Relative Intelligence · Pharmaceuticals

How Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives
Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on BMY alone. It places BMY (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company) 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 BMY stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.
Period covered: BMY's full trading record, from October 1986 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.
On this page12 sections
Key findings
- Right nowNot every peer went the same way. Over the past 6 months, ABBV (AbbVie) rose 43.8% and AZN (AstraZeneca) fell 15.3%. Over the past 6 months, BMY rose 6.6% against 9.1% for the S&P 500 and 11.2% for the Nasdaq 100. Consistency ↓
- Stock or market?BMY rose 3.6% over the past 3 months, in line with the pharmaceuticals ETF IHE (iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF), which rose 5.0%. The S&P 500 rose 3.9%. Its pharmaceutical peers did not move as one over the past 3 months: ABBV (AbbVie) rose 14.8%, while NVO (Novo Nordisk A/S) fell 20.0%.
- Past 1 to 3 yearsBMY has run far ahead of the market, rising 47.8% over the past year against 15.8% for the S&P 500 and 17.9% for the Nasdaq 100. That said, the last two calendar years both went the same way: BMY rose 0.1% in 2025, against 15.8% for the S&P 500 and 17.9% for the Nasdaq 100. By year ↓
- Long termBMY turned $10,000 into $17,500 over the past decade, against $42,100 in the S&P 500. Growth of $10,000 ↓
- In a crashIn the 2022 bear market, BMY fell 16.0%, against 24.5% for the S&P 500. That was more than LLY (Eli Lilly and Company, 11.7%) but less than ABBV (AbbVie, 21.9%). Crash tests ↓
- DiversificationAgainst the S&P 500, BMY has a correlation of 0.12 over 5 years, less closely than 94% of stocks worth at least $300 million. Next to an index fund it is a real diversifier. BMY's link to the S&P 500 has loosened: a correlation of 0.12 over the past 5 years, down from 0.43 in the 5 years before. Market capture ↓
- Better options
- Popular alternatives
- JNJ (Johnson & Johnson), ABBV (AbbVie) and TAK (Takeda Pharmaceutical) earned more than BMY with less volatility over the past 5 years. JNJ returned 12.7% a year at 17.9% volatility, against 5.5% a year at 24.9%.
- Nearby categories and themes
- VRTX (Vertex Pharmaceuticals, biotechnology) earned more for the risk it took than BMY over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 41.6%, against 47.7% for BMY.
- Whole market
- 632 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than BMY 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-B (Berkshire Hathaway).
How much would $10,000 in BMY have grown?
This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in BMY over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of BMY over the same span and BMY'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 BMY at the end of September 1997 would have grown to $44,277 by September 2026, less than the $132,907 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Seven of the eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of BMY, 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. 779 of the 1,042 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of BMY; 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
- MCK$208,304+1,983% total · +11.0% 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
- MRK$82,561+726% total · +7.6% a year
- TEVA$76,156+662% total · +7.3% a year
- BMY$44,277+343% total · +5.3% a year
- VTRS$23,883+139% total · +3.0% 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. 1,978 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of BMY; 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
- MCK$43,941+339% total · +34.5% a year
- TEVA$40,657+307% total · +32.4% a year
- ABBV$29,134+191% total · +23.8% 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
- SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
- JNJ$18,849+88.5% total · +13.5% a year
- BMY$12,837+28.4% total · +5.1% a year
BMY 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.
- BMY's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 70.6%, from October 1999 to July 2002. It took about 11 years from the low to climb back to its old high.
- Over 29 full calendar years, BMY's best was 1997, when it returned 77.1%, and its worst was 2002, when it lost 52.4%. It lost money in ten of those years.
- BMY is 9.3% below its all-time high.
The company
- Market value
- $126B
- Industry
- Drug Manufacturers - General
- Price history from
- October 1986
Returns
- Past 1 year
- +47.8%total return
- Past 3 years
- +25.8%+8.0% a year
- Past 5 years
- +30.6%+5.5% a year
- Past 10 years
- +74.8%+5.7% a year
- Best calendar year
- +77.1%1997
- Worst calendar year
- −52.4%2002
- Losing years
- 10 of 29full calendar years
Risk
- Volatility
- 24.9%typical yearly swing, 5 years
- Sharpe ratio
- 0.34return per unit of risk, 5 years
- Worst decline ever
- −70.6%Oct 1999 to Jul 2002
- From its all-time high
- −9.3%below the peak
BMY against the whole market
Where BMY ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.
How does BMY rank among all stocks?
This section ranks BMY 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 BMY stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.
- BMY is among the steadier stocks: its price swings rank in the top 11% of the 2,893 stocks worth at least $300 million, where the top is the calmest.
