Relative Intelligence · Pharmaceuticals
How GSK compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives
Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on GSK alone. It places GSK (GSK plc) 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 GSK stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.
Period covered: GSK's full trading record, from October 1986 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 22, 2026.
Data as of October 22, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.
This page answers the following questions about GSK
Key findings
Not AI-generatedThese key findings are generated by our proprietary relative intelligence engine, directly from the data on this page.
- Right nowOver the past 6 months, GSK fell 6.4% while the S&P 500 rose 8.0%. Its pharmaceutical peers split over the past 6 months: ABBV (AbbVie) rose 44.0%, while BNTX (BioNTech) fell 17.4%. Consistency ↓
- Stock or market?GSK rose 1.8% over the past 3 months, 2.6 points behind the pharmaceuticals ETF IHE (iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF), which rose 4.4%. The S&P 500 rose 2.5%. Its pharmaceutical peers did not move as one over the past 3 months: ABBV (AbbVie) rose 13.2%, while NVO (Novo Nordisk A/S) fell 17.4%.
- Past 1 to 3 yearsGSK has outpaced the market, rising 19.8% over the past year against 15.6% for the S&P 500 and 16.9% for the Nasdaq 100. On the flip side, its 37.6% fall from April 2022 to September 2022 took 18 months to heal. the S&P 500 fell 17.3% over those same dates. By year ↓
- Long termGSK turned $10,000 into $20,100 over the past decade, against $41,600 in the S&P 500. Growth of $10,000 ↓
- In a crashGSK fell less than the S&P 500 in five of seven sell-offs, but the 2022 bear market broke the pattern: it fell 37.6%, more than the S&P 500's 24.5%. Crash tests ↓
- DiversificationGSK is a real diversifier: a correlation of 0.24 with the S&P 500 over 5 years and 0.23 with the total US market, less closely than 80% of stocks worth at least $300 million. GSK's link to the S&P 500 has loosened: a correlation of 0.24 over the past 5 years, down from 0.58 in the 5 years before. Market capture ↓
- Better options
- Popular alternatives
- JNJ (Johnson & Johnson) and NVS (Novartis) earned more than GSK with less volatility over the past 5 years. JNJ returned 13.5% a year at 18.0% volatility, against 9.5% a year at 24.5%.
- Whole market
- 331 of the 3,641 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than GSK with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF), VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) and BRK-A (Berkshire Hathaway).
How much would $10,000 in GSK have grown?
This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in GSK over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of GSK over the same span and GSK'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.
- $10,000 invested in GSK at the end of September 1997 would have grown to $37,428 by September 2026, less than the $132,907 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- All eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of GSK, and GILD finished highest, at $1,571,438.
Choose a period
From the end of September 1997 to the end of September 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. 809 of the 1,042 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of GSK; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- GILD$2M+15,614% total · +19.1% a year
- AMGN$526,909+5,169% total · +14.6% a year
- LLY$396,376+3,864% total · +13.5% a year
- VRTX$276,941+2,669% total · +12.1% a year
- TMO$235,386+2,254% total · +11.5% a year
- JNJ$189,226+1,792% total · +10.7% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$132,907+1,229% total · +9.3% a year
- NVS$105,143+951% total · +8.5% a year
- MRK$82,561+726% total · +7.6% a year
- GSK$37,428+274% total · +4.7% a year
From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 1,473 of the 3,630 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of GSK; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- LLY$52,411+424% total · +39.3% a year
- ABBV$29,134+191% total · +23.8% a year
- VRTX$28,822+188% total · +23.6% a year
- GILD$25,496+155% total · +20.6% a year
- AMGN$23,160+132% total · +18.3% a year
- MRK$22,538+125% total · +17.6% a year
- NVS$21,146+111% total · +16.2% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
- JNJ$18,849+88.5% total · +13.5% a year
- GSK$15,444+54.4% total · +9.1% a year
GSK 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.
- GSK's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 55.2%, from January 1992 to August 1993. It took about three years from the low to climb back to its old high.
- Over 29 full calendar years, GSK's best was 1997, when it returned 55.8%, and its worst was 2008, when it lost 22.2%. It lost money in 12 of those years.
- GSK is 14.1% below its all-time high.
The company
- Market value
- $103B
- Industry
- Drug Manufacturers - General
- Price history from
- October 1986
Returns
- Past 1 year
- +19.8%total return
- Past 3 years
- +60.8%+17.2% a year
- Past 5 years
- +57.8%+9.5% a year
- Past 10 years
- +101%+7.2% a year
- Best calendar year
- +55.8%1997
- Worst calendar year
- −22.2%2008
- Losing years
- 12 of 29full calendar years
Risk
- Volatility
- 24.5%typical yearly swing, 5 years
- Sharpe ratio
- 0.50return per unit of risk, 5 years
- Worst decline ever
- −55.2%Jan 1992 to Aug 1993
- From its all-time high
- −14.1%below the peak
GSK against the whole market
Where GSK ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.
How does GSK rank among all stocks?
This section ranks GSK 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 GSK stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.
- GSK's worst decline of the past 10 years ranks in the top 4% of the 2,184 stocks worth at least $300 million, where the top fell the least.
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.
| Measure | GSK | Rank | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +19.8% | 1,269 of 3,282 | top 39% |
| 3-year return | +60.8% | 1,419 of 3,016 | top 47% |
| 5-year return | +57.8% | 1,028 of 2,897 | top 35% |
| 10-year return | +101% | 1,331 of 2,201 | bottom 41% |
| Volatility, 5 years | 24.5% | 291 of 2,897 | top 10% |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.50 | 954 of 2,897 | top 33% |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −37.6% | 95 of 2,184 | top 4% |
What has beaten GSK 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). GSK sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than GSK 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.
- 63 stocks and 268 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than GSK over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 9% of the 3,641 screened.
- Among those with at least half GSK's swings, DXJ has the best return for its risk: 26.6% a year at 19.1% volatility, 22% less than GSK's 24.5%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.34 against 0.50 for GSK.
- Among GSK's popular alternatives, NVS and JNJ are in the region. NVS earned 17.4% a year against 9.5% a year for GSK, at 20.7% volatility, 16% less than GSK's 24.5%.
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 GSK; faint dots are 88 more of the 331 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,641 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.
- Popular alternatives
- Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
- The whole market
- Others in the green region
Is there a better investment than GSK?
Investments that beat GSK over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.
- Among GSK's popular alternatives, JNJ and NVS earned more than GSK with less volatility over the past 5 years. JNJ returned 13.5% a year at 18.0% volatility, against 9.5% a year at 24.5%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, IHE (pharmaceuticals) and PPH (pharmaceuticals) earned more than GSK with less volatility over the past 5 years. IHE returned 12.9% a year at 16.8% volatility, against 9.5% a year at 24.5%.
- Across the whole market, 331 of the 3,641 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than GSK with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them VTI, VOO and BRK-A.
How this works
The table below lists investments that beat GSK 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 GSK'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 GSK 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 GSK'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× GSK's volatility counts as better.
