BetterThanSPY

Relative Intelligence · Neurology Therapeutics

Updated · refreshed every trading day

How Biogen (BIIB) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

The short answer

Returns
−1.8% a year over the past 5 years, against +11.7% for the S&P 500. $10,000 grew to $9,000 over 10 years, against $42,000 in SPY. Details ↓
Risk
More volatile than the S&P 500: volatility 34.8% against 17.2%; worst decline in 10 years −72.7% against −33.7%. Details ↓
Better options
10 of its 21 popular alternatives earned more with less volatility over the past 5 years, including LLY, REGN and AMGN. Details ↓
Track record
BIIB beat the S&P 500 in 14 of 29 full calendar years, and fell less than it in 5 of 10 major crashes. Details ↓

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on BIIB alone. It places BIIB (Biogen Inc.) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where BIIB stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: BIIB's full trading record, from September 1991 through October 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of November 2, 2026.

Data as of November 2, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.

Rank the market against BIIB →Chart BIIB vs. 21 alternatives →

This page answers the following questions about BIIB

Key findings

Not AI-generated

These key findings are generated by our proprietary relative intelligence engine, directly from the data on this page.

How much would $10,000 in BIIB have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in BIIB over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of BIIB over the same span and BIIB's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.

Choose a period

From the end of October 1997 to the end of October 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 165 of the 1,050 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of BIIB; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$10,000$100,000$1M199720022007201220172022$10,000$100,000$1M19972004201120182025
  • GILD$2M+23,276% total · +20.7% a year
  • REGN$897,454+8,875% total · +16.8% a year
  • DHR$860,141+8,501% total · +16.6% a year
  • AMGN$566,944+5,569% total · +14.9% a year
  • LLY$438,164+4,282% total · +13.9% a year
  • BIIB$399,429+3,894% total · +13.6% a year
  • VRTX$378,940+3,689% total · +13.4% a year
  • TMO$260,575+2,506% total · +11.9% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$135,020+1,250% total · +9.4% a year
  • NVS$117,283+1,073% total · +8.9% a year
Change the dates or add tickers to this chart in EasyCompare

From the end of October 2021 to the end of October 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 2,659 of the 3,626 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of BIIB; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$2,000$5,000$10,000$20,000$50,000202120222023202420252026$2,000$5,000$10,000$20,000$50,000202120222023202420252026
  • LLY$58,232+482% total · +42.2% a year
  • GILD$31,433+214% total · +25.7% a year
  • AMGN$26,308+163% total · +21.3% a year
  • NVS$23,565+136% total · +18.7% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$17,593+75.9% total · +12.0% a year
  • REGN$14,637+46.4% total · +7.9% a year
  • TMO$11,169+11.7% total · +2.2% a year
  • IQV$10,226+2.3% total · +0.4% a year
  • BIIB$9,510−4.9% total · −1.0% a year
  • ILMN$5,850−41.5% total · −10.2% a year
Change the dates or add tickers to this chart in EasyCompare

BIIB at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.

The company

Market value
$37B
Industry
Drug Manufacturers - General
Price history from
September 1991

Returns

Past 1 year
+64.4%total return
Past 3 years
+3.0%+1.0% a year
Past 5 years
−8.6%−1.8% a year
Past 10 years
−10.2%−1.1% a year
Best calendar year
+318%1999
Worst calendar year
−51.9%2002
Losing years
11 of 29full calendar years

Risk

Volatility
34.8%typical yearly swing, 5 years
Sharpe ratio
0.11return per unit of risk, 5 years
Worst decline ever
−90.0%Oct 1991 to Dec 1994
From its all-time high
−47.7%below the peak

BIIB against the whole market

Where BIIB ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

How does BIIB rank among all stocks?

This section ranks BIIB on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how BIIB stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.

Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.

MeasureBIIBRankStanding
1-year return+64.4%361 of 3,272top 11%
3-year return+3.0%2,266 of 2,999bottom 25%
5-year return−8.6%1,864 of 2,886bottom 36%
10-year return−10.2%1,875 of 2,186bottom 15%
Volatility, 5 years34.8%1,116 of 2,886top 39%
Sharpe ratio, 5 years0.112,097 of 2,886bottom 28%
Worst decline, past 10 years−72.7%1,381 of 2,183bottom 38%

What has beaten BIIB on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). BIIB sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than BIIB with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to BIIB; faint dots are 88 more of the 1,703 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,627 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.