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 | BMY | Rank | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +47.8% | 590 of 3,287 | top 18% |
| 3-year return | +25.8% | 1,932 of 3,017 | bottom 37% |
| 5-year return | +30.6% | 1,328 of 2,893 | top 46% |
| 10-year return | +74.8% | 1,449 of 2,202 | bottom 35% |
| Volatility, 5 years | 24.9% | 319 of 2,893 | top 11% |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.34 | 1,427 of 2,893 | top 49% |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −47.7% | 365 of 2,187 | top 17% |
What has beaten BMY 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). BMY sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than BMY 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.
- 109 stocks and 523 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than BMY over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 17% of the 3,633 screened.
- Among those with at least half BMY's swings, DXJ has the best return for its risk: 26.6% a year at 19.1% volatility, 24% less than BMY's 24.9%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.34 against 0.34 for BMY.
- Among BMY's popular alternatives, ABBV, COR and NVS are in the region. ABBV earned 26.1% a year against 5.5% a year for BMY, at 23.4% volatility, 6% less than BMY's 24.9%.
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 BMY; faint dots are 92 more of the 632 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 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 BMY?
Investments that beat BMY over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.
- Among BMY's popular alternatives, JNJ, ABBV and TAK earned more than BMY with less volatility over the past 5 years. JNJ returned 12.7% a year at 17.9% volatility, against 5.5% a year at 24.9%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, VRTX (biotechnology) earned more for the risk it took than BMY over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 41.6%, against 47.7% for BMY.
- Across the whole market, 632 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than BMY with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them VTI, VOO and BRK-B.
How this works
The table below lists investments that beat BMY 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 BMY'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 BMY 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 BMY'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× BMY's volatility counts as better.
These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than BMY'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 BMY?lower diversifies more | Expenseper year | |||
| +5.5% | 24.9% | 0.34 | −47.7% | +74.8% | 1.00 | — | |||
| +12.7% | 17.1% | 0.79 | −33.7% | +321% | 0.12 | 0.09% | |||
| Popular alternativesbest 6 shownThe investments people most often weigh against BMY. 16 of 22 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +12.7% | 17.9% | 0.76 | −27.4% | +196% | 0.52 | — | ||
| Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +38.7% | 25.0% | 1.44 | −38.1% | +586% | 0.27 | — | ||
| Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +22.8% | 24.9% | 0.95 | −30.5% | +200% | 0.35 | — | ||
| Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +19.6% | 24.9% | 0.85 | −24.9% | +266% | 0.39 | — | ||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +26.1% | 23.4% | 1.11 | −45.1% | +603% | 0.45 | — | ||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +11.9% | 19.4% | 0.68 | −54.4% | +30.4% | 0.38 | — | ||
| Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Pharmaceuticals and the categories next to it (Biotechnology, Health Care Distribution, Life Sciences Tools, Medical Devices), plus BMY's specific themes. 14 of 103 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
| On the frontierHigher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +42.1% | 24.7% | 1.55 | −46.1% | +349% | 0.13 | — | ||
| Higher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +22.6% | 29.1% | 0.85 | −41.6% | +521% | 0.26 | — | ||
RPRXRoyalty Pharma plc · Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +13.3% | 23.8% | 0.65 | −49.7% | — | 0.30 | — | |
EXELExelixis, Inc. · Biotechnology | Higher return in most periods | +24.4% | 35.8% | 0.79 | −57.2% | +448% | 0.33 | — | |
| Higher return in most periods | +4.5% | 33.9% | 0.30 | −44.3% | +182% | 0.31 | — | ||
| Higher return in most periods | +2.6% | 30.6% | 0.24 | −43.2% | +306% | 0.17 | — | ||