These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than GSK's.
| Investment | Why it is better | Past 5 years | Downside | Long run | Fit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual return?higher is better | Volatility?lower is calmer | Sharpe?return per unit of risk | Worst decline?past 10 years | 10Y returntotal | Corr. with GSK?lower diversifies more | Expenseper year | |||
| GSKGSK plc · this page | +9.5% | 24.5% | 0.50 | −37.6% | +101% | 1.00 | — | ||
 SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500 | +12.5% | 17.2% | 0.78 | −33.7% | +316% | 0.24 | 0.09% | ||
| Popular alternativesbest 6 shownThe investments people most often weigh against GSK. 8 of 20 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
 JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +13.5% | 18.0% | 0.80 | −27.4% | +209% | 0.57 | — | |
 NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +17.4% | 20.7% | 0.89 | −26.8% | +234% | 0.60 | — | |
 GILDGilead Sciences, Inc. · Biotechnology | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +22.8% | 24.9% | 0.95 | −30.5% | +202% | 0.15 | — | |
 AMGNAmgen Inc. · Biotechnology | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +20.1% | 24.9% | 0.86 | −24.9% | +280% | 0.40 | — | |
 ABBVAbbVie Inc. · Specialty Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +25.5% | 23.4% | 1.09 | −45.1% | +600% | 0.39 | — | |
 MRKMerck & Co., Inc. · Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +16.1% | 24.8% | 0.73 | −43.4% | +245% | 0.45 | — | |
| Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Pharmaceuticals and the categories next to it (Biotechnology, Specialty Pharmaceuticals), plus GSK's specific themes. 15 of 258 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
IHEiShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF · Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +12.9% | 16.8% | 0.81 | −29.6% | +157% | 0.57 | 0.37% | |
PPHVanEck Pharmaceutical ETF · Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +11.6% | 15.8% | 0.78 | −29.7% | +158% | 0.70 | 0.36% | |
FTXHFirst Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF · Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +12.3% | 16.9% | 0.77 | −32.1% | +155% | 0.52 | 0.60% | |
FBTFirst Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund · Biotechnology | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +10.8% | 22.2% | 0.58 | −33.3% | +205% | 0.20 | 0.55% | |
PJPInvesco Pharmaceuticals ETF · Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +11.3% | 16.6% | 0.73 | −34.0% | +139% | 0.42 | 0.58% | |
RPRXRoyalty Pharma plc · Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +13.8% | 23.8% | 0.67 | −49.7% | — | 0.33 | — | |
| The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 843 of 3,429 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
 BRK-ABerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +13.5% | 17.2% | 0.83 | −30.4% | +281% | 0.48 | — | |
LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Dividend Equity | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +16.9% | 11.1% | 1.48 | −32.4% | +194% | 0.60 | 0.40% | |
 COSTCostco Wholesale Corporation · Discount Retail | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +17.4% | 22.9% | 0.82 | −31.4% | +692% | 0.33 | — | |
 CORCencora, Inc. · Health Care Distribution | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +23.6% | 22.8% | 1.05 | −32.4% | +403% | 0.38 | — | |
 EDConsolidated Edison, Inc. · Electric Utilities | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +12.7% | 18.9% | 0.73 | −30.9% | +123% | 0.37 | — | |
 GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes | +17.1% | 19.0% | 0.93 | −26.4% | +206% | 0.31 | 0.40% | |
 PGRThe Progressive Corporation · Property & Casualty Insurance | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +21.8% | 25.7% | 0.90 | −30.3% | +849% | 0.30 | — | |
 VIGVanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF · Dividend Growth | Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +10.4% | 14.1% | 0.77 | −31.7% | +258% | 0.41 | 0.04% | |
What these numbers mean for GSK
- Annual return
- GSK returned 9.5% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.5% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $15,800. 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
- GSK's volatility over the past 5 years was 24.5%, 1.4 times the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, GSK's return lands within 24.5% 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
- GSK's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.50, against 0.78 for the S&P 500, so GSK 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
- GSK's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 37.6%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 37.6% fall takes a 60.3% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
- Correlation
- Over the past 5 years, GSK's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.24 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against GSK instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a GSK holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 331 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than GSK with less volatility
Out of 3,641 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.
| # | Investment | Found in | Annual return | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline | 10Y return | Corr. with GSK | Expense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BRK-ABerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance | Whole market | +13.5% | 17.2% | 0.83 | −30.4% | +281% | 0.48 | — |
| 2 | LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Dividend Equity | Whole market | +16.9% | 11.1% | 1.48 | −32.4% | +194% | 0.60 | 0.40% |
| 3 | COSTCostco Wholesale Corporation · Discount Retail | Whole market | +17.4% | 22.9% | 0.82 | −31.4% | +692% | 0.33 | — |
| 4 | CORCencora, Inc. · Health Care Distribution | Whole market | +23.6% | 22.8% | 1.05 | −32.4% | +403% | 0.38 | — |
| 5 | EDConsolidated Edison, Inc. · Electric Utilities | Whole market | +12.7% | 18.9% | 0.73 | −30.9% | +123% | 0.37 | — |
| 6 | DFIVDimensional - International Value ETF · International Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +14.8% | 16.4% | 0.93 | −25.4% | — | 0.51 | 0.27% |
| 7 | AVLVAvantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +13.9% | 16.9% | 0.86 | −19.5% | — | 0.31 | 0.15% |
| 8 | OEFiShares S&P 100 ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +14.1% | 17.8% | 0.83 | −31.4% | +360% | 0.19 | 0.20% |