−5.0%0.0%5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than BIIBEXLS: +10.4% a year, volatility 32.6%VTIP: +2.7% a year, volatility 2.9%VGSH: +2.1% a year, volatility 2.0%WELL: +26.9% a year, volatility 23.9%VCSH: +2.5% a year, volatility 2.9%JAAA: +5.1% a year, volatility 1.7%NEAR: +4.0% a year, volatility 1.4%AAPL: +18.2% a year, volatility 28.0%FLTR: +4.8% a year, volatility 2.1%FLRN: +4.5% a year, volatility 1.7%STIP: +3.0% a year, volatility 2.8%EPD: +19.0% a year, volatility 17.1%SUB: +1.6% a year, volatility 1.7%GOOG: +14.0% a year, volatility 32.4%BWFG: +22.0% a year, volatility 28.6%MSFT: +9.7% a year, volatility 28.2%PFIS: +14.3% a year, volatility 31.6%RAVI: +3.8% a year, volatility 1.4%VTI: +10.7% a year, volatility 17.5%LMBS: +3.2% a year, volatility 2.6%VOO: +11.8% a year, volatility 16.9%WMT: +22.2% a year, volatility 22.7%BRK-A: +13.9% a year, volatility 17.2%XOM: +27.0% a year, volatility 26.6%SHYG: +4.6% a year, volatility 5.8%NEU: +19.9% a year, volatility 26.4%JPM: +17.7% a year, volatility 24.3%ERIE: +7.2% a year, volatility 31.5%SJM: +4.8% a year, volatility 25.2%CCZ: +2.6% a year, volatility 22.6%V: +16.1% a year, volatility 22.7%ULST: +3.8% a year, volatility 1.0%HSBC: +30.9% a year, volatility 26.0%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%MA: +15.6% a year, volatility 23.7%BALT: +6.2% a year, volatility 3.4%KO: +14.6% a year, volatility 16.9%CVX: +19.6% a year, volatility 25.3%COST: +17.2% a year, volatility 23.0%VRIG: +4.7% a year, volatility 1.3%PM: +22.8% a year, volatility 23.4%DXJ: +26.2% a year, volatility 19.1%MUFG: +34.3% a year, volatility 29.4%RY: +18.3% a year, volatility 18.2%SHEL: +22.9% a year, volatility 24.8%QQQ: +12.5% a year, volatility 23.1%LDUR: +2.5% a year, volatility 2.1%CAT: +26.3% a year, volatility 32.3%CSCO: +15.1% a year, volatility 26.3%RTX: +20.8% a year, volatility 24.4%APH: +34.1% a year, volatility 32.5%VTV: +12.3% a year, volatility 13.7%MCK: +36.2% a year, volatility 25.0%GS: +19.1% a year, volatility 28.7%TD: +16.2% a year, volatility 20.0%GVI: +1.1% a year, volatility 4.0%MS: +15.8% a year, volatility 28.9%IBM: +20.4% a year, volatility 30.3%VEA: +9.1% a year, volatility 16.9%TR: +8.2% a year, volatility 25.5%TTE: +19.6% a year, volatility 25.9%MUNI: +1.2% a year, volatility 3.5%MFG: +33.6% a year, volatility 30.7%PG: +5.2% a year, volatility 18.5%WFC: +13.6% a year, volatility 29.5%BTI: +21.0% a year, volatility 22.0%MO: +20.8% a year, volatility 21.4%LIN: +11.2% a year, volatility 20.9%SAP: +11.5% a year, volatility 30.0%BHP: +18.1% a year, volatility 31.4%AOM: +4.2% a year, volatility 8.3%SMFG: +34.5% a year, volatility 29.4%UBS: +24.5% a year, volatility 30.4%PGR: +22.5% a year, volatility 25.7%TJX: +17.6% a year, volatility 22.4%AXP: +15.0% a year, volatility 29.3%C: +16.3% a year, volatility 29.4%CIB: +32.2% a year, volatility 33.0%VGT: +16.5% a year, volatility 26.2%PH: +26.8% a year, volatility 29.0%DBA: +9.3% a year, volatility 13.8%LMT: +17.6% a year, volatility 24.0%CB: +15.8% a year, volatility 20.4%BAC: +3.2% a year, volatility 26.6%WMK: +7.9% a year, volatility 28.7%FTQI: +11.0% a year, volatility 14.8%CM: +19.7% a year, volatility 21.7%BNY: +23.1% a year, volatility 24.4%BIIB: −1.8% a year, volatility 34.8%SPY (S&P 500): +11.7% a year, volatility 17.2%LLY: +41.9% a year, volatility 33.0%REGN: +8.7% a year, volatility 31.6%AMGN: +20.5% a year, volatility 24.9%GILD: +25.3% a year, volatility 25.0%NVS: +18.5% a year, volatility 20.7%VRTX: +25.0% a year, volatility 29.1%MRK: +14.2% a year, volatility 24.7%BBH: +5.2% a year, volatility 21.9%EXEL: +26.2% a year, volatility 35.9%GMAB: +4.1% a year, volatility 36.7%ABBV: +24.3% a year, volatility 23.4%ABT: −1.0% a year, volatility 23.2%USFR: +4.0% a year, volatility 0.4%PSX: +33.6% a year, volatility 32.9%FLRT: +6.0% a year, volatility 2.3%GLD: +16.7% a year, volatility 19.1%SAIC: +12.5% a year, volatility 30.7%FLOT: +4.5% a year, volatility 1.8%MPC: +49.4% a year, volatility 33.6%IEF: −1.4% a year, volatility 7.7%CAH: +41.9% a year, volatility 24.8%HWM: +47.8% a year, volatility 33.0%BIIBSPY (S&P 500)LLYREGNAMGNGILDNVSVRTXMRKBBHEXELGMABABBVABTUSFRPSXGLDSAICMPCIEFCAHHWM−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than BIIBEXLS: +10.4% a year, volatility 32.6%VTIP: +2.7% a year, volatility 2.9%VGSH: +2.1% a year, volatility 2.0%WELL: +26.9% a year, volatility 23.9%VCSH: +2.5% a year, volatility 2.9%JAAA: +5.1% a year, volatility 1.7%NEAR: +4.0% a year, volatility 1.4%AAPL: +18.2% a year, volatility 28.0%FLTR: +4.8% a year, volatility 2.1%FLRN: +4.5% a year, volatility 1.7%STIP: +3.0% a year, volatility 2.8%EPD: +19.0% a year, volatility 17.1%SUB: +1.6% a year, volatility 1.7%GOOG: +14.0% a year, volatility 32.4%BWFG: +22.0% a year, volatility 28.6%MSFT: +9.7% a year, volatility 28.2%PFIS: +14.3% a year, volatility 31.6%RAVI: +3.8% a year, volatility 1.4%VTI: +10.7% a year, volatility 17.5%LMBS: +3.2% a year, volatility 2.6%VOO: +11.8% a year, volatility 16.9%WMT: +22.2% a year, volatility 22.7%BRK-A: +13.9% a year, volatility 17.2%XOM: +27.0% a year, volatility 26.6%SHYG: +4.6% a year, volatility 5.8%NEU: +19.9% a year, volatility 26.4%JPM: +17.7% a year, volatility 24.3%ERIE: +7.2% a year, volatility 31.5%SJM: +4.8% a year, volatility 25.2%CCZ: +2.6% a year, volatility 22.6%V: +16.1% a year, volatility 22.7%ULST: +3.8% a year, volatility 1.0%HSBC: +30.9% a year, volatility 26.0%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%MA: +15.6% a year, volatility 23.7%BALT: +6.2% a year, volatility 3.4%KO: +14.6% a year, volatility 16.9%CVX: +19.6% a year, volatility 25.3%COST: +17.2% a year, volatility 23.0%VRIG: +4.7% a year, volatility 1.3%PM: +22.8% a year, volatility 23.4%DXJ: +26.2% a year, volatility 19.1%MUFG: +34.3% a year, volatility 29.4%RY: +18.3% a year, volatility 18.2%SHEL: +22.9% a year, volatility 24.8%QQQ: +12.5% a year, volatility 23.1%LDUR: +2.5% a year, volatility 2.1%CAT: +26.3% a year, volatility 32.3%CSCO: +15.1% a year, volatility 26.3%RTX: +20.8% a year, volatility 24.4%APH: +34.1% a year, volatility 32.5%VTV: +12.3% a year, volatility 13.7%MCK: +36.2% a year, volatility 25.0%GS: +19.1% a year, volatility 28.7%TD: +16.2% a year, volatility 20.0%GVI: +1.1% a year, volatility 4.0%MS: +15.8% a year, volatility 28.9%IBM: +20.4% a year, volatility 30.3%VEA: +9.1% a year, volatility 16.9%TR: +8.2% a year, volatility 25.5%TTE: +19.6% a year, volatility 25.9%MUNI: +1.2% a year, volatility 3.5%MFG: +33.6% a year, volatility 30.7%PG: +5.2% a year, volatility 18.5%WFC: +13.6% a year, volatility 29.5%BTI: +21.0% a year, volatility 22.0%MO: +20.8% a year, volatility 21.4%LIN: +11.2% a year, volatility 20.9%SAP: +11.5% a year, volatility 30.0%BHP: +18.1% a year, volatility 31.4%AOM: +4.2% a year, volatility 8.3%SMFG: +34.5% a year, volatility 29.4%UBS: +24.5% a year, volatility 30.4%PGR: +22.5% a year, volatility 25.7%TJX: +17.6% a year, volatility 22.4%AXP: +15.0% a year, volatility 29.3%C: +16.3% a year, volatility 29.4%CIB: +32.2% a year, volatility 33.0%VGT: +16.5% a year, volatility 26.2%PH: +26.8% a year, volatility 29.0%DBA: +9.3% a year, volatility 13.8%LMT: +17.6% a year, volatility 24.0%CB: +15.8% a year, volatility 20.4%BAC: +3.2% a year, volatility 26.6%WMK: +7.9% a year, volatility 28.7%FTQI: +11.0% a year, volatility 14.8%CM: +19.7% a year, volatility 21.7%BNY: +23.1% a year, volatility 24.4%BIIB: −1.8% a year, volatility 34.8%SPY (S&P 500): +11.7% a year, volatility 17.2%LLY: +41.9% a year, volatility 33.0%REGN: +8.7% a year, volatility 31.6%AMGN: +20.5% a year, volatility 24.9%GILD: +25.3% a year, volatility 25.0%NVS: +18.5% a year, volatility 20.7%VRTX: +25.0% a year, volatility 29.1%MRK: +14.2% a year, volatility 24.7%BBH: +5.2% a year, volatility 21.9%EXEL: +26.2% a year, volatility 35.9%GMAB: +4.1% a year, volatility 36.7%ABBV: +24.3% a year, volatility 23.4%ABT: −1.0% a year, volatility 23.2%USFR: +4.0% a year, volatility 0.4%PSX: +33.6% a year, volatility 32.9%FLRT: +6.0% a year, volatility 2.3%GLD: +16.7% a year, volatility 19.1%SAIC: +12.5% a year, volatility 30.7%FLOT: +4.5% a year, volatility 1.8%MPC: +49.4% a year, volatility 33.6%IEF: −1.4% a year, volatility 7.7%CAH: +41.9% a year, volatility 24.8%HWM: +47.8% a year, volatility 33.0%BIIBSPY (S&P 500)LLYREGNAMGNGILDNVSBBHGMABABBVABTUSFRPSXFLRTGLDMPCIEFCAHHWM
  • Popular alternatives
  • Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
  • The whole market
  • Others in the green region

Is there a better investment than BIIB?