| The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 1,037 of 3,508 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +13.4% | 17.1% | 0.82 | −29.6% | +274% | 0.38 | — | ||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +12.8% | 22.9% | 0.64 | −36.4% | +429% | 0.37 | — | ||
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +26.6% | 19.1% | 1.34 | −39.1% | +428% | 0.18 | 0.48% | |
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +14.7% | 16.8% | 0.91 | −37.0% | +204% | 0.39 | — | ||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +15.8% | 20.0% | 0.84 | −42.0% | +310% | 0.16 | — | ||
| Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +12.4% | 23.8% | 0.61 | −41.0% | +541% | 0.40 | — | ||
HYGHiShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF · Bonds | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes | +6.6% | 7.1% | 0.94 | −23.9% | +74.5% | 0.14 | 1.12% | |
JAAAJanus Henderson AAA CLO ETF · CLO Bonds | On the frontierSimilar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +5.1% | 1.7% | 2.98 | −2.6% | — | -0.14 | 0.20% | |
What these numbers mean for BMY
- Annual return
- BMY returned 5.5% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $13,100. 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
- BMY's volatility over the past 5 years was 24.9%, 1.5 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, BMY's return lands within 24.9% 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
- BMY's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.34, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so BMY 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
- BMY's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 47.7%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 47.7% fall takes a 91.1% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
- Correlation
- Over the past 5 years, BMY's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.12 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 BMY instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a BMY holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 632 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than BMY with less volatility
Out of 3,633 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 BMY | Expense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Popular alternative | +12.7% | 17.9% | 0.76 | −27.4% | +196% | 0.52 | — | |
| 2 | Whole market | +13.4% | 17.1% | 0.82 | −29.6% | +274% | 0.38 | — | |
| 3 | Whole market | +12.8% | 22.9% | 0.64 | −36.4% | +429% | 0.37 | — | |
| 4 | DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity | Whole market | +26.6% | 19.1% | 1.34 | −39.1% | +428% | 0.18 | 0.48% |
| 5 | Whole market | +14.7% | 16.8% | 0.91 | −37.0% | +204% | 0.39 | — | |
| 6 | Whole market | +15.8% | 20.0% | 0.84 | −42.0% | +310% | 0.16 | — | |
| 7 | Whole market | +9.7% | 14.3% | 0.72 | −33.4% | +252% | 0.55 | 0.06% | |
| 8 | Whole market | +11.4% | 14.7% | 0.81 | −38.5% | +205% | 0.40 | 0.18% | |
| 9 | Whole market | +13.9% | 18.5% | 0.80 | −34.0% | +446% | 0.14 | — | |
| 10 | Whole market | +9.0% | 22.9% | 0.49 | −40.8% | +320% | 0.23 | — | |
| 11 | Whole market | +13.1% | 22.4% | 0.67 | −34.5% | +451% | -0.05 | 0.04% | |
| 12 | Whole market | +11.4% | 17.3% | 0.71 | −34.1% | +293% | 0.14 | 0.15% | |
| 13 | Whole market | +8.4% | 15.3% | 0.60 | −28.4% | +202% | 0.46 | 0.08% | |
| 14 | CHTChunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. · Integrated Telecommunications | Whole market | +7.7% | 13.3% | 0.63 | −23.8% | +101% | -0.01 | — |
| 15 | HDViShares Core High Dividend ETF · US Dividend Equity | Whole market | +12.9% | 13.0% | 1.00 | −37.0% | +172% | 0.54 | 0.08% |
| 16 | OEFiShares S&P 100 ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +14.3% | 17.8% | 0.84 | −31.4% | +367% | 0.04 | 0.20% |
| 17 | DGXQuest Diagnostics Incorporated · Medical Diagnostics | Whole market | +12.3% | 22.5% | 0.63 | −36.6% | +243% | 0.29 | — |
| 18 | USMViShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF · US Low-Volatility Equity | Whole market | +7.6% | 12.3% | 0.66 | −33.1% | +176% | 0.37 | 0.15% |
| 19 | COWZPacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +11.4% | 17.7% | 0.70 | −38.7% | — | 0.47 | 0.49% |
| 20 | EWJiShares MSCI Japan ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +9.2% | 18.8% | 0.57 | −33.1% | +132% | 0.17 | 0.49% |
| 21 | 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% |
| 22 | IOOiShares Global 100 ETF · Global Equity | Whole market | +15.7% | 17.2% | 0.94 | −31.4% | +361% | 0.07 | 0.40% |