| 9 | DGRWWisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund · US Dividend Equity | Whole market | +11.7% | 14.0% | 0.87 | −32.0% | +271% | 0.36 | 0.28% |
| 10 |  RYRoyal Bank of Canada · Banks | Whole market | +17.5% | 18.2% | 0.98 | −40.0% | +361% | 0.33 | — |
| 11 | IOOiShares Global 100 ETF · Global Equity | Whole market | +15.6% | 17.2% | 0.94 | −31.4% | +357% | 0.27 | 0.40% |
| 12 | DIVOAmplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF · Covered Call Income | Whole market | +10.9% | 11.9% | 0.94 | −30.0% | — | 0.42 | 0.56% |
| 13 | JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals | Popular alternative | +13.5% | 18.0% | 0.80 | −27.4% | +209% | 0.57 | — |
| 14 | NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals | Popular alternative | +17.4% | 20.7% | 0.89 | −26.8% | +234% | 0.60 | — |
| 15 | JAVAJPMorgan Active Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +11.4% | 14.5% | 0.82 | −16.5% | — | — | 0.44% |
| 16 | GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold | Whole market | +17.1% | 19.0% | 0.93 | −26.4% | +206% | 0.31 | 0.40% |
| 17 |  MPLXMPLX Lp · Oil & Gas Midstream | Whole market | +24.0% | 18.8% | 1.25 | −75.2% | +337% | 0.15 | — |
| 18 | TDIVFirst Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund · Technology Equity | Whole market | +16.5% | 21.3% | 0.83 | −32.0% | +384% | 0.19 | 0.50% |
| 19 | FFEBFT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - February · US Equity Buffer | Whole market | +10.7% | 10.8% | 1.00 | −22.8% | — | 0.27 | 0.85% |
| 20 | CHCOCity Holding Company · Regional Banks | Whole market | +15.1% | 22.8% | 0.73 | −32.3% | +272% | -0.01 | — |
| 21 | QVMLInvesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF · US Multifactor Equity | Whole market | +12.8% | 16.6% | 0.81 | −23.5% | — | 0.26 | 0.11% |
| 22 | IHEiShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF · Pharmaceuticals | Same or nearby category | +12.9% | 16.8% | 0.81 | −29.6% | +157% | 0.57 | 0.37% |
| 23 | DBJPXtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF · Japan Equity | Whole market | +20.9% | 19.3% | 1.09 | −31.3% | +339% | 0.34 | 0.45% |
| 24 | PPHVanEck Pharmaceutical ETF · Pharmaceuticals | Same or nearby category | +11.6% | 15.8% | 0.78 | −29.7% | +158% | 0.70 | 0.36% |
| 25 | FTXHFirst Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF · Pharmaceuticals | Same or nearby category | +12.3% | 16.9% | 0.77 | −32.1% | +155% | 0.52 | 0.60% |
| 26 |  VVisa Inc. · Payment Processing | Whole market | +13.2% | 22.9% | 0.66 | −36.4% | +435% | 0.33 | — |
| 27 | EWJViShares MSCI Japan Value ETF · Japan Equity | Whole market | +15.1% | 18.2% | 0.87 | −30.1% | — | 0.45 | 0.15% |
| 28 | SIXAETC 6 Meridian Mega Cap Equity ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +12.9% | 12.7% | 1.02 | −18.4% | — | 0.46 | 0.31% |
| 29 | QSPTFT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - September · Nasdaq-100 Buffer | Whole market | +11.9% | 14.9% | 0.83 | −22.6% | — | 0.12 | 0.90% |
| 30 | DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · Japan Equity | Whole market | +26.6% | 19.1% | 1.34 | −39.1% | +415% | 0.37 | 0.48% |
| 31 |  KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Nonalcoholic Beverages | Whole market | +15.2% | 16.8% | 0.93 | −37.0% | +205% | 0.59 | — |
| 32 |  WMTWalmart Inc. · Discount Retail | Whole market | +21.1% | 22.6% | 0.97 | −25.7% | +521% | 0.35 | — |
| 33 |  TDThe Toronto-Dominion Bank · Banks | Whole market | +16.5% | 20.0% | 0.87 | −42.0% | +319% | 0.25 | — |
| 34 |  BTIBritish American Tobacco p.l.c. · Tobacco | Whole market | +19.4% | 22.0% | 0.92 | −56.1% | +110% | 0.23 | — |
| 35 |  MOAltria Group, Inc. · Tobacco | Whole market | +18.3% | 21.4% | 0.90 | −53.7% | +133% | 0.28 | — |
| 36 |  CBChubb Limited · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +15.8% | 20.4% | 0.82 | −42.6% | +256% | 0.54 | — |
| 37 |  CMCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce · Banks | Whole market | +19.5% | 21.6% | 0.94 | −47.3% | +409% | 0.32 | — |
| 38 |  TRVThe Travelers Companies, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +22.4% | 22.3% | 1.02 | −46.3% | +360% | 0.39 | — |
| 39 |  EPDEnterprise Products Partners L.P. · Oil & Gas Midstream | Whole market | +16.3% | 17.1% | 0.98 | −58.1% | +178% | 0.21 | — |
| 40 |  BMOBank of Montreal · Banks | Whole market | +14.0% | 21.4% | 0.72 | −51.0% | +304% | 0.30 | — |
| 41 |  BNSThe Bank of Nova Scotia · Banks | Whole market | +13.2% | 20.0% | 0.73 | −46.9% | +191% | 0.34 | — |
| 42 |  KMIKinder Morgan, Inc. · Oil & Gas Midstream | Whole market | +20.1% | 22.3% | 0.94 | −55.1% | +159% | 0.15 | — |
| 43 |  CTASCintas Corporation · Business Services | Whole market | +17.1% | 23.1% | 0.80 | −48.4% | +834% | 0.24 | — |
| 44 |  CMECME Group Inc. · Capital Markets | Whole market | +11.6% | 20.8% | 0.63 | −37.4% | +334% | 0.28 | — |
| 45 |  RSGRepublic Services, Inc. · Waste Management | Whole market | +14.1% | 18.6% | 0.80 | −34.0% | +461% | 0.29 | — |
| 46 |  CCEPCoca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC · Food & Beverages | Whole market | +20.4% | 23.3% | 0.92 | −48.8% | +294% | 0.52 | — |
| 47 |  SCHGSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF · US Large-Cap Growth | Whole market | +12.8% | 22.5% | 0.65 | −34.5% | +438% | 0.09 | 0.04% |
| 48 |  AMEAMETEK, Inc. · Electronic Instruments | Whole market | +13.5% | 22.2% | 0.68 | −42.7% | +466% | 0.29 | — |
| 49 |  TRPTC Energy Corporation · Oil & Gas Midstream | Whole market | +10.9% | 21.9% | 0.58 | −41.6% | +165% | 0.41 | — |
| 50 |  QUALiShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity | Whole market | +11.2% | 17.3% | 0.70 | −34.1% | +290% | 0.34 | 0.15% |
| 51 | SDCIUSCF SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Strategy No K-1 Fund · Broad Commodities | Whole market | +21.1% | 18.4% | 1.14 | −45.7% | — | 0.10 | 0.80% |
| 52 |  SLFSun Life Financial Inc. · Life Insurance | Whole market | +11.9% | 19.4% | 0.68 | −50.8% | +260% | 0.35 | — |
| 53 |  LINLinde plc · Chemicals | Whole market | +11.7% | 20.9% | 0.64 | −32.6% | +404% | 0.47 | — |
| 54 | TPYPTortoise North American Pipeline ETF · Energy Infrastructure | Whole market | +17.2% | 17.3% | 1.01 | −51.9% | +188% | 0.27 | 0.40% |
| 55 | WRBW. R. Berkley Corporation · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +18.6% | 22.9% | 0.86 | −45.3% | +466% | 0.37 | — |