Investments that beat BIIB over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.

How this works

The table below lists investments that beat BIIB over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks BIIB's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than BIIB follows the table.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than BIIB's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× BIIB's volatility counts as better.

These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than BIIB's.

Screen the whole market against BIIB for any period in BetterThanSPYOpen these 21 in EasyCompare
InvestmentWhy it is betterPast 5 yearsDownsideLong runFit
Annual return?higher is betterVolatility?lower is calmerSharpe?return per unit of riskWorst decline?past 10 years10Y returntotalCorr. with BIIB?lower diversifies moreExpenseper year
BIIBBiogen Inc. · this page
−1.8%34.8%0.11−72.7%−10.2%1.00—
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500
+11.7%17.2%0.73−33.7%+320%0.060.09%
Popular alternativesbest 6 shownThe investments people most often weigh against BIIB. 11 of 21 passed at least one test.
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+41.9%33.0%1.23−34.5%+2,172%0.31—
REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · Antibody Therapeutics
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+8.7%31.6%0.42−59.7%+182%0.42—
AMGNAmgen Inc. · Biotechnology
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes+20.5%24.9%0.88−24.9%+352%0.33—
GILDGilead Sciences, Inc. · Biotechnology
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+25.3%25.0%1.03−30.5%+235%0.16—
NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+18.5%20.7%0.93−26.8%+265%0.22—
VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated · Rare Disease Therapeutics
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+25.0%29.1%0.92−41.6%+609%0.25—
Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Neurology Therapeutics and Biotechnology and the categories next to it (Neurodegenerative Disease Therapies, Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals, Life Sciences Tools, Rare Disease Therapeutics, Medical Devices), plus BIIB's specific themes. 60 of 356 passed at least one test.
MRKMerck & Co., Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes+14.2%24.7%0.66−43.4%+259%0.42—
BBHVanEck Biotech ETF · Biotechnology
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+5.2%21.9%0.34−39.9%+161%0.430.35%
EXELExelixis, Inc. · Oncology
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+26.2%35.9%0.83−57.2%+549%0.12—
GMABGenmab A/S · Antibody Therapeutics
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+4.1%36.7%0.29−63.1%+235%0.32—
ABBVAbbVie Inc. · Specialty Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+24.3%23.4%1.05−45.1%+665%0.14—
ABTAbbott Laboratories · Medical Devices
Similar return, lower volatility−1.0%23.2%0.07−39.6%+243%0.03—
The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 2,143 of 3,340 passed at least one test.
USFRWisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund · Treasury Bonds
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes+4.0%0.4%9.82−0.8%+28.9%-0.030.15%
PSXPhillips 66 · Oil Refining
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+33.6%32.9%1.05−64.2%+410%0.01—
FLRTPacer Aristotle Pacific Floating Rate High Income ETF · Bank Loans
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes+6.0%2.3%2.54−20.9%+58.7%-0.140.60%
GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes+16.7%19.1%0.91−28.3%+193%-0.030.40%
SAICScience Applications International Corporation · Business Services
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+12.5%30.7%0.54−45.9%+163%-0.07—
FLOTiShares Floating Rate Bond ETF · Floating Rate Bonds
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes+4.5%1.8%2.50−13.5%+35.9%-0.060.15%
MPCMarathon Petroleum Corporation · Oil Refining
On the frontierHigher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods+49.4%33.6%1.37−79.7%+1,315%0.06—
IEFiShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF · Intermediate-Term Treasuries
Similar return, lower volatilitySmaller losses in recent crashes−1.4%7.7%-0.14−23.9%+5.4%0.140.15%
What these numbers mean for BIIB
Annual return
BIIB lost 1.8% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 11.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $9,140. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
Volatility
BIIB's volatility over the past 5 years was 34.8%, about twice the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, BIIB's return lands within 34.8% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
Sharpe ratio
BIIB's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.11, against 0.73 for the S&P 500, so BIIB earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
Worst decline
BIIB's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 72.7%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 72.7% fall takes a 266% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
Correlation
Over the past 5 years, BIIB's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.06 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are close to unrelated, or move in opposite directions, so it can steady a stock portfolio. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against BIIB instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a BIIB holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 1,703 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than BIIB with less volatility

Out of 3,627 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.

