Novartis AG (NVS) stock — is it a good business?

Novartis AG (NVS) stock — is it a good business? — InspectStocks

How it makes money

Prescription medicines

Competes with

What it sells6

Entresto
A pill used to treat certain types of chronic heart failure, when the heart cannot pump or fill with blood properly.
Cosentyx
An injection for inflammatory conditions including psoriasis, some forms of arthritis and a chronic skin disease called hidradenitis suppurativa.
Kisqali
A cancer medicine used with hormone treatment for certain types of breast cancer.

Show 3 more

Kesimpta
A monthly self-injection for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, a disease in which the immune system damages nerves.
Pluvicto
An intravenous treatment that delivers radioactive particles to certain prostate cancer cells.
Leqvio
An injection given by a health professional to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, a type of fat in the blood.

Who buys it5

Drug wholesalers buy medicines for resale to pharmacies and healthcare providers.
Retail and specialty pharmacies dispense medicines to patients, including drugs that need special handling.
Hospitals and private health systems buy medicines for treatment in their facilities.

Show 2 more

Government agencies and government-supported health systems buy or fund medicines for patients.
Insurers and managed-care organizations influence which medicines are covered and reimbursed.

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

1Sales of branded medicines depend on patent rights and regulatory exclusivity; generic or biosimilar competitors can enter after protections expire or are successfully challenged.
2Some medicines depend on licenses, collaborations or other agreements with outside drug developers.
3Manufacturing depends on specialized materials and tightly controlled production processes; some products may have limited alternative suppliers.
4Access to medicines depends on health-authority approval and on insurers or government health systems deciding whether and how much to reimburse.

What could go wrong

1Generic competition and patent challenges can reduce sales when drug protections expire or competitors successfully challenge them; Novartis has also faced generic erosion for established medicines.
2Government price controls, Medicare price negotiations, required rebates and insurer coverage decisions can limit the prices Novartis receives or restrict patient access.
3Drug candidates can fail clinical trials or fail to receive approval after years of research and testing, leaving Novartis without a marketable medicine and with development costs already incurred.

Full financial statements →

About Novartis AG

Novartis researches, tests, manufactures and sells prescription medicines in about 120 countries (2025, high). Its research focuses on heart, kidney and metabolic diseases, immune disorders, brain and nerve diseases, and cancer. Net sales were USD 54.532 billion (FY2025, high).

Head office: Basel, Switzerland
Founded: 1996
Employees: 75,267 (December 31, 2025, high)
Listed on: NYSE
Financial year ends: December 31

Built from Novartis AG’s own filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Figures are as reported, with per-share history restated onto today’s share basis. This describes a business — it is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell anything.

Keep exploring

The themes Novartis is part of, the highest-graded companies in its industry, and the companies in its sector whose grade rose recently.

The theme it is part of

Highest-graded in Drug Manufacturers General

Graded A or B and worth $2B or more: A first, then the largest.

Grade rose recently in Healthcare

Rose to A or B on a filing in the last 90 days, worth $2B or more: largest first.

How it makes money

Prescription medicines

Competes with

What it sells6

Entresto
A pill used to treat certain types of chronic heart failure, when the heart cannot pump or fill with blood properly.
Cosentyx
An injection for inflammatory conditions including psoriasis, some forms of arthritis and a chronic skin disease called hidradenitis suppurativa.
Kisqali
A cancer medicine used with hormone treatment for certain types of breast cancer.

Show 3 more

Kesimpta
A monthly self-injection for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, a disease in which the immune system damages nerves.
Pluvicto
An intravenous treatment that delivers radioactive particles to certain prostate cancer cells.
Leqvio
An injection given by a health professional to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, a type of fat in the blood.

Who buys it5

Drug wholesalers buy medicines for resale to pharmacies and healthcare providers.
Retail and specialty pharmacies dispense medicines to patients, including drugs that need special handling.
Hospitals and private health systems buy medicines for treatment in their facilities.

Show 2 more

Government agencies and government-supported health systems buy or fund medicines for patients.
Insurers and managed-care organizations influence which medicines are covered and reimbursed.

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

1Sales of branded medicines depend on patent rights and regulatory exclusivity; generic or biosimilar competitors can enter after protections expire or are successfully challenged.
2Some medicines depend on licenses, collaborations or other agreements with outside drug developers.
3Manufacturing depends on specialized materials and tightly controlled production processes; some products may have limited alternative suppliers.
4Access to medicines depends on health-authority approval and on insurers or government health systems deciding whether and how much to reimburse.

What could go wrong

1Generic competition and patent challenges can reduce sales when drug protections expire or competitors successfully challenge them; Novartis has also faced generic erosion for established medicines.
2Government price controls, Medicare price negotiations, required rebates and insurer coverage decisions can limit the prices Novartis receives or restrict patient access.
3Drug candidates can fail clinical trials or fail to receive approval after years of research and testing, leaving Novartis without a marketable medicine and with development costs already incurred.

Full financial statements →

About Novartis AG

Head office: Basel, Switzerland
Founded: 1996
Employees: 75,267 (December 31, 2025, high)
Listed on: NYSE
Financial year ends: December 31

How it makes money

Competes with

What it sells6

Who buys it5

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

What could go wrong

About Novartis AG

Keep exploring

The theme it is part of

Highest-graded in Drug Manufacturers General

Grade rose recently in Healthcare

How it makes money

Competes with

What it sells6

Who buys it5

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

What could go wrong

About Novartis AG

Novartis AG

Keep exploring

The theme it is part of

Highest-graded in Drug Manufacturers General

Grade rose recently in Healthcare

Big pharma

Growth & cash — 5 of 5

Share price and grade over time

How it makes money

Competes with

What it sells6

Who buys it5

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

What could go wrong

About Novartis AG

Keep exploring

The theme it is part of

Highest-graded in Drug Manufacturers General

Grade rose recently in Healthcare

How it makes money

Competes with

What it sells6

Who buys it5

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

What could go wrong

About Novartis AG

Novartis AG

Past performance

Keep exploring

The theme it is part of

Highest-graded in Drug Manufacturers General

Grade rose recently in Healthcare

Big pharma

Growth & cash — 5 of 5

Share price and grade over time