| 23 | JQUAJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity | Whole market | +13.6% | 15.7% | 0.89 | −32.9% | — | 0.20 | 0.12% |
| 24 | MOATVanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +9.1% | 18.4% | 0.57 | −33.3% | +276% | 0.32 | 0.46% |
| 25 | THGThe Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +14.4% | 22.9% | 0.70 | −40.1% | +291% | 0.44 | — |
| 26 | PDBCInvesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF · Broad Commodities | Whole market | +11.7% | 19.3% | 0.67 | −40.7% | +153% | 0.30 | 0.74% |
| 27 | QYLDGlobal X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF · Equity Income | Whole market | +8.4% | 15.0% | 0.62 | −24.7% | +156% | 0.07 | 0.60% |
| 28 | DBMFiMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF · Alternatives | Whole market | +9.8% | 12.4% | 0.82 | −20.4% | — | 0.04 | 0.85% |
| 29 | DSIiShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF · US ESG Equity | Whole market | +12.0% | 18.1% | 0.72 | −34.1% | +322% | 0.09 | 0.25% |
| 30 | TDIVFirst Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund · Technology Equity | Whole market | +16.2% | 21.3% | 0.81 | −32.0% | +388% | 0.00 | 0.50% |
| 31 | IWXiShares Russell Top 200 Value ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +12.7% | 13.8% | 0.94 | −35.8% | +221% | 0.42 | 0.20% |
| 32 | FTGCFirst Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund · Alternatives | Whole market | +12.9% | 15.6% | 0.86 | −35.9% | +139% | 0.25 | 0.98% |
| 33 | OMFLInvesco Russell 1000 Dynamic Multifactor ETF · US Multifactor Equity | Whole market | +9.0% | 16.4% | 0.61 | −33.2% | — | 0.21 | 0.29% |
| 34 | SPUSSP Funds S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions ETF · Technology | Whole market | +15.0% | 19.5% | 0.82 | −30.8% | — | 0.00 | 0.45% |
| 35 | SNPEXtrackers S&P 500 Scored & Screened ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +13.3% | 17.2% | 0.81 | −33.4% | — | 0.12 | 0.10% |
| 36 | DIVBiShares Core Dividend ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +13.9% | 15.4% | 0.93 | −36.9% | — | 0.40 | 0.05% |
| 37 | FOCTFT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - October · Multi-Asset | Whole market | +9.5% | 11.2% | 0.88 | −14.1% | — | 0.11 | 0.85% |
| 38 | Whole market | +17.3% | 18.2% | 0.97 | −40.0% | +352% | 0.25 | — | |
| 39 | FVFirst Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +9.7% | 21.1% | 0.55 | −34.0% | +247% | 0.07 | 0.30% |
| 40 | FHLCFidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF · Healthcare | Whole market | +7.3% | 15.4% | 0.53 | −28.8% | +199% | 0.44 | 0.08% |
| 41 | FBTFirst Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund · Healthcare | Whole market | +10.8% | 22.2% | 0.58 | −33.3% | +203% | 0.35 | 0.55% |
| 42 | DSTLDistillate U.S. Fundamental Stability & Value ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +11.3% | 16.1% | 0.75 | −33.1% | — | 0.45 | 0.39% |
| 43 | CHCOCity Holding Company · Banks - Regional | Whole market | +15.9% | 22.8% | 0.77 | −32.3% | +286% | 0.37 | — |
| 44 | QUSState Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +11.1% | 14.2% | 0.81 | −33.8% | +273% | 0.27 | 0.15% |
| 45 | FDLOFidelity Low Volatility Factor ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +9.8% | 13.0% | 0.79 | −34.4% | +249% | 0.30 | 0.15% |
| 46 | VFMFVanguard U.S. Multifactor ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +14.3% | 17.6% | 0.85 | −41.3% | — | 0.35 | 0.18% |
| 47 | COMTiShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETF · Commodities | Whole market | +13.1% | 21.1% | 0.69 | −39.2% | +160% | 0.27 | 0.49% |
| 48 | PPHVanEck Pharmaceutical ETF · Healthcare | Whole market | +11.6% | 15.8% | 0.78 | −29.7% | +153% | 0.46 | 0.36% |
| 49 | HLALWahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +14.0% | 18.0% | 0.82 | −33.6% | — | 0.05 | 0.50% |
| 50 | SIXHETC 6 Meridian Hedged Equity Index Option ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +10.2% | 10.2% | 1.00 | −11.7% | — | 0.38 | 0.31% |
| 51 | FDRRFidelity Dividend ETF for Rising Rates · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +12.6% | 15.0% | 0.87 | −36.5% | +265% | 0.26 | 0.15% |
| 52 | EWJViShares MSCI Japan Value ETF · International | Whole market | +14.9% | 18.2% | 0.86 | −30.1% | — | 0.28 | 0.15% |
| 53 | DJPiPath Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return(SM) ETN · Commodities | Whole market | +11.2% | 18.9% | 0.66 | −38.4% | +120% | 0.23 | 0.70% |
| 54 | HYGHiShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +6.6% | 7.1% | 0.94 | −23.9% | +74.5% | 0.14 | 1.12% |