#InvestmentFound inAnnual returnVolatilitySharpeWorst decline10Y returnCorr. with BIIBExpense
1
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Popular alternative+41.9%33.0%1.23−34.5%+2,172%0.31—
2
USFRWisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund · Treasury Bonds
Whole market+4.0%0.4%9.82−0.8%+28.9%-0.030.15%
3
PSXPhillips 66 · Oil Refining
Whole market+33.6%32.9%1.05−64.2%+410%0.01—
4
FLRTPacer Aristotle Pacific Floating Rate High Income ETF · Bank Loans
Whole market+6.0%2.3%2.54−20.9%+58.7%-0.140.60%
5
GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold
Whole market+16.7%19.1%0.91−28.3%+193%-0.030.40%
6
SAICScience Applications International Corporation · Business Services
Whole market+12.5%30.7%0.54−45.9%+163%-0.07—
7
FLOTiShares Floating Rate Bond ETF · Floating Rate Bonds
Whole market+4.5%1.8%2.50−13.5%+35.9%-0.060.15%
8
EXLSExlService Holdings, Inc. · IT Services
Whole market+10.4%32.6%0.47−51.3%+377%-0.08—
9
VTIPVanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF · Inflation-Protected Bonds
Whole market+2.7%2.9%0.96−6.3%+33.3%-0.140.03%
10
REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · Antibody Therapeutics
Popular alternative+8.7%31.6%0.42−59.7%+182%0.42—
11
VGSHVanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF · Short-Term Treasuries
Whole market+2.1%2.0%1.04−5.6%+19.6%0.020.03%
12
WELLWelltower Inc. · Healthcare REITs
Whole market+26.9%23.9%1.12−63.3%+408%0.06—
13
VCSHVanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF · Short-Term Corporate Bonds
Whole market+2.5%2.9%0.86−12.9%+29.9%0.070.03%
14
JAAAJanus Henderson AAA CLO ETF · AAA CLO Debt
Whole market+5.1%1.7%3.00−2.6%—-0.020.20%
15
NEARiShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF · Short-Term Bonds
Whole market+4.0%1.4%2.77−9.6%+32.5%0.020.25%
16
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+41.9%24.8%1.54−46.1%+388%0.11—
17
AAPLApple Inc. · Computer Hardware
Whole market+18.2%28.0%0.74−38.5%+1,226%0.07—
18
FLTRVanEck IG Floating Rate ETF · Floating Rate Bonds
Whole market+4.8%2.1%2.21−17.8%+41.7%-0.090.14%
19
FLRNState Street SPDR Bloomberg Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF · Floating Rate Bonds
Whole market+4.5%1.7%2.62−14.6%+36.1%-0.080.15%
20
STIPiShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond ETF · Inflation-Protected Bonds
Whole market+3.0%2.8%1.09−5.5%+35.7%-0.160.03%
21
EPDEnterprise Products Partners L.P. · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+19.0%17.1%1.11−58.1%+205%-0.03—
22
SUBiShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF · Short-Term Municipal Bonds
Whole market+1.6%1.7%0.94−9.5%+16.4%0.070.07%
23
GOOGAlphabet Inc. · Internet Services
Whole market+14.0%32.4%0.57−44.6%+630%0.11—
24
BWFGBankwell Financial Group, Inc. · Regional Banks
Whole market+22.0%28.6%0.84−64.7%+271%-0.08—
25
MSFTMicrosoft Corporation · Software
Whole market+9.7%28.2%0.47−37.1%+861%-0.07—
26
MRKMerck & Co., Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Same or nearby category+14.2%24.7%0.66−43.4%+259%0.42—
27
PFISPeoples Financial Services Corp. · Regional Banks
Whole market+14.3%31.6%0.58−43.0%+171%0.17—
28
RAVINorthern Trust Ultra-Short Fixed Income ETF · Ultrashort Bonds
Whole market+3.8%1.4%2.65−3.7%+31.4%-0.030.26%
29
VTIVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF · US Total Market
Whole market+10.7%17.5%0.67−35.0%+304%0.060.03%
30
LMBSFirst Trust Low Duration Opportunities ETF · Mortgage-Backed Securities
Whole market+3.2%2.6%1.20−6.5%+26.2%0.040.66%
31
VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+11.8%16.9%0.75−34.0%+323%0.060.03%
32
WMTWalmart Inc. · Discount Retail
Whole market+22.2%22.7%1.00−25.7%+552%0.12—
33
BRK-ABerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance
Whole market+13.9%17.2%0.85−30.4%+288%0.09—
34
BBHVanEck Biotech ETF · Biotechnology
Same or nearby category+5.2%21.9%0.34−39.9%+161%0.430.35%
35
AMGNAmgen Inc. · Biotechnology
Popular alternative+20.5%24.9%0.88−24.9%+352%0.33—
36
XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+27.0%26.6%1.04−61.0%+231%0.01—
37
SHYGiShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF · Short-Term High Yield
Whole market+4.6%5.8%0.81−19.3%+59.0%0.100.30%
38
NEUNewMarket Corporation · Specialty Chemicals
Whole market+19.9%26.4%0.82−40.7%+134%0.01—
39
JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co. · Banks
Whole market+17.7%24.3%0.80−43.6%+543%-0.02—
40
ERIEErie Indemnity Company · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+7.2%31.5%0.38−60.9%+235%0.16—
41
SJMThe J. M. Smucker Company · Packaged Foods
Whole market+4.8%25.2%0.31−38.1%+38.1%0.22—
42
CCZComcast Holdings Corp. · Exchange-Traded Debt
Whole market+2.6%22.6%0.23−24.7%+72.5%-0.10—
43
VVisa Inc. · Payment Processing
Whole market+16.1%22.7%0.78−36.4%+467%0.02—
44
ULSTState Street Ultra Short Term Bond ETF · Ultrashort Bonds
Whole market+3.8%1.0%3.75−6.2%+30.8%0.050.20%
45
HSBCHSBC Holdings plc · Banks
Whole market+30.9%26.0%1.17−62.3%+298%-0.13—
46
LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Dividend Equity
Whole market+17.0%11.1%1.48−32.4%+204%0.120.40%
47
MAMastercard Incorporated · Payment Processing
Whole market+15.6%23.7%0.73−41.0%+571%-0.01—
48
BALTInnovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF · US Equity Buffer
Whole market+6.2%3.4%1.82−4.9%—-0.040.69%
49
KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Nonalcoholic Beverages
Whole market+14.6%16.9%0.90−37.0%+211%0.12—
50
CVXChevron Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+19.6%25.3%0.84−55.8%+229%-0.01—
51
COSTCostco Wholesale Corporation · Discount Retail
Whole market+17.2%23.0%0.81−31.4%+741%0.06—
52
VRIGInvesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF · Investment Grade Bonds
Whole market+4.7%1.3%3.55−13.1%+40.8%-0.110.30%
53
PMPhilip Morris International Inc. · Tobacco
Whole market+22.8%23.4%1.00−42.9%+255%-0.06—
54
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · Japan Equity
Whole market+26.2%19.1%1.32−39.1%+424%0.110.48%
55
MUFGMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+34.3%29.4%1.16−54.9%+481%-0.14—
56
RYRoyal Bank of Canada · Banks
Whole market+18.3%18.2%1.02−40.0%+381%0.18—
57
SHELShell plc · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+22.9%24.8%0.96−67.2%+231%-0.01—
58
QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 · US Large-Cap Growth
Whole market+12.5%23.1%0.63−35.1%+534%0.060.18%
59
LDURPIMCO Enhanced Low Duration Active Exchange-Traded Fund · Short-Term Bonds
Whole market+2.5%2.1%1.18−8.7%+27.3%0.020.54%
60
CATCaterpillar Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Whole market+26.3%32.3%0.89−43.4%+836%0.14—
61
CSCOCisco Systems, Inc. · Communications Equipment
Whole market+15.1%26.3%0.67−42.0%+348%0.06—
62
RTXRTX Corporation · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+20.8%24.4%0.90−52.0%+328%-0.06—
63
APHAmphenol Corporation · Electronic Components
Whole market+34.1%32.5%1.07−37.5%+994%0.11—
64
VTVVanguard Morningstar Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+12.3%13.7%0.92−36.8%+245%0.120.03%
65
MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+36.2%25.0%1.37−38.1%+693%-0.04—
66
GSThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. · Capital Markets
Whole market+19.1%28.7%0.75−48.8%+524%0.02—
67
TDThe Toronto-Dominion Bank · Banks
Whole market+16.2%20.0%0.85−42.0%+317%0.08—
68
GVIiShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF · Investment Grade Bonds
Whole market+1.1%4.0%0.29−12.9%+18.6%0.100.20%
69
MSMorgan Stanley · Capital Markets
Whole market+15.8%28.9%0.65−51.3%+648%0.10—
70
IBMInternational Business Machines Corporation · IT Services
Whole market+20.4%30.3%0.77−41.1%+161%0.00—
71
VEAVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF · Developed International Equity
Whole market+9.1%16.9%0.60−35.8%+158%0.110.03%
72
TRTootsie Roll Industries, Inc. · Food & Beverages
Whole market+8.2%25.5%0.44−36.4%+68.8%0.08—
73
TTETotalEnergies SE · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+19.6%25.9%0.82−59.6%+259%0.07—
74
MUNIPIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Active Exchange-Traded Fund · Intermediate Municipal Bonds
Whole market+1.2%3.5%0.36−11.2%+22.4%0.130.35%
75
MFGMizuho Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.6%30.7%1.10−45.7%+333%0.03—
76
PGThe Procter & Gamble Company · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+5.2%18.5%0.37−23.8%+147%0.06—
77
WFCWells Fargo & Company · Banks
Whole market+13.6%29.5%0.58−64.5%+148%-0.08—
78
BTIBritish American Tobacco p.l.c. · Tobacco
Whole market+21.0%22.0%0.98−56.1%+118%-0.06—
79
MOAltria Group, Inc. · Tobacco
Whole market+20.8%21.4%0.99−53.7%+136%0.00—
80
LINLinde plc · Chemicals
Whole market+11.2%20.9%0.61−32.6%+433%0.07—
81
SAPSAP SE · Enterprise Software
Whole market+11.5%30.0%0.51−52.5%+216%0.02—
82
BHPBHP Group Limited · Metals & Mining
Whole market+18.1%31.4%0.69−44.3%+398%0.14—
83
AOMiShares Core 40/60 Moderate Allocation ETF · Balanced Allocation
Whole market+4.2%8.3%0.54−20.0%+79.9%0.100.20%
84
SMFGSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+34.5%29.4%1.16−47.6%+464%0.00—
85
UBSUBS Group AG · Banks
Whole market+24.5%30.4%0.88−59.8%+382%-0.02—
86
PGRThe Progressive Corporation · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+22.5%25.7%0.93−30.3%+892%-0.08—
87
TJXThe TJX Companies, Inc. · Apparel Retail
Whole market+17.6%22.4%0.84−42.5%+346%0.10—
88
AXPAmerican Express Company · Consumer Finance
Whole market+15.0%29.3%0.63−49.6%+474%-0.03—
89
CCitigroup Inc. · Banks
Whole market+16.3%29.4%0.66−56.5%+245%0.00—
90
CIBGrupo Cibest S.A. · Banks
Whole market+32.2%33.0%1.01−70.4%+343%-0.04—
91
VGTVanguard Information Technology ETF · Technology Equity
Whole market+16.5%26.2%0.72−35.1%+743%0.030.09%
92
PHParker-Hannifin Corporation · Industrial Machinery
Whole market+26.8%29.0%0.97−54.7%+795%0.00—
93
DBAInvesco DB Agriculture Fund · Agricultural Commodities
Whole market+9.3%13.8%0.72−35.3%+52.4%-0.310.90%
94
LMTLockheed Martin Corporation · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+17.6%24.0%0.80−36.7%+237%-0.09—
95
CBChubb Limited · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+15.8%20.4%0.82−42.6%+254%0.12—
96
BACBank of America Corporation · Banks
Whole market+3.2%26.6%0.25−49.0%+276%0.02—
97
WMKWeis Markets, Inc. · Grocery Stores
Whole market+7.9%28.7%0.41−48.6%+66.9%-0.10—
98
FTQIFirst Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF · Nasdaq Options Income
Whole market+11.0%14.8%0.78−19.5%+121%-0.040.75%
99
CMCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce · Banks
Whole market+19.7%21.7%0.94−47.3%+434%0.12—
100
BNYBank of New York Mellon Corp · Banks
Whole market+23.1%24.4%0.98−50.5%+345%0.00—