| 56 | FNDFSchwab Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF · International Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +13.6% | 16.3% | 0.87 | −40.2% | +193% | 0.52 | 0.25% |
| 57 | VYMIVanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF · International Dividend Equity | Whole market | +13.2% | 14.8% | 0.92 | −40.0% | +174% | 0.51 | 0.07% |
| 58 | PBAPembina Pipeline Corporation · Oil & Gas Midstream | Whole market | +13.8% | 21.6% | 0.71 | −70.9% | +173% | 0.38 | — |
| 59 | HDViShares Core High Dividend ETF · High Dividend Yield | Whole market | +13.3% | 13.0% | 1.03 | −37.0% | +177% | 0.48 | 0.08% |
| 60 | AVUVAvantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF · US Small-Cap Value | Whole market | +10.7% | 22.1% | 0.57 | −49.4% | — | 0.22 | 0.25% |
| 61 | DGXQuest Diagnostics Incorporated · Medical Diagnostics | Whole market | +13.0% | 22.5% | 0.66 | −36.6% | +256% | 0.43 | — |
| 62 | AVDVAvantis International Small Cap Value ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +13.6% | 17.4% | 0.82 | −43.0% | — | 0.46 | 0.36% |
| 63 | EMXCiShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF · Emerging Markets Equity | Whole market | +10.9% | 19.5% | 0.63 | −42.8% | — | 0.25 | 0.25% |
| 64 |  DFACDimensional - US Core Equity 2 ETF · US Total Market | Whole market | +11.3% | 17.0% | 0.72 | −23.1% | — | 0.27 | 0.21% |
| 65 | RWLInvesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +13.7% | 14.4% | 0.97 | −36.1% | +287% | 0.36 | 0.39% |
| 66 | FDLFirst Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund · High Dividend Yield | Whole market | +14.6% | 14.5% | 1.02 | −41.4% | +207% | 0.42 | 0.43% |
| 67 | VLUEiShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +16.2% | 18.4% | 0.91 | −39.5% | +286% | 0.26 | 0.15% |
| 68 | JQUAJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity | Whole market | +13.5% | 15.7% | 0.89 | −32.9% | — | 0.31 | 0.12% |
| 69 | BBCAJPMorgan BetaBuilders Canada ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +11.5% | 16.7% | 0.74 | −42.8% | — | 0.43 | 0.19% |
| 70 | SEICSEI Investments Company · Asset Management | Whole market | +11.7% | 22.4% | 0.61 | −51.8% | +156% | 0.07 | — |
| 71 | IDViShares International Select Dividend ETF · International Dividend Equity | Whole market | +12.7% | 15.5% | 0.85 | −42.5% | +159% | 0.50 | 0.50% |
| 72 | THGThe Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +15.2% | 22.9% | 0.73 | −40.1% | +309% | 0.33 | — |
| 73 | RECSColumbia Research Enhanced Core ETF · Active Core Equity | Whole market | +13.3% | 16.4% | 0.85 | −34.3% | +237% | 0.27 | 0.15% |
| 74 | PDBCInvesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF · Broad Commodities | Whole market | +12.0% | 19.3% | 0.69 | −40.7% | +152% | 0.07 | 0.74% |
| 75 | GCOWPacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF · Global Equity | Whole market | +14.4% | 13.6% | 1.06 | −37.6% | +170% | 0.52 | 0.60% |
| 76 | SPMOInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF · US Momentum Equity | Whole market | +18.1% | 20.9% | 0.91 | −30.9% | +485% | 0.20 | 0.13% |
| 77 | DSIiShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF · US ESG Equity | Whole market | +11.7% | 18.1% | 0.70 | −34.1% | +316% | 0.22 | 0.25% |
| 78 | IXCiShares Global Energy ETF · Energy Equity | Whole market | +20.9% | 23.2% | 0.94 | −64.2% | +183% | 0.25 | 0.37% |
| 79 | NINiSource Inc · Gas Utilities | Whole market | +15.5% | 20.3% | 0.81 | −30.9% | +166% | 0.32 | — |
| 80 | MAINMain Street Capital Corporation · Business Development Companies | Whole market | +13.0% | 21.8% | 0.67 | −64.5% | +240% | 0.02 | — |
| 81 | NJRNew Jersey Resources Corporation · Gas Utilities | Whole market | +11.2% | 20.6% | 0.62 | −50.7% | +126% | 0.29 | — |
| 82 | FTGCFirst Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund · Broad Commodities | Whole market | +13.1% | 15.6% | 0.87 | −35.9% | +135% | 0.11 | 0.98% |
| 83 | GNRState Street SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF · Natural Resources Equity | Whole market | +10.5% | 20.1% | 0.60 | −48.6% | +169% | 0.39 | 0.40% |
| 84 | ILFiShares Latin America 40 ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +15.6% | 23.1% | 0.75 | −57.8% | +93.1% | 0.25 | 0.47% |
| 85 | NWENorthwestern Energy Group Inc · Electric Utilities | Whole market | +11.2% | 21.6% | 0.60 | −39.3% | +107% | 0.31 | — |
| 86 | WTVWisdomTree U.S. Value Fund · US Value Equity | Whole market | +13.6% | 17.0% | 0.84 | −42.2% | +306% | 0.29 | 0.12% |
| 87 | SPHQInvesco S&P 500 Quality ETF · US Quality Equity | Whole market | +11.7% | 16.7% | 0.75 | −31.6% | +295% | 0.38 | 0.20% |
| 88 | BATRAAtlanta Braves Holdings, Inc. · Entertainment | Whole market | +13.8% | 21.8% | 0.71 | −54.2% | +216% | 0.23 | — |
| 89 | HDEFXtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF · International Dividend Equity | Whole market | +12.9% | 14.2% | 0.93 | −36.4% | +135% | 0.56 | 0.09% |
| 90 | PWVInvesco Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +13.7% | 14.2% | 0.98 | −37.6% | +226% | 0.40 | 0.55% |
| 91 | BATRKAtlanta Braves Holdings, Inc. · Entertainment | Whole market | +12.1% | 22.4% | 0.63 | −54.9% | +188% | 0.20 | — |
| 92 | DBEFXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +12.9% | 13.8% | 0.95 | −32.5% | +204% | 0.53 | 0.35% |
| 93 | DSTLDistillate U.S. Fundamental Stability & Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +11.7% | 16.2% | 0.77 | −33.1% | — | 0.36 | 0.39% |
| 94 | DHSWisdomTree U.S. High Dividend Fund · High Dividend Yield | Whole market | +12.4% | 13.9% | 0.91 | −37.4% | +159% | 0.38 | 0.38% |
| 95 | LTCLTC Properties, Inc. · Healthcare REITs | Whole market | +12.1% | 21.2% | 0.65 | −51.4% | +52.9% | 0.14 | — |
| 96 | RODMHartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF · Developed International Equity | Whole market | +10.6% | 13.5% | 0.82 | −36.0% | +142% | 0.54 | 0.29% |
| 97 | FGDFirst Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund · Global Equity | Whole market | +11.7% | 14.8% | 0.82 | −44.8% | +155% | 0.44 | 0.55% |
| 98 | QUSState Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF · US Multifactor Equity | Whole market | +11.1% | 14.2% | 0.81 | −33.8% | +276% | 0.39 | 0.15% |
| 99 | PKWInvesco BuyBack Achievers ETF · US Buyback Equity | Whole market | +10.7% | 17.3% | 0.68 | −40.9% | +261% | 0.29 | 0.63% |
| 100 | FVALFidelity Value Factor ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +12.6% | 16.4% | 0.81 | −37.3% | +290% | 0.26 | 0.15% |
GSK against its popular alternatives
The investments people most often weigh against GSK, compared period by period and year by year.