| 55 | EYLDCambria Emerging Shareholder Yield ETF · International | Whole market | +11.9% | 18.4% | 0.70 | −41.8% | +199% | 0.07 | 0.63% |
| 56 | QDEFNorthern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +12.7% | 13.7% | 0.94 | −35.7% | +228% | 0.29 | 0.40% |
| 57 | OUSAALPS Funds O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +9.4% | 13.4% | 0.74 | −33.1% | +186% | 0.39 | 0.48% |
| 58 | NXTGFirst Trust Indxx NextG ETF · Technology | Whole market | +16.2% | 19.1% | 0.89 | −33.6% | +330% | 0.04 | 0.70% |
| 59 | DJDInvesco Dow Jones Industrial Average Dividend ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +11.8% | 13.3% | 0.91 | −34.7% | +227% | 0.46 | 0.07% |
| 60 | Whole market | +21.0% | 23.4% | 0.94 | −42.9% | +242% | 0.30 | — | |
| 61 | PJPInvesco Pharmaceuticals ETF · Healthcare | Whole market | +11.2% | 16.6% | 0.72 | −34.0% | +135% | 0.53 | 0.58% |
| 62 | LGHHCM Defender 500 Index ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +9.4% | 16.7% | 0.63 | −29.6% | — | 0.11 | 1.00% |
| 63 | EBFEnnis, Inc. · Specialty Business Services | Whole market | +11.2% | 21.4% | 0.60 | −35.4% | +163% | 0.33 | — |
| 64 | Whole market | +20.8% | 22.6% | 0.96 | −25.7% | +508% | 0.17 | — | |
| 65 | SVOLSimplify Volatility Premium ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +7.6% | 21.8% | 0.44 | −33.5% | — | 0.09 | 0.66% |
| 66 | Whole market | +22.4% | 22.3% | 1.02 | −46.3% | +347% | 0.48 | — | |
| 67 | LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +17.0% | 11.1% | 1.48 | −32.4% | +194% | 0.47 | 0.40% |
| 68 | Whole market | +12.9% | 19.9% | 0.71 | −46.9% | +187% | 0.34 | — | |
| 69 | PTLCPacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +9.5% | 11.8% | 0.83 | −26.6% | +188% | 0.18 | 0.60% |
| 70 | Whole market | +17.4% | 22.9% | 0.82 | −31.4% | +685% | 0.12 | — | |
| 71 | Whole market | +8.2% | 16.4% | 0.57 | −36.0% | +140% | 0.18 | 0.05% | |
| 72 | Whole market | +16.5% | 23.1% | 0.78 | −48.4% | +808% | 0.30 | — | |
| 73 | Whole market | +14.5% | 23.0% | 0.71 | −35.1% | +553% | -0.11 | 0.18% | |
| 74 | Whole market | +19.7% | 23.2% | 0.90 | −48.8% | +292% | 0.23 | — | |
| 75 | BCALCalifornia BanCorp · Banks - Regional | Whole market | +7.5% | 22.2% | 0.44 | −52.3% | +148% | 0.26 | — |
| 76 | Whole market | +9.3% | 16.9% | 0.61 | −35.8% | +153% | 0.21 | 0.03% | |
| 77 | Whole market | +19.9% | 22.3% | 0.93 | −42.5% | +361% | 0.21 | — | |
| 78 | SDCIUSCF SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Strategy No K-1 Fund · Bonds | Whole market | +20.6% | 18.4% | 1.12 | −45.7% | — | 0.26 | 0.80% |
| 79 | Whole market | +17.7% | 18.9% | 0.96 | −26.4% | +213% | 0.22 | 0.40% | |
| 80 | Whole market | +11.5% | 20.9% | 0.63 | −32.6% | +394% | 0.26 | — | |
| 81 | Whole market | +15.7% | 20.4% | 0.82 | −42.6% | +248% | 0.41 | — | |
| 82 | Whole market | +6.8% | 17.6% | 0.47 | −39.4% | +198% | 0.25 | 0.03% | |
| 83 | Whole market | +10.4% | 14.1% | 0.78 | −31.7% | +258% | 0.29 | 0.04% | |
| 84 | Whole market | +10.3% | 16.2% | 0.69 | −34.2% | +223% | 0.16 | 0.06% | |
| 85 | Whole market | +11.3% | 18.8% | 0.67 | −38.4% | +170% | 0.10 | — | |
| 86 | Popular alternative | +26.1% | 23.4% | 1.11 | −45.1% | +603% | 0.45 | — | |
| 87 | Whole market | +11.2% | 20.8% | 0.62 | −37.4% | +319% | 0.23 | — | |
| 88 | Whole market | +11.4% | 17.0% | 0.72 | −23.1% | — | 0.23 | 0.21% | |
| 89 | PJULInnovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +10.5% | 8.6% | 1.20 | −18.2% | — | 0.11 | 0.79% |
| 90 | Whole market | +15.9% | 23.4% | 0.75 | −42.0% | +393% | 0.23 | — | |
| 91 | Whole market | +14.8% | 23.6% | 0.71 | −32.8% | +625% | 0.26 | — | |
| 92 | Whole market | +9.3% | 19.2% | 0.56 | −30.1% | +344% | 0.20 | — | |
| 93 | Whole market | +11.8% | 22.6% | 0.61 | −39.2% | +118% | 0.23 | — | |
| 94 | Whole market | +19.2% | 22.4% | 0.90 | −42.0% | +311% | 0.28 | — | |
| 95 | Whole market | +7.5% | 18.0% | 0.50 | −37.4% | +132% | 0.26 | — | |
| 96 | Whole market | +12.4% | 20.2% | 0.68 | −32.9% | +185% | 0.27 | — | |
| 97 | SEICSEI Investments Company · Asset Management | Whole market | +12.7% | 22.3% | 0.65 | −51.8% | +168% | 0.36 | — |
| 98 | Whole market | +8.3% | 23.3% | 0.46 | −40.5% | +446% | 0.23 | — | |
| 99 | Whole market | +10.8% | 21.9% | 0.58 | −41.6% | +160% | 0.40 | — | |
| 100 | Whole market | +7.2% | 19.2% | 0.46 | −29.0% | +68.8% | 0.19 | — |
BMY against its popular alternatives
The investments people most often weigh against BMY, compared period by period and year by year.