BIIB against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against BIIB, compared period by period and year by year.

How do BIIB's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at BIIB, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.

Green points earned more than BIIB with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.

0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100%120%140%−30.0%−20.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityBIIB: −1.8% a year, volatility 34.8%SPY (S&P 500): 11.7% a year, volatility 17.2%LLY: 41.9% a year, volatility 33.0%AMGN: 20.5% a year, volatility 24.9%GILD: 25.3% a year, volatility 25.0%REGN: 8.7% a year, volatility 31.6%ILMN: −11.0% a year, volatility 47.8%TMO: 1.7% a year, volatility 27.9%NVS: 18.5% a year, volatility 20.7%SNY: 1.4% a year, volatility 25.4%VRTX: 25.0% a year, volatility 29.1%NBIX: 8.8% a year, volatility 32.9%BMY: 5.7% a year, volatility 25.0%PRAX: −3.4% a year, volatility 127%SRPT: −25.8% a year, volatility 70.4%DNLI: −18.1% a year, volatility 62.2%IQV: 0.1% a year, volatility 34.8%PTCT: 8.8% a year, volatility 55.1%ALNY: −1.2% a year, volatility 51.7%DHR: −3.4% a year, volatility 29.2%IONS: 4.6% a year, volatility 43.9%ACAD: 1.3% a year, volatility 55.0%BMRN: −7.1% a year, volatility 32.8%BIIBSPY (S&P 500)LLYAMGNGILDREGNILMNTMONVSSNYNBIXBMYPRAXSRPTDNLIPTCTALNYDHRIONSACADBMRN0.0%50.0%100%150%−40.0%−20.0%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityBIIB: −1.8% a year, volatility 34.8%SPY (S&P 500): 11.7% a year, volatility 17.2%LLY: 41.9% a year, volatility 33.0%AMGN: 20.5% a year, volatility 24.9%GILD: 25.3% a year, volatility 25.0%REGN: 8.7% a year, volatility 31.6%ILMN: −11.0% a year, volatility 47.8%TMO: 1.7% a year, volatility 27.9%NVS: 18.5% a year, volatility 20.7%SNY: 1.4% a year, volatility 25.4%VRTX: 25.0% a year, volatility 29.1%NBIX: 8.8% a year, volatility 32.9%BMY: 5.7% a year, volatility 25.0%PRAX: −3.4% a year, volatility 127%SRPT: −25.8% a year, volatility 70.4%DNLI: −18.1% a year, volatility 62.2%IQV: 0.1% a year, volatility 34.8%PTCT: 8.8% a year, volatility 55.1%ALNY: −1.2% a year, volatility 51.7%DHR: −3.4% a year, volatility 29.2%IONS: 4.6% a year, volatility 43.9%ACAD: 1.3% a year, volatility 55.0%BMRN: −7.1% a year, volatility 32.8%BIIBSPY (S&P 500)LLYAMGNGILDILMNTMONVSVRTXBMYPRAXSRPTDNLIALNYDHRIONSBMRN
All figures
InvestmentAnnual returnVolatility
LLY Eli Lilly and Company+41.9%33.0%
GILD Gilead Sciences, Inc.+25.3%25.0%
VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated+25.0%29.1%
AMGN Amgen Inc.+20.5%24.9%
NVS Novartis AG+18.5%20.7%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF+11.7%17.2%
PTCT PTC Therapeutics, Inc.+8.8%55.1%
NBIX Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.+8.8%32.9%
REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.+8.7%31.6%
BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company+5.7%25.0%
IONS Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.+4.6%43.9%
TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.+1.7%27.9%
SNY Sanofi+1.4%25.4%
ACAD Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.+1.3%55.0%
IQV IQVIA Holdings Inc.+0.1%34.8%
ALNY Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.−1.2%51.7%
BIIB This pageBiogen Inc.−1.8%34.8%
DHR Danaher Corporation−3.4%29.2%
PRAX Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc.−3.4%127%
BMRN BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.−7.1%32.8%
ILMN Illumina, Inc.−11.0%47.8%
DNLI Denali Therapeutics Inc.−18.1%62.2%
SRPT Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.−25.8%70.4%
Open these 23 in EasyCompare

Has BIIB consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares BIIB with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than BIIB helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.

A green cell means the alternative earned more than BIIB over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.

