter 2026 revenues, product revenue drivers and raised full-year 2026 guidance (accessed 2026-11-04)
  20. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1 Competition, generic products and managed care organizations (accessed 2026-11-04)
  21. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1 Human Capital (employees) and Item 2 Properties (headquarters, plants) (accessed 2026-11-04)
  22. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — MD&A cost reduction programs; Note 2A acquisitions of Metsera and Seagen; Item 1 R&D focus areas (accessed 2026-11-04)
  23. Pfizer Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2026 — MD&A Our Operating Environment: exclusivity losses, Medicare prices, 340B pilot, tariffs and U.S. Government agreements (accessed 2026-11-04)
  24. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Note 4 Other (income)/deductions--net: 2025 intangible asset impairments (IPR&D, disitamab vedotin) (accessed 2026-11-04)
  25. Pfizer Form 8-K dated November 13, 2025 (Item 8.01) — Completion of the Metsera acquisition and its milestone payments (accessed 2026-11-04)
  26. Pfizer Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2026 — MD&A Product Developments: 2026 approvals, filings, Oxbryta withdrawal, sigvotatug vedotin result (accessed 2026-11-04)
  27. Pfizer third-quarter 2026 results press release (Form 8-K exhibit 99) — Recent notable developments since August 4, 2026 (Elrexfio, Litfulo, Tukysa, Talzenna, Lyme vaccine, 25-valent vaccine) (accessed 2026-11-04)
  28. Pfizer Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2026 — Note 2 and MD&A: operating segments, restructuring programs, ViiV exit, Innovent agreement (accessed 2026-11-04)
  29. Pfizer Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2026 — Note 12A: Eliquis patent litigation and product litigation (Zantac, Depo-Provera) (accessed 2026-11-04)
  30. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1 Collaboration and Co-Promotion Agreements (Comirnaty, Eliquis, Xtandi, Padcev, Adcetris) (accessed 2026-11-04)
  31. Pfizer Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Information about executive officers (Albert Bourla) (accessed 2026-11-04)
  32. Pfizer Form 8-K dated November 3, 2026 (Item 5.02) — Election of Cecile Guegan as Chief Financial Officer (accessed 2026-11-04)
  33. Pfizer press release, September 2, 2009 (Form 8-K exhibit 99) — About Pfizer: founding year (accessed 2026-11-04)
  34. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Pfizer (PFE) — quarterly 10-Q/10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  35. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Pfizer (PFE) — balance sheet at 2026-09-27 (accessed 2026-11-04)
  36. Amgen Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Enbrel marketed in the United States and Canada; 2025 Enbrel sales (accessed 2026-11-04)