How do GSK'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 GSK, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.
- ABBV, NVS and JNJ were both more rewarding and calmer than GSK over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- 12 of the 20 popular alternatives earned less than GSK over the past 5 years while swinging more, the weaker corner of the map.
- Over the past 5 years, GSK returned 9.6% a year, less than the S&P 500's 12.5%, with higher volatility (24.5% against 17.2%).
Green points earned more than GSK with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.
All figures
| Investment | Annual return | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| LLY Eli Lilly and Company | +41.2% | 32.8% |
| ABBV AbbVie Inc. | +25.5% | 23.4% |
| VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | +23.9% | 29.1% |
| GILD Gilead Sciences, Inc. | +22.8% | 24.9% |
| AMGN Amgen Inc. | +20.1% | 24.9% |
| NVS Novartis AG | +17.4% | 20.7% |
| MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | +16.2% | 24.8% |
| JNJ Johnson & Johnson | +13.5% | 18.0% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | +12.5% | 17.2% |
| GSK This pageGSK plc | +9.6% | 24.5% |
| AZN AstraZeneca PLC | +8.9% | 35.7% |
| REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | +7.6% | 31.2% |
| BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | +6.1% | 25.0% |
| CVS CVS Health Corp. | +5.0% | 30.4% |
| TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | +2.3% | 27.8% |
| IQV IQVIA Holdings Inc. | +1.6% | 34.8% |
| SNY Sanofi | +0.5% | 25.4% |
| BIIB Biogen Inc. | −0.8% | 34.8% |
| PFE Pfizer Inc. | −1.7% | 25.4% |
| DHR Danaher Corporation | −3.2% | 29.2% |
| NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | −4.3% | 39.1% |
| BNTX BioNTech SE | −20.1% | 52.5% |
Has GSK consistently beaten its popular alternatives?
This section compares GSK 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 GSK helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.
- Eight of the 21 popular alternatives, led by LLY, ABBV and AMGN, outperformed GSK in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- LLY, ABBV and AMGN outperformed GSK in every long-term period and in all but one short-term period, the most consistent record in the group.
- LLY, GILD and NVS earned more for the risk they took than GSK (a higher Sharpe ratio) and fell less in their worst decline of the past 10 years.
A green cell means the alternative earned more than GSK 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.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpehigher is better | Worst declinepast 10 years | Expense | Assets | Overlapsame sectors | ||
| GSK GSK plc (this page) | — | +1.0% | +1.8% | −6.4% | +5.9% | +19.8% | +60.8% | +57.8% | +101% | 24.5% | 0.50 | −37.6% | — | $103B | — |
| LLY QualifiedEli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.7% | +12.5% | +42.3% | +21.5% | +61.9% | +131% | +461% | +1,870% | 32.8% | 1.22 | −34.5% | — | $1.2T | — |
| ABBV QualifiedAbbVie Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +8.1% | +13.2% | +44.0% | +28.0% | +28.3% | +117% | +212% | +600% | 23.4% | 1.09 | −45.1% | — | $503B | — |
| AMGN QualifiedAmgen Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +9.0% | +22.9% | +31.0% | +39.3% | +55.3% | +79.2% | +150% | +280% | 24.9% | 0.86 | −24.9% | — | $242B | — |
| GILD QualifiedGilead Sciences, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +3.0% | +21.3% | +19.7% | +31.6% | +32.6% | +123% | +179% | +202% | 24.9% | 0.95 | −30.5% | — | $195B | — |
| NVS QualifiedNovartis AG | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.6% | +2.1% | +6.1% | +15.0% | +21.2% | +78.9% | +123% | +234% | 20.7% | 0.89 | −26.8% | — | $297B | — |
| JNJ QualifiedJohnson & Johnson | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.6% | +5.2% | +19.6% | +31.1% | +41.8% | +92.5% | +88.0% | +209% | 18.0% | 0.80 | −27.4% | — | $645B | — |
| VRTX QualifiedVertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | 5/5 short2/3 long | +3.9% | +13.2% | +22.3% | +18.4% | +25.5% | +45.6% | +192% | +580% | 29.1% | 0.89 | −41.6% | — | $136B | — |
| MRK QualifiedMerck & Co., Inc. | 4/5 short2/3 long | −2.4% | +16.2% | +32.1% | +41.2% | +73.0% | +56.1% | +111% | +245% | 24.8% | 0.73 | −43.4% | — | $363B | — |
| IQV Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchIQVIA Holdings Inc. | 5/5 short1/3 long | +3.0% | +40.2% | +58.8% | +23.5% | +27.8% | +51.5% | +8.3% | +273% | 34.8% | 0.22 | −51.5% | — | $46B | — |
| TMO Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchThermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 4/5 short1/3 long | +2.7% | +28.6% | +31.9% | +14.5% | +19.7% | +47.9% | +12.1% | +355% | 27.8% | 0.22 | −40.9% | — | $250B | — |
| REGN BiotechnologyRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 4/5 short1/3 long | +1.9% | +25.9% | +10.0% | +5.9% | +40.8% | +3.9% | +44.5% | +128% | 31.2% | 0.39 | −59.7% | — | $84B | — |
| DHR Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchDanaher Corporation | 3/5 short1/3 long | +4.1% | +28.5% | +25.3% | +0.3% | +6.1% | +14.6% | −15.2% | +240% | 29.2% | 0.03 | −43.8% | — | $161B | — |
| AZN Drug Manufacturers - GeneralAstraZeneca PLC | 2/5 short1/3 long | +2.5% | +2.3% | −10.8% | −4.9% | +4.1% | +46.6% | +53.2% | +276% | 35.7% | 0.42 | −28.7% | — | $268B | — |
| NVO Drug Manufacturers - GeneralNovo Nordisk A/S | 1/5 short1/3 long | +0.1% | −17.4% | +2.0% | −23.8% | −25.2% | −57.2% | −19.5% | +136% | 39.1% | 0.09 | −75.2% | — | $175B | — |
| BMY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralBristol-Myers Squibb Company | 5/5 short0/3 long | +2.3% | +4.8% | +9.5% | +21.6% | +48.2% | +29.6% | +34.5% | +82.7% | 25.0% | 0.36 | −47.7% | — | $129B | — |
| PFE Drug Manufacturers - GeneralPfizer Inc. | 5/5 short0/3 long | +8.9% | +24.7% | +17.4% | +27.0% | +31.7% | +19.6% | −8.2% | +58.7% | 25.4% | 0.06 | −58.9% | — | $173B | — |
| BIIB Drug Manufacturers - GeneralBiogen Inc. | 5/5 short0/3 long | +12.6% | +28.4% | +33.6% | +42.8% | +71.8% | +0.2% | −4.1% | −12.7% | 34.8% | 0.14 | −72.7% | — | $38B | — |
| CVS Medical - Healthcare PlansCVS Health Corp. | 3/5 short0/3 long | +9.3% | −11.4% | +26.4% | +21.5% | +19.7% | +53.4% | +27.6% | +46.5% | 30.4% | 0.32 | −56.8% | — | $121B | — |
| HLN Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & GenericHaleon plc | 3/5 short0/3 long | +12.1% | +5.9% | +11.5% | +4.3% | +10.4% | +30.8% | — | — | — | — | −24.9% | — | $46B | — |
| SNY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralSanofi | 0/5 short0/3 long | −1.3% | −4.2% | −7.0% | −9.5% | −12.7% | −8.8% | +2.6% | +65.1% | 25.4% | 0.15 | −33.5% | — | $101B | — |
| BNTX BiotechnologyBioNTech SE | 0/5 short0/3 long | −11.1% | −2.4% | −17.4% | −7.3% | −15.6% | −3.1% | −67.4% | — | 52.5% | -0.17 | −82.3% | — | $23B | — |
How did GSK do year by year?