InvestmentPeriods outperformed Short termLong termRisk · 5 yearsFund
1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y10YVolatilitylower is calmerSharpehigher is betterWorst declinepast 10 yearsExpenseAssetsOverlapsame sectors
BIIB Biogen Inc. (this page)—+13.2%+23.4%+33.0%+40.0%+64.4%+3.0%−8.6%−10.2%34.8%0.11−72.7%—$37B—
LLY QualifiedEli Lilly and Company3/5 short3/3 long+23.5%+26.0%+46.3%+31.3%+58.4%+148%+475%+2,172%33.0%1.23−34.5%—$1.3T—
AMGN QualifiedAmgen Inc.3/5 short3/3 long+15.5%+23.6%+45.7%+45.0%+61.4%+91.0%+154%+352%24.9%0.88−24.9%—$252B—
GILD QualifiedGilead Sciences, Inc.3/5 short3/3 long+17.7%+30.6%+29.9%+42.6%+43.0%+130%+209%+235%25.0%1.03−30.5%—$211B—
REGN QualifiedRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.3/5 short3/3 long+30.7%+26.8%+35.9%+24.3%+50.4%+18.5%+51.9%+182%31.6%0.42−59.7%—$99B—
ILMN QualifiedIllumina, Inc.3/5 short2/3 long−17.0%+14.3%+62.6%+68.6%+88.8%+108%−44.1%+71.9%47.8%-0.01−86.2%—$34B—
TMO Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchThermo Fisher Scientific Inc.1/5 short3/3 long+4.3%+19.0%+47.8%+15.5%+21.3%+54.0%+8.8%+382%27.9%0.20−40.9%—$252B—
NVS Drug Manufacturers - GeneralNovartis AG1/5 short3/3 long+14.6%+5.1%+11.7%+18.9%+32.9%+86.1%+134%+265%20.7%0.93−26.8%—$305B—
IQV Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchIQVIA Holdings Inc.1/5 short3/3 long+0.1%+10.7%+60.6%+14.7%+20.8%+35.7%+0.2%+257%34.8%0.17−51.5%—$43B—
SNY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralSanofi1/5 short3/3 long+14.1%+6.1%+5.1%−1.8%−5.4%+10.8%+7.1%+70.2%25.4%0.18−33.5%—$110B—
PTCT BiotechnologyPTC Therapeutics, Inc.0/5 short3/3 long−4.1%−10.6%−7.0%−20.7%−10.4%+237%+52.8%+874%55.1%0.43−73.8%—$5.1B—
VRTX BiotechnologyVertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated0/5 short3/3 long+9.6%+17.5%+28.7%+22.3%+29.8%+46.9%+205%+609%29.1%0.92−41.6%—$140B—
NBIX BiotechnologyNeurocrine Biosciences, Inc.0/5 short3/3 long+1.5%−12.6%+8.4%+3.4%+2.4%+28.2%+52.1%+242%32.9%0.42−46.4%—$15B—
BMY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralBristol-Myers Squibb Company0/5 short3/3 long+3.1%−2.7%+12.2%+21.7%+43.0%+42.0%+32.2%+77.9%25.0%0.35−47.7%—$129B—
ALNY BiotechnologyAlnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.0/5 short2/3 long−28.1%−28.3%−47.0%−60.5%−63.6%−2.2%−5.8%+339%51.7%0.23−67.8%—$21B—
DHR Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchDanaher Corporation0/5 short2/3 long+6.5%+15.7%+31.5%−0.4%+7.3%+20.3%−15.7%+253%29.2%0.03−43.8%—$160B—
IONS BiotechnologyIonis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.0/5 short2/3 long−5.3%−24.3%−45.3%−48.2%−44.0%−5.7%+25.1%+52.7%43.9%0.32−70.4%—$6.9B—
ACAD BiotechnologyAcadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.0/5 short2/3 long+2.6%−20.1%−7.8%−22.1%−8.5%−11.0%+6.7%−7.0%55.0%0.30−77.2%—$3.5B—
PRAX BiotechnologyPraxis Precision Medicines, Inc.0/5 short1/3 long−7.3%−10.3%−18.8%−4.3%+50.6%+1,709%−15.8%—127%0.56−98.7%—$7.6B—
BMRN BiotechnologyBioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.0/5 short0/3 long+0.5%−4.3%+3.6%−3.4%+8.7%−27.9%−30.9%−29.0%32.8%-0.06−62.1%—$11B—
SRPT BiotechnologySarepta Therapeutics, Inc.0/5 short0/3 long+4.7%+15.4%−16.9%−14.0%−25.1%−76.4%−77.5%−51.0%70.4%-0.05−93.3%—$1.9B—
DNLI BiotechnologyDenali Therapeutics Inc.0/5 short0/3 long−5.7%−18.5%+1.0%+15.9%+22.8%−3.7%−63.1%—62.2%-0.02−87.7%—$3.0B—
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How did BIIB do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where BIIB ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with BIIB and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.

Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of BIIB; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places BIIB among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.