How do BMY'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 BMY, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.
- Nine of the 22 popular alternatives, led by ABBV, COR and GILD, were both more rewarding and calmer than BMY over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- Over the past 5 years, BMY returned 5.5% a year, less than the S&P 500's 12.7%, with higher volatility (24.9% against 17.1%).
Green points earned more than BMY 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 | +40.7% | 32.8% |
| MCK McKesson Corporation | +38.7% | 25.0% |
| TEVA Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited | +32.2% | 42.8% |
| ABBV AbbVie Inc. | +26.1% | 23.4% |
| COR Cencora, Inc. | +24.2% | 22.8% |
| GILD Gilead Sciences, Inc. | +22.8% | 24.9% |
| AMGN Amgen Inc. | +19.6% | 24.9% |
| NVS Novartis AG | +17.2% | 20.7% |
| MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | +16.3% | 24.8% |
| JNJ Johnson & Johnson | +12.7% | 17.9% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | +12.7% | 17.1% |
| TAK Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited | +11.8% | 19.4% |
| VTRS Viatris Inc. | +10.4% | 33.6% |
| GSK GSK plc | +9.5% | 24.5% |
| AZN AstraZeneca PLC | +8.7% | 35.7% |
| REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | +7.7% | 31.1% |
| BMY This pageBristol-Myers Squibb Company | +5.5% | 24.9% |
| XBI State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF | +4.6% | 32.5% |
| TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | +2.9% | 27.8% |
| IQV IQVIA Holdings Inc. | +1.3% | 34.7% |
| SNY Sanofi | +0.6% | 25.3% |
| PFE Pfizer Inc. | −1.7% | 25.4% |
| BIIB Biogen Inc. | −1.8% | 34.7% |
| NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | −4.0% | 39.1% |
Has BMY consistently beaten its popular alternatives?
This section compares BMY 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 BMY helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.
- 12 of the 22 popular alternatives, led by LLY, ABBV and MCK, outperformed BMY in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- LLY, ABBV and MCK outperformed BMY in every long-term period and in all but one short-term period, the most consistent record in the group.
- MCK, LLY and ABBV earned more for the risk they took than BMY (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 BMY 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 | ||
| BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (this page) | — | −0.5% | +3.6% | +6.6% | +19.1% | +47.8% | +25.8% | +30.6% | +74.8% | 24.9% | 0.34 | −47.7% | — | $126B | — |
| LLY QualifiedEli Lilly and Company | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8% | 1.21 | −34.5% | — | $1.2T | — |
| ABBV QualifiedAbbVie Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +9.9% | +14.8% | +43.8% | +29.8% | +28.3% | +118% | +218% | +603% | 23.4% | 1.11 | −45.1% | — | $511B | — |
| MCK QualifiedMcKesson Corporation | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +16.2% | +24.0% | +20.2% | +25.5% | +31.3% | +131% | +413% | +586% | 25.0% | 1.44 | −38.1% | — | $120B | — |
| AMGN QualifiedAmgen Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.6% | +21.2% | +27.0% | +36.7% | +48.7% | +72.2% | +145% | +266% | 24.9% | 0.85 | −24.9% | — | $237B | — |
| MRK QualifiedMerck & Co., Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.8% | +19.9% | +28.3% | +42.2% | +76.8% | +58.3% | +113% | +241% | 24.8% | 0.74 | −43.4% | — | $366B | — |
| GILD QualifiedGilead Sciences, Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +4.0% | +18.2% | +16.6% | +31.0% | +30.3% | +121% | +180% | +200% | 24.9% | 0.95 | −30.5% | — | $194B | — |