This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where GSK ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with GSK and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, GSK finished in the top quarter in three of 29 years and in the bottom quarter in seven. In 2025, it ranked 2 of 22.
- GSK finished ahead of the S&P 500 in ten of its 29 full calendar years.
- Among its popular alternatives, IQV came out ahead of GSK most often, in nine of the 12 years both traded.
Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of GSK; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places GSK among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.
| Investment | Years ahead of GSK | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSK This pageGSK plc | — | +51.3% | −5.2% | +9.8% | −16.8% | +27.1% | −17.7% | +29.2% | +13.8% | −3.0% | +2.1% | −0.3% | −15.7% | +28.9% | +0.6% | +22.7% | −2.1% | +19.2% | −22.2% | −0.8% | +7.9% | +9.9% | +5.6% | +28.8% | −21.6% | −9.7% | +4.1% | −17.9% | +48.2% | +55.8% |
| Rank among alternatives | Top quarter in 3 of 29 | 2 of 22 | 15 of 22 | 8 of 22 | 17 of 21 | 12 of 21 | 21 of 21 | 6 of 20 | 8 of 20 | 19 of 20 | 7 of 20 | 15 of 20 | 20 of 20 | 14 of 19 | 17 of 18 | 6 of 18 | 14 of 18 | 9 of 18 | 12 of 18 | 13 of 18 | 15 of 18 | 8 of 18 | 10 of 18 | 7 of 18 | 10 of 17 | 7 of 17 | 17 of 17 | 13 of 17 | 5 of 17 | 4 of 17 |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 17 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 Company | 17 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% |
| ABBV AbbVie Inc. | 8 of 13 | +33.1% | +18.9% | −0.2% | +24.0% | +32.4% | +27.7% | +1.5% | −1.0% | +60.1% | +9.8% | −6.5% | +27.9% | +60.7% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AMGN Amgen Inc. | 15 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% |
| NVS Novartis AG | 14 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% |
| JNJ Johnson & Johnson | 17 of 29 | +47.5% | −4.8% | −8.6% | +6.0% | +11.4% | +10.8% | +16.2% | −5.1% | +24.4% | +15.3% | +1.2% | +17.3% | +34.6% | +10.8% | +9.9% | −0.6% | +11.3% | −7.7% | +3.6% | +12.4% | −3.4% | +25.2% | −2.0% | −7.9% | +14.0% | +14.2% | +12.5% | +29.0% | +34.3% |
| VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | 16 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% |
| MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 14 of 29 | +9.8% | −6.3% | +1.0% | +49.4% | +1.8% | −7.2% | +22.3% | +40.0% | −1.5% | +15.0% | −3.9% | +16.9% | +26.9% | +13.1% | +9.6% | +2.9% | +26.7% | −45.3% | +37.3% | +42.8% | +4.0% | −27.7% | −11.2% | −1.2% | −36.0% | +41.8% | −7.7% | +41.6% | +35.7% |
| IQV IQVIA Holdings Inc. | 9 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% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 19 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% |
| 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% |
| DHR Danaher Corporation | 20 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% |
| AZN AstraZeneca PLC | 17 of 29 | +38.0% | −1.2% | +0.8% | +20.4% | +17.9% | +2.9% | +37.4% | +13.9% | +35.3% | −16.7% | +0.1% | +24.6% | +32.0% | +8.6% | +6.0% | +3.5% | +20.4% | +0.3% | −17.1% | +12.7% | +36.9% | −22.0% | +38.2% | −23.2% | −7.9% | +28.7% | −5.3% | +27.0% | +31.8% |
| NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | 18 of 29 | −39.2% | −15.9% | +54.8% | +22.6% | +63.5% | +23.3% | +28.7% | −11.8% | +54.3% | −36.6% | +39.3% | +16.7% | +15.3% | +44.0% | +4.1% | +79.3% | +27.2% | −19.8% | +57.4% | +51.3% | +5.6% | +34.6% | +43.5% | −27.0% | +14.4% | +39.0% | −1.9% | −7.3% | +54.9% |
| BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | 15 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% |
| PFE Pfizer Inc. | 17 of 29 | +0.6% | −2.2% | −41.3% | −10.4% | +66.7% | +3.4% | −6.7% | +25.1% | +16.1% | +4.4% | +7.3% | +5.4% | +26.5% | +20.6% | +28.8% | +0.6% | +8.1% | −16.9% | −8.2% | +15.3% | −10.6% | −22.3% | +17.7% | −22.2% | −12.5% | +43.0% | −21.5% | +68.8% | +82.0% |
| BIIB Biogen Inc. | 14 of 29 | +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% |
| CVS CVS Health Corp. | 17 of 29 | +84.3% | −40.8% | −12.5% | −7.6% | +54.9% | −5.1% | +17.3% | −7.0% | −5.8% | −17.8% | +2.9% | +36.6% | +50.4% | +20.3% | +18.9% | +9.1% | +13.2% | −27.2% | +29.4% | +17.6% | +17.8% | +25.7% | +45.9% | −15.0% | −50.3% | +51.1% | −27.1% | +72.6% | +55.5% |
| HLN Haleon plc | 1 of 3 | +7.8% | +18.1% | +4.1% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SNY Sanofi | 10 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% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BNTX BioNTech SE | 3 of 6 | −16.4% | +8.0% | −29.7% | −41.0% | +216% | +141% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Risk and diversification
How GSK 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 GSK's worst declines?
A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents GSK's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1986, 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.
- The slowest recovery came after GSK fell 51.9% from January 1999 to July 2002; it did not regain that peak until February 2007, five years later.
- In two of GSK's three worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
Green means GSK fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.
| During | GSK fell | S&P 500, same dates | Peak | Low | Time to the low | Back at the peak | Time to recover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No named crash | −55.2% | — | Jan 1992 | Aug 1993 | 19 months | Sep 1996 | 3.1 years |
| Dot-com bust | −51.9% | −34.7% | Jan 1999 | Jul 2002 | 3.5 years | Feb 2007 | 4.6 years |
| 2008 financial crisis | −49.6% | −52.4% | Apr 2007 | Mar 2009 | 23 months | Apr 2012 | 3.1 years |
| No named crash | −46.2% | — | Jul 1987 | Aug 1988 | 13 months | May 1990 | 21 months |
| 2022 bear market | −37.6% | −17.3% | Apr 2022 | Sep 2022 | 5 months | Mar 2024 | 18 months |
How did GSK do in stock market crashes?