InvestmentYears ahead of BIIB20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997
BIIB This pageBiogen Inc.—+15.1%−40.9%−6.6%+15.4%−2.0%−17.5%−1.4%−5.5%+12.3%−7.4%−9.8%+21.4%+91.0%+33.0%+64.1%+25.3%+12.3%−16.3%+15.7%+8.6%−32.0%+81.5%+10.6%−51.9%+9.1%+93.0%+318%+36.6%+44.7%
Rank among alternativesTop quarter in 6 of 2910 of 2221 of 2214 of 2211 of 2213 of 2221 of 2120 of 2116 of 2113 of 205 of 2019 of 2014 of 206 of 1812 of 182 of 187 of 1811 of 189 of 1810 of 1812 of 1818 of 181 of 1611 of 1611 of 156 of 154 of 141 of 134 of 135 of 12
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF15 of 29+17.7%+24.9%+26.2%−18.2%+28.7%+18.3%+31.2%−4.6%+21.7%+12.0%+1.2%+13.5%+32.3%+16.0%+1.9%+15.1%+26.4%−36.8%+5.1%+15.9%+4.8%+10.7%+28.2%−21.6%−11.7%−9.8%+20.4%+28.7%+33.5%
LLY Eli Lilly and Company15 of 29+40.3%+33.3%+60.9%+34.3%+66.1%+31.0%+16.2%+40.5%+17.8%−10.4%+25.4%+39.8%+7.3%+24.2%+25.2%+3.6%−6.2%−21.3%+5.7%−5.2%+2.6%−17.6%+13.1%−17.6%−14.4%+41.9%−24.3%+29.1%+93.6%
AMGN Amgen Inc.17 of 29+29.7%−6.8%+13.5%+20.4%+0.9%−2.0%+27.6%+15.2%+22.3%−7.6%+4.0%+42.3%+34.8%+36.8%+18.2%−3.0%−2.0%+24.3%−32.0%−13.4%+22.9%+3.8%+27.8%−14.4%−11.7%+6.5%+130%+93.3%−0.4%
GILD Gilead Sciences, Inc.19 of 29+36.6%+18.7%−2.0%+23.6%+29.9%−6.7%+7.9%−9.9%+3.0%−27.6%+8.6%+25.5%+105%+79.5%+12.9%−16.3%−15.4%+11.2%+41.7%+23.4%+50.2%+20.1%+71.4%+3.6%+58.2%+53.9%+31.7%+6.7%+53.6%
REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.17 of 29+9.0%−18.9%+21.7%+14.2%+30.7%+28.7%+0.5%−0.7%+2.4%−32.4%+32.3%+49.0%+60.9%+209%+68.8%+35.8%+31.7%−24.0%+20.3%+26.2%+72.7%−37.4%−20.6%−34.3%−20.2%+177%+72.8%−13.8%−46.9%
ILMN Illumina, Inc.17 of 25−1.8%−1.3%−31.1%−46.9%+2.8%+11.5%+10.6%+37.3%+70.7%−33.3%+4.0%+66.9%+99.0%+82.4%−51.9%+106%+17.8%−12.1%+50.8%+179%+48.6%+34.4%+109%−71.3%−26.9%————
TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.17 of 29+11.8%−1.7%−3.4%−17.3%+43.5%+43.7%+45.6%+18.2%+35.0%−0.1%+13.8%+13.1%+75.8%+43.2%−18.8%+16.1%+40.0%−40.9%+27.4%+50.3%−0.2%+19.8%+25.3%−15.7%+5.6%+98.2%−11.4%−61.5%+6.7%
NVS Novartis AG15 of 29+46.0%−0.5%+21.1%+6.6%−5.0%+2.2%+29.1%+6.2%+19.8%−11.8%−4.3%+19.4%+32.2%+16.1%+1.5%+12.6%+14.6%−5.4%−3.4%+11.3%+6.0%+12.3%+27.5%+2.1%−17.2%+30.6%−24.1%+21.9%+52.9%
IQV IQVIA Holdings Inc.10 of 12+14.7%−15.1%+12.9%−27.4%+57.5%+16.0%+33.0%+18.7%+28.7%+10.8%+16.6%+27.0%—————————————————
SNY Sanofi12 of 23+4.9%+1.1%+6.5%+0.5%+7.0%+0.4%+20.5%+6.0%+9.9%−1.2%−3.4%−11.9%+17.1%+36.0%+18.8%−13.4%+28.7%−26.5%+1.0%+7.2%+11.6%+8.2%+26.2%——————
PTCT PTC Therapeutics, Inc.7 of 12+68.3%+63.8%−27.8%−4.2%−34.7%+27.1%+40.0%+106%+52.9%−66.3%−37.4%+205%—————————————————
VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated15 of 29+12.6%−1.0%+40.9%+31.5%−7.1%+7.9%+32.1%+10.6%+103%−41.4%+5.9%+59.9%+77.3%+26.2%−5.2%−18.3%+41.0%+30.8%−37.9%+35.2%+162%+2.1%−34.7%−35.5%−65.6%+309%+17.6%−9.8%−18.0%
NBIX Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.13 of 29+3.9%+3.6%+10.3%+40.2%−11.1%−10.8%+50.5%−8.0%+100%−31.6%+153%+139%+24.9%−12.0%+11.3%+181%−15.0%−29.5%−56.4%−83.4%+27.2%−9.6%+19.4%−11.0%+54.9%+33.9%+260%−12.7%−21.2%
BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company13 of 29+0.1%+15.8%−26.1%+19.0%+2.9%+0.4%+27.7%−12.9%+7.7%−13.5%+19.3%+14.2%+70.0%−3.8%+39.4%+8.8%+14.8%−6.1%+4.8%+19.9%−6.2%−7.2%+29.1%−52.4%−26.2%+17.1%−2.8%+42.9%+77.1%
ALNY Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.15 of 21+69.0%+22.9%−19.5%+40.1%+30.5%+12.8%+58.0%−42.6%+239%−60.2%−2.9%+50.8%+252%+124%−17.3%−44.0%−28.7%−15.0%+35.9%+60.2%+78.8%————————
DHR Danaher Corporation16 of 29+0.4%−0.4%−1.2%−19.0%+48.6%+45.4%+49.5%+11.8%+20.0%+73.2%+9.3%+11.6%+38.3%+19.1%−0.1%+25.7%+33.0%−35.4%+21.3%+30.1%−2.7%+25.3%+39.7%+9.1%−11.7%+41.5%−11.0%+72.4%+35.2%
IONS Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.16 of 29+126%−30.9%+33.9%+24.1%−46.2%−6.4%+11.8%+7.5%+5.2%−22.8%+0.3%+55.0%+282%+44.8%−28.7%−8.9%−21.6%−10.0%+41.6%+112%−11.2%−9.2%−1.4%−70.3%+109%+70.1%−51.7%+5.1%−31.6%
ACAD Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.11 of 21+45.6%−41.4%+96.7%−31.8%−56.3%+25.0%+165%−46.3%+4.4%−19.1%+12.3%+27.1%+437%+331%−10.0%−9.1%+46.7%−91.9%+25.9%−10.8%+45.5%————————
PRAX Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc.2 of 5+283%+245%−37.6%−87.9%−64.2%————————————————————————
BMRN BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.15 of 26−9.6%−31.8%−6.8%+17.1%+0.8%+3.7%−0.7%−4.5%+7.6%−20.9%+15.9%+28.5%+43.0%+43.1%+27.7%+43.2%+5.7%−49.7%+116%+52.0%+68.7%−17.6%+10.1%−47.5%+38.7%−17.5%———
SRPT Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.12 of 28−82.3%+26.1%−25.6%+43.9%−47.2%+32.1%+18.2%+96.1%+103%−28.9%+167%−29.0%−21.1%+473%−64.6%+45.2%+121%−53.2%−55.7%−7.8%+46.8%−42.3%−18.6%−54.2%+130%−12.7%+36.0%−41.3%—
DNLI Denali Therapeutics Inc.3 of 8−19.0%−5.0%−22.8%−37.6%−46.8%+381%−15.7%+32.1%—————————————————————
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Risk and diversification

How BIIB has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

What were BIIB's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents BIIB's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1991, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.

Green means BIIB fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.

DuringBIIB fellS&P 500, same datesPeakLowTime to the lowBack at the peakTime to recover
No named crash−90.0%—Oct 1991Dec 19943.2 yearsDec 199512 months
2022 bear market−76.2%+196%Mar 2015Apr 202510.1 yearsNot yet—
Dot-com bust−66.5%+2.1%Mar 2000Apr 20001 monthSep 20005 months
Dot-com bust−62.6%−37.6%Dec 2000Mar 20032.3 yearsOct 20074.6 years
No named crash−61.9%+2.9%Oct 1997Sep 199811 monthsDec 19983 months

How did BIIB do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far BIIB, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.

Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than BIIB.

InvestmentHeld up better2023 regional bank crisisMar 20232022 bear marketJan 2022Covid crashFeb 2020Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018February 2018 volatility shockFeb 20182015 China and oil sell-offAug 20152011 euro debt crisisJul 20112010 flash crashMay 20102008 financial crisisOct 2007Dot-com bustMar 2000
BIIB This pageBiogen Inc.—−2.5%−22.4%−21.2%−21.7%−9.3%−24.6%−19.4%−0.6%−52.7%−59.8%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF5 of 10−3.4%−24.5%−33.7%−19.3%−6.5%−12.8%−17.9%−1.5%−55.2%−47.5%
LLY Eli Lilly and Company10 of 10−0.6%−11.7%−16.9%−10.2%−8.6%−19.6%−10.9%0.0%−50.0%−54.3%
AMGN Amgen Inc.8 of 10−1.2%−11.9%−18.3%−14.3%−7.4%−22.1%−12.6%−0.5%−31.3%−60.2%
GILD Gilead Sciences, Inc.7 of 10−1.6%−20.0%−13.7%−22.7%−5.5%−28.7%−18.2%−2.1%−34.3%−53.6%
REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.5 of 10−0.2%−25.8%−12.7%−17.3%−7.3%−37.7%−23.2%−7.2%−49.9%−71.6%
ILMN Illumina, Inc.1 of 9−6.7%−58.2%−31.0%−25.8%−5.3%−36.1%−48.7%−1.9%−57.9%—
TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.5 of 10−2.4%−19.8%−24.8%−17.2%−8.7%−14.7%−24.4%−3.6%−53.9%−41.8%
NVS Novartis AG7 of 10−1.1%−20.4%−25.5%−9.9%−6.6%−30.1%−14.5%−2.6%−41.7%−25.7%
IQV IQVIA Holdings Inc.2 of 6−6.8%−35.9%−48.9%−19.2%−5.3%−28.7%————
SNY Sanofi3 of 9−0.5%−33.5%−25.2%−9.0%−9.8%−30.2%−20.7%−2.8%−46.6%—
PTCT PTC Therapeutics, Inc.1 of 6−8.2%−43.4%−45.5%−36.8%−7.4%−47.7%————
VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated4 of 100.0%−19.2%−19.4%−21.2%−8.8%−43.7%−23.9%−2.7%−59.9%−86.7%
NBIX Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.1 of 10−3.5%−24.3%−27.9%−45.1%−5.7%−44.1%−32.8%−7.1%−83.0%−65.8%
BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company6 of 10−2.3%−16.0%−29.4%−22.9%−4.1%−16.3%−10.5%0.0%−39.2%−69.5%
ALNY Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.1 of 9−4.1%−28.9%−30.0%−33.7%−6.9%−48.9%−39.3%−1.5%−58.6%—
DHR Danaher Corporation4 of 10−3.2%−22.8%−25.9%−13.4%−9.8%−14.0%−21.8%−0.6%−45.7%−33.7%
IONS Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.3 of 10−5.8%−26.3%−32.6%−18.1%−8.5%−48.8%−25.7%−2.1%−45.6%−74.6%
ACAD Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.1 of 9−6.6%−52.7%−31.0%−37.5%−7.1%−59.5%−44.9%−6.1%−95.2%—
PRAX Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc.1 of 20.0%−91.2%————————
BMRN BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.0 of 10−4.5%−22.9%−26.3%−24.4%−11.6%−53.6%−23.1%−4.1%−74.9%−89.7%
SRPT Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.0 of 10−6.7%−29.7%−33.6%−39.7%−12.6%−74.3%−39.5%−5.0%−84.4%−87.3%
DNLI Denali Therapeutics Inc.1 of 5−9.8%−54.3%−45.8%−36.2%−5.5%—————
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How closely does BIIB move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares BIIB with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.

Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than BIIB's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.

InvestmentUpside captureDownside captureCapture ratioBeta
BIIB This pageBiogen Inc.35%76%0.450.26
VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated87%36%2.420.43
GILD Gilead Sciences, Inc.52%22%2.370.33
PTCT PTC Therapeutics, Inc.112%66%1.690.78
AMGN Amgen Inc.74%46%1.620.51
NVS Novartis AG69%49%1.420.47
REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.55%42%1.300.15
NBIX Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.69%54%1.260.54
ALNY Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.92%78%1.190.70
TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.104%97%1.070.79
DHR Danaher Corporation84%81%1.040.75
IQV IQVIA Holdings Inc.128%160%0.801.29
BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company55%71%0.770.40
SNY Sanofi53%71%0.760.46
IONS Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.71%105%0.670.71
ILMN Illumina, Inc.120%192%0.621.18
ACAD Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.40%89%0.450.74
SRPT Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.71%188%0.380.84
BMRN BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.20%63%0.320.37
LLY Eli Lilly and Company101%-14%—0.34
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What diversifies BIIB?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with BIIB's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing BIIB with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.

Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which BIIB lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% BIIB and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.

ETFs

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe2024202320212020201920182016201520082005200280/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
BIIB Biogen Inc. (this page)1.00−8.6%0.11−40.9%−6.6%−2.0%−17.5%−1.4%−5.5%−7.4%−9.8%−16.3%−32.0%−51.9%28.4%−1.0%
LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF0.12+119%1.48+15.9%+17.4%+17.8%−9.0%+17.8%−5.2%—————23.0%+3.0%
DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund0.11+220%1.32+29.8%+42.0%+18.0%+3.9%+18.9%−19.8%+1.1%+7.7%−20.8%——23.1%+4.6%
EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund-0.02+108%1.09+33.4%+8.0%+23.1%−13.4%+23.4%−8.7%+29.8%−25.3%———22.8%+3.0%
HDV Dividend & IncomeiShares Core High Dividend ETF0.10+87.1%1.03+14.2%+1.7%+19.6%−6.5%+20.2%−3.0%+15.8%−0.3%———23.2%+2.4%
DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF0.18+82.4%0.94+13.4%+20.1%+19.6%+2.1%+24.9%−9.5%+6.3%+4.1%———23.2%+2.2%
FTLS Broad MarketFirst Trust Long/Short Equity ETF0.03+58.7%0.94+18.8%+16.9%+19.7%+2.6%+16.2%−4.8%+6.5%+4.7%———22.8%+1.7%
AMLP EnergyAlerian MLP ETF-0.09+120%0.93+22.8%+21.4%+39.1%−32.3%+6.0%−12.6%+14.9%−25.7%———22.7%+3.5%
XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF-0.01+177%0.93+5.6%−0.6%+53.3%−32.7%+11.7%−18.2%+28.0%−21.5%−39.0%+40.1%−14.8%23.2%+4.7%

Stocks

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe2024202320212020201920182016201520082005200280/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
BIIB Biogen Inc. (this page)1.00−8.6%0.11−40.9%−6.6%−2.0%−17.5%−1.4%−5.5%−7.4%−9.8%−16.3%−32.0%−51.9%28.4%−1.0%
CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc.0.11+476%1.54+19.0%+34.1%−0.4%+10.1%+18.0%−24.5%−17.5%+12.6%−39.6%+18.7%−8.3%23.9%+7.5%
MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation0.06+644%1.37−4.0%+30.4%+61.0%−27.4%+6.0%−8.2%+0.7%+17.4%———24.0%+9.0%
MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation-0.04+368%1.37+23.7%+24.1%+44.2%+27.1%+26.7%−28.4%−28.3%−4.5%−40.4%+64.9%−27.2%23.1%+7.0%
CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc.-0.15+2,294%1.36+215%+160%+37.9%−2.4%−5.7%−16.3%+7.4%−6.0%−20.5%−25.2%−65.1%24.1%+17.5%
HWM Aerospace & DefenseHowmet Aerospace Inc.-0.14+604%1.35+103%+37.8%+11.7%−7.2%+83.6%−37.5%−11.5%−36.3%−67.4%−1.8%−33.1%22.8%+9.0%
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Common questions

What was BIIB's worst drawdown?

BIIB's deepest decline since it began trading in 1991 was 90.0%, from October 1991 to December 1994. It took 12 months from the low to climb back to its old high.

What were BIIB's best and worst years?

Over 29 full calendar years, BIIB's best year was 1999, when it returned 318%. Its worst was 2002, with a return of -51.9%.

Is there a better investment than BIIB?

Among BIIB's popular alternatives, LLY, REGN and AMGN earned more than BIIB with less volatility over the past 5 years. LLY returned 41.9% a year at 33.0% volatility, against a loss of 1.8% a year at 34.8%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, MRK (pharmaceuticals) and BBH (biotechnology) earned more than BIIB with less volatility over the past 5 years. MRK returned 14.2% a year at 24.7% volatility, against a loss of 1.8% a year at 34.8%.

Is BIIB more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. BIIB's volatility over the past 5 years was 34.8%, about twice the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, BIIB's return lands within 34.8% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

What is BIIB's Sharpe ratio?

BIIB's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.11, against 0.73 for the S&P 500, so BIIB earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

How correlated is BIIB with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, BIIB's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.06 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are close to unrelated, or move in opposite directions, so it can steady a stock portfolio. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against BIIB instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a BIIB holding.

What are the best alternatives to BIIB?

Of the 21 popular alternatives we compared, five outperformed BIIB in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: LLY, AMGN and GILD.

Did BIIB outperform the S&P 500?

BIIB finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 14 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +15.1%, against +17.7% for the index.

How did BIIB do in stock market crashes?

BIIB fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in five of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in five. The clearest case was the Covid crash, when BIIB fell 21.2% and the S&P 500 fell 33.7%.

What diversifies BIIB?

These had a low correlation with BIIB over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.12), DXJ (correlation 0.11) and EMLP (correlation -0.02); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.11), MPC (correlation 0.06) and MCK (correlation -0.04). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

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