This section measures how far GSK, 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.
- GSK fell less than the S&P 500 in seven of the ten crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the 2008 financial crisis, when GSK fell 46.6% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.
- Among its popular alternatives, JNJ held up best, falling less than GSK in seven of the ten crashes they both traded through.
Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than GSK.
| Investment | Held up better | 2023 regional bank crisisMar 2023 | 2022 bear marketJan 2022 | Covid crashFeb 2020 | Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018 | February 2018 volatility shockFeb 2018 | 2015 China and oil sell-offAug 2015 | 2011 euro debt crisisJul 2011 | 2010 flash crashMay 2010 | 2008 financial crisisOct 2007 | Dot-com bustMar 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSK This pageGSK plc | — | −0.3% | −37.6% | −26.5% | −11.5% | −4.3% | −15.7% | −12.4% | −2.0% | −46.6% | −45.1% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 3 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 Company | 5 of 10 | −0.6% | −11.7% | −16.9% | −10.2% | −8.6% | −19.6% | −10.9% | 0.0% | −50.0% | −54.3% |
| ABBV AbbVie Inc. | 1 of 6 | −1.5% | −21.9% | −32.1% | −18.1% | −5.8% | −29.8% | — | — | — | — |
| AMGN Amgen Inc. | 4 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. | 3 of 10 | −1.6% | −20.0% | −13.7% | −22.7% | −5.5% | −28.7% | −18.2% | −2.1% | −34.3% | −53.6% |
| NVS Novartis AG | 5 of 10 | −1.1% | −20.4% | −25.5% | −9.9% | −6.6% | −30.1% | −14.5% | −2.6% | −41.7% | −25.7% |
| JNJ Johnson & Johnson | 7 of 10 | −1.1% | −12.7% | −25.4% | −16.9% | −8.2% | −9.0% | −9.8% | −0.1% | −34.4% | −35.9% |
| VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | 2 of 10 | 0.0% | −19.2% | −19.4% | −21.2% | −8.8% | −43.7% | −23.9% | −2.7% | −59.9% | −86.7% |
| MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 3 of 10 | −2.4% | −10.8% | −19.3% | −9.7% | −6.6% | −18.2% | −17.4% | −2.3% | −63.3% | −57.5% |
| IQV IQVIA Holdings Inc. | 1 of 6 | −6.8% | −35.9% | −48.9% | −19.2% | −5.3% | −28.7% | — | — | — | — |
| TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 4 of 10 | −2.4% | −19.8% | −24.8% | −17.2% | −8.7% | −14.7% | −24.4% | −3.6% | −53.9% | −41.8% |
| REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 2 of 10 | −0.2% | −25.8% | −12.7% | −17.3% | −7.3% | −37.7% | −23.2% | −7.2% | −49.9% | −71.6% |
| DHR Danaher Corporation | 6 of 10 | −3.2% | −22.8% | −25.9% | −13.4% | −9.8% | −14.0% | −21.8% | −0.6% | −45.7% | −33.7% |
| AZN AstraZeneca PLC | 5 of 10 | −0.5% | −25.7% | −22.6% | −11.4% | −6.4% | −18.0% | −16.4% | −1.1% | −37.4% | −43.5% |
| NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | 3 of 10 | −1.1% | −21.4% | −23.7% | −13.8% | −3.9% | −20.8% | −23.1% | −1.7% | −40.9% | −51.0% |
| BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | 4 of 10 | −2.3% | −16.0% | −29.4% | −22.9% | −4.1% | −16.3% | −10.5% | 0.0% | −39.2% | −69.5% |
| PFE Pfizer Inc. | 2 of 10 | −1.8% | −24.6% | −21.8% | −12.3% | −8.1% | −18.2% | −16.1% | −1.8% | −49.8% | −46.0% |
| BIIB Biogen Inc. | 3 of 10 | −2.5% | −22.4% | −21.2% | −21.7% | −9.3% | −24.6% | −19.4% | −0.6% | −52.7% | −59.8% |
| CVS CVS Health Corp. | 3 of 10 | −4.4% | −19.9% | −27.3% | −22.1% | −9.2% | −16.9% | −14.2% | −1.1% | −45.3% | −62.4% |
| HLN Haleon plc | 0 of 1 | −2.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SNY Sanofi | 3 of 9 | −0.5% | −33.5% | −25.2% | −9.0% | −9.8% | −30.2% | −20.7% | −2.8% | −46.6% | — |
| BNTX BioNTech SE | 0 of 3 | −1.2% | −45.7% | −49.5% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How closely does GSK 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 GSK with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.
- Over the past 10 years, GSK captured 51% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 61% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 0.52. Its share of the market's losses was slightly larger than its share of the gains.
- 12 of the 19 popular alternatives had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than GSK's 0.82, led by LLY, VRTX and ABBV.
- LLY took just 6% of the S&P 500's losses, against 61% for GSK, while still keeping 101% of its gains.
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 GSK's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.
| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Capture ratio | Beta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSK This pageGSK plc | 51% | 61% | 0.82 | 0.52 |
| LLY Eli Lilly and Company | 101% | 6% | 15.73 | 0.37 |
| VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | 87% | 50% | 1.75 | 0.46 |
| ABBV AbbVie Inc. | 92% | 57% | 1.62 | 0.54 |
| AZN AstraZeneca PLC | 60% | 39% | 1.52 | 0.39 |
| GILD Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 52% | 36% | 1.44 | 0.35 |
| MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 64% | 46% | 1.39 | 0.30 |
| JNJ Johnson & Johnson | 64% | 53% | 1.20 | 0.46 |
| AMGN Amgen Inc. | 74% | 64% | 1.16 | 0.54 |
| NVS Novartis AG | 69% | 64% | 1.08 | 0.49 |
| DHR Danaher Corporation | 84% | 84% | 1.01 | 0.75 |
| TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 104% | 104% | 1.00 | 0.81 |
| REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 55% | 66% | 0.84 | 0.19 |
| NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | 75% | 94% | 0.80 | 0.60 |
| IQV IQVIA Holdings Inc. | 128% | 167% | 0.77 | 1.31 |
| BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | 55% | 75% | 0.73 | 0.41 |
| SNY Sanofi | 53% | 74% | 0.72 | 0.46 |
| PFE Pfizer Inc. | 52% | 81% | 0.65 | 0.54 |
| CVS CVS Health Corp. | 59% | 99% | 0.60 | 0.70 |
| BIIB Biogen Inc. | 35% | 91% | 0.38 | 0.28 |
What diversifies GSK?
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 GSK's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing GSK with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.
- Moving a fifth of the money in GSK into DXJ would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 15% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (+9.1% for GSK alone, +12.9% for the mix).
- Among large ETFs, DXJ, EMLP and HDV have moved largely independently of GSK over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.48 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
- MCK made money in eight of the 12 calendar years in which GSK lost money.
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 GSK lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% GSK and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.
ETFs
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2024 | 2022 | 2020 | 2017 | 2015 | 2014 | 2010 | 2008 | 2007 | 2002 | 2001 | 1999 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSK GSK plc (this page) | 1.00 | +57.8% | 0.50 | −5.2% | −16.8% | −17.7% | −3.0% | −0.3% | −15.7% | −2.1% | −22.2% | −0.8% | −21.6% | −9.7% | −17.9% | 23.1% | +9.1% |
| DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.37 | +225% | 1.34 | +29.8% | +6.0% | +3.9% | +22.8% | +7.7% | +8.1% | −1.8% | −20.8% | −7.4% | — | — | — | 19.6% | +12.9% |
| EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund | 0.30 | +103% | 1.06 | +33.4% | +10.4% | −13.4% | +1.1% | −25.3% | +23.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19.6% | +10.8% |
| HDV Dividend & IncomeiShares Core High Dividend ETF | 0.48 | +86.8% | 1.03 | +14.2% | +7.0% | −6.5% | +13.3% | −0.3% | +12.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20.0% | +10.1% |
| SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.10 | +304% | 0.94 | +39.1% | −33.5% | +55.5% | +38.5% | −0.3% | +30.2% | +19.0% | −44.7% | +6.0% | −47.0% | −14.6% | — | 20.4% | +15.7% |
| XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.21 | +178% | 0.94 | +5.6% | +64.4% | −32.7% | −0.9% | −21.5% | −8.7% | +21.9% | −39.0% | +36.8% | −14.8% | −18.2% | +18.1% | 20.3% | +12.6% |
| GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares | 0.31 | +120% | 0.93 | +26.7% | −0.8% | +24.8% | +12.8% | −10.7% | −2.2% | +29.3% | +4.9% | +30.4% | — | — | — | 19.8% | +11.4% |
| VTV Broad MarketVanguard Morningstar Value ETF | 0.43 | +78.0% | 0.91 | +16.0% | −2.1% | +2.3% | +17.1% | −1.0% | +13.2% | +14.5% | −35.9% | −0.1% | — | — | — | 19.9% | +10.2% |
| VLUE Broad MarketiShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF | 0.26 | +112% | 0.91 | +7.2% | −14.2% | −0.2% | +21.9% | −4.1% | +12.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20.0% | +11.3% |
Stocks
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2024 | 2022 | 2020 | 2017 | 2015 | 2014 | 2010 | 2008 | 2007 | 2002 | 2001 | 1999 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSK GSK plc (this page) | 1.00 | +57.8% | 0.50 | −5.2% | −16.8% | −17.7% | −3.0% | −0.3% | −15.7% | −2.1% | −22.2% | −0.8% | −21.6% | −9.7% | −17.9% | 23.1% | +9.1% |
| CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc. | 0.22 | +471% | 1.54 | +19.0% | +54.1% | +10.1% | −12.7% | +12.6% | +23.0% | +21.4% | −39.6% | −9.8% | −8.3% | −2.5% | −36.8% | 20.3% | +15.2% |
| CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc. | 0.06 | +2,780% | 1.43 | +215% | +1.3% | −2.4% | −11.6% | −6.0% | +12.9% | +2.8% | −20.5% | −25.7% | −65.1% | −25.6% | +350% | 22.4% | +28.0% |
| MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation | 0.25 | +397% | 1.41 | +23.7% | +51.8% | +27.1% | +12.0% | −4.5% | +29.3% | +13.8% | −40.4% | +29.7% | −27.2% | +4.9% | −71.3% | 20.4% | +14.6% |
| FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc. | 0.25 | +1,452% | 1.41 | +107% | +17.0% | +6.7% | +32.1% | +67.7% | −10.4% | +8.7% | −15.2% | +2.1% | −9.4% | +73.7% | −58.7% | 22.5% | +23.7% |
| MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 0.14 | +660% | 1.39 | −4.0% | +86.6% | −27.4% | +34.8% | +17.4% | +0.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20.4% | +17.3% |
Common questions
What was GSK's worst drawdown?
GSK's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 55.2%, from January 1992 to August 1993. It took about three years from the low to climb back to its old high.
What were GSK's best and worst years?
Over 29 full calendar years, GSK's best year was 1997, when it returned 55.8%. Its worst was 2008, with a return of -22.2%.
Is there a better investment than GSK?
Among GSK's popular alternatives, JNJ and NVS earned more than GSK with less volatility over the past 5 years. JNJ returned 13.5% a year at 18.0% volatility, against 9.5% a year at 24.5%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, IHE (pharmaceuticals) and PPH (pharmaceuticals) earned more than GSK with less volatility over the past 5 years. IHE returned 12.9% a year at 16.8% volatility, against 9.5% a year at 24.5%.
Is GSK more volatile than the S&P 500?
Yes. GSK's volatility over the past 5 years was 24.5%, 1.4 times the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, GSK's return lands within 24.5% 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 GSK's Sharpe ratio?
GSK's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.50, against 0.78 for the S&P 500, so GSK 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 GSK with the S&P 500?
Over the past 5 years, GSK's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.24 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against GSK instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a GSK holding.
What are the best alternatives to GSK?
Of the 21 popular alternatives we compared, eight outperformed GSK in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: LLY, ABBV and AMGN.
Did GSK outperform the S&P 500?
GSK finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in ten of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +51.3%, against +17.7% for the index.
How did GSK do in stock market crashes?
GSK fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in seven of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in three. The clearest case was the 2008 financial crisis, when GSK fell 46.6% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.
What diversifies GSK?
These had a low correlation with GSK over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, DXJ (correlation 0.37), EMLP (correlation 0.30) and HDV (correlation 0.48); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.22), CLS (correlation 0.06) and MCK (correlation 0.25). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.
How we measure
- Short-term periods are 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y; long-term periods are 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed in a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than GSK's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of GSK's, whichever is larger, count as a tie.
- "Qualified" means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Popular alternatives are the funds and stocks most often compared with this one. We include only those that trade today, are not leveraged or inverse, and hold at least $200 million.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years, a measure of how much the price typically swings in a year. The Sharpe ratio is the return above cash for each unit of that volatility.
- A decline, or drawdown, runs from a peak to the lowest close before the next high. The worst decline ever uses all the price history we have; comparisons between funds use the past 10 years so that younger funds are judged on the same stretch.
- Sector overlap is the share of assets two funds hold in the same sectors. Correlation and the mixed-portfolio figures use monthly returns.
- Upside and downside capture follow Morningstar's definition: the compound monthly return in the months the S&P 500 rose (or fell), divided by the S&P 500's compound return in those months. Beta measures how strongly monthly returns have moved with the S&P 500. All three use the same window for every investment.
- Figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update after each trading day. Past performance does not predict future results.
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