| JNJ QualifiedJohnson & Johnson | 3/5 short3/3 long | −3.8% | +4.8% | +13.6% | +27.1% | +36.9% | +84.6% | +82.1% | +196% | 17.9% | 0.76 | −27.4% | — | $625B | — |
| TEVA QualifiedTeva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited | 5/5 short2/3 long | +2.0% | +31.8% | +27.6% | +32.0% | +110% | +403% | +303% | −3.6% | 42.8% | 0.86 | −85.5% | — | $48B | — |
| VTRS QualifiedViatris Inc. | 5/5 short2/3 long | +9.1% | +10.6% | +27.3% | +53.1% | +87.1% | +127% | +64.3% | −38.0% | 33.6% | 0.47 | −82.0% | — | $21B | — |
| TAK QualifiedTakeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited | 4/5 short2/3 long | +8.6% | +20.3% | +16.9% | +33.6% | +48.2% | +56.1% | +75.1% | +30.4% | 19.4% | 0.68 | −54.4% | — | $64B | — |
| TMO QualifiedThermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 3/5 short2/3 long | +4.3% | +30.7% | +30.9% | +16.3% | +26.8% | +49.5% | +15.1% | +366% | 27.8% | 0.24 | −40.9% | — | $254B | — |
| REGN QualifiedRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 3/5 short2/3 long | +1.2% | +20.3% | +8.0% | +4.4% | +40.7% | +0.8% | +44.9% | +120% | 31.1% | 0.40 | −59.7% | — | $83B | — |
| COR Medical - DistributionCencora, Inc. | 2/5 short3/3 long | +8.5% | +13.1% | +6.7% | +1.9% | +5.7% | +86.5% | +195% | +406% | 22.8% | 1.07 | −32.4% | — | $66B | — |
| AZN Drug Manufacturers - GeneralAstraZeneca PLC | 1/5 short3/3 long | +0.4% | +3.3% | −15.3% | −7.0% | +1.8% | +38.8% | +52.1% | +257% | 35.7% | 0.41 | −28.7% | — | $262B | — |
| NVS Drug Manufacturers - GeneralNovartis AG | 1/5 short3/3 long | +9.0% | +2.7% | +1.8% | +13.1% | +18.8% | +75.9% | +121% | +226% | 20.7% | 0.87 | −26.8% | — | $292B | — |
| GSK Drug Manufacturers - GeneralGSK plc | 0/5 short3/3 long | −0.9% | +2.1% | −10.1% | +4.7% | +18.9% | +60.0% | +57.2% | +95.1% | 24.5% | 0.49 | −37.6% | — | $102B | — |
| IQV Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchIQVIA Holdings Inc. | 2/5 short2/3 long | −0.8% | +31.4% | +51.5% | +18.8% | +26.3% | +45.3% | +6.5% | +260% | 34.7% | 0.21 | −51.5% | — | $44B | — |
| XBI HealthcareState Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF | 2/5 short2/3 long | −3.2% | +1.5% | +11.3% | +26.2% | +39.7% | +130% | +25.1% | +159% | 32.5% | 0.30 | −63.9% | 0.35% | $10B | — |
| NVO Drug Manufacturers - GeneralNovo Nordisk A/S | 0/5 short1/3 long | −1.1% | −20.0% | −1.5% | −23.9% | −28.5% | −57.0% | −18.5% | +134% | 39.1% | 0.09 | −75.2% | — | $174B | — |
| BIIB Drug Manufacturers - GeneralBiogen Inc. | 5/5 short0/3 long | +11.0% | +21.6% | +32.6% | +36.7% | +65.8% | −5.6% | −8.8% | −18.9% | 34.7% | 0.11 | −72.7% | — | $36B | — |
| PFE Drug Manufacturers - GeneralPfizer Inc. | 4/5 short0/3 long | +8.5% | +23.8% | +13.2% | +25.7% | +30.5% | +19.2% | −8.3% | +55.0% | 25.4% | 0.06 | −58.9% | — | $172B | — |
| SNY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralSanofi | 0/5 short0/3 long | −2.6% | −5.9% | −10.3% | −10.7% | −13.4% | −10.0% | +3.0% | +61.5% | 25.3% | 0.15 | −33.5% | — | $99B | — |
How did BMY do year by year?
This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where BMY ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with BMY and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.
- BMY finished ahead of the S&P 500 in 11 of its 29 full calendar years, and behind it in each of the last three.
- Among its popular alternatives, ABBV came out ahead of BMY most often, in ten of the 13 years both traded.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, BMY finished in the top quarter in five of 29 years and in the bottom quarter in six. In 2025, it ranked 22 of 23.
Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of BMY; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places BMY among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.
| Investment | Years ahead of BMY | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMY This pageBristol-Myers Squibb Company | — | +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% |
| Rank among alternatives | Top quarter in 5 of 29 | 22 of 23 | 7 of 23 | 22 of 23 | 11 of 23 | 15 of 23 | 15 of 23 | 8 of 23 | 17 of 23 | 18 of 23 | 13 of 23 | 5 of 23 | 18 of 23 | 4 of 22 | 20 of 21 | 3 of 21 | 11 of 21 | 12 of 21 | 5 of 20 | 11 of 20 | 6 of 19 | 17 of 19 | 13 of 19 | 6 of 19 | 18 of 18 | 17 of 18 | 14 of 18 | 8 of 18 | 6 of 18 | 4 of 18 |
| 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 | 18 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. | 10 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% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MCK McKesson Corporation | 19 of 29 | +44.5% | +23.7% | +24.1% | +51.8% | +44.2% | +27.1% | +26.7% | −28.4% | +12.0% | −28.3% | −4.5% | +29.3% | +67.7% | +25.6% | +11.8% | +13.8% | +62.9% | −40.4% | +29.7% | −1.2% | +64.9% | −1.4% | +19.9% | −27.2% | +4.9% | +61.2% | −71.3% | +46.9% | +96.3% |
| 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% |
| MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 13 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% |
| 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% |
| JNJ Johnson & Johnson | 14 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% |
| TEVA Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited | 13 of 29 | +41.6% | +111% | +14.5% | +13.9% | −17.0% | −1.5% | −36.4% | −18.6% | −46.0% | −43.2% | +16.7% | +47.4% | +10.9% | −5.1% | −21.0% | −5.9% | +33.6% | −7.4% | +50.9% | −27.1% | +45.2% | +6.1% | +47.8% | +26.1% | −15.5% | +105% | +77.0% | −13.4% | −5.3% |
| VTRS Viatris Inc. | 13 of 29 | +5.0% | +19.7% | +2.0% | −14.3% | −26.2% | −6.8% | −26.6% | −35.2% | +10.9% | −29.4% | −4.1% | +29.9% | +58.1% | +27.9% | +1.6% | +14.6% | +86.4% | −29.7% | −29.1% | +1.1% | +14.2% | −29.6% | +63.5% | −6.4% | +49.9% | +0.7% | −19.5% | +51.3% | +27.1% |
| TAK Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited | 7 of 17 | +22.7% | −3.2% | −4.8% | +20.1% | −21.6% | −3.0% | +22.1% | −38.8% | +41.3% | −14.0% | +24.4% | −6.5% | +7.4% | +5.8% | −5.0% | +21.2% | −16.1% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 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. | 18 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% |
| COR Cencora, Inc. | 15 of 29 | +51.5% | +10.4% | +25.3% | +26.3% | +38.0% | +17.0% | +18.2% | −16.6% | +20.6% | −23.3% | +16.9% | +29.9% | +65.3% | +17.9% | +10.3% | +32.4% | +48.0% | −19.8% | +3.3% | +8.9% | +41.4% | +2.5% | +5.6% | −14.5% | +25.8% | +233% | −53.3% | +11.7% | +20.8% |
| 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% |
| NVS Novartis AG | 16 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% |
| GSK GSK plc | 13 of 29 | +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% |
| 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% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XBI State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF | 9 of 19 | +35.9% | +1.0% | +7.6% | −25.9% | −20.4% | +48.3% | +32.6% | −15.3% | +43.8% | −15.4% | +13.6% | +45.0% | +48.4% | +32.7% | +5.2% | +17.6% | +0.4% | −8.5% | +29.1% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | 21 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% |
| BIIB Biogen Inc. | 15 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% |
| PFE Pfizer Inc. | 12 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% |
| 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% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Risk and diversification
How BMY 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 BMY's worst declines?
A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents BMY'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.
- In all three of BMY's worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
- Not every decline was the market's doing: BMY fell 47.7% from December 2022 to July 2024, while the S&P 500 rose 39.1%.
- The slowest recovery came after BMY fell 70.6% from October 1999 to July 2002; it did not regain that peak until May 2013, 11 years later.
Green means BMY fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.
| During | BMY fell | S&P 500, same dates | Peak | Low | Time to the low | Back at the peak | Time to recover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dot-com bust | −70.6% | −35.0% | Oct 1999 | Jul 2002 | 2.8 years | May 2013 | 10.8 years |
| 2023 regional bank crisis | −47.7% | +39.1% | Dec 2022 | Jul 2024 | 19 months | Not yet | — |
| No named crash | −39.8% | — | Mar 1987 | Oct 1987 | 7 months | May 1989 | 19 months |
| Late-2018 sell-off | −39.3% | +46.1% | Jul 2016 | Jul 2019 | 3 years | May 2021 | 22 months |
| No named crash | −38.4% | — | Jan 1992 | Aug 1993 | 19 months | Oct 1995 | 2.2 years |
How did BMY do in stock market crashes?
This section measures how far BMY, 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.
- BMY 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 BMY fell 39.2% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.
- Among its popular alternatives, JNJ held up best, falling less than BMY in eight 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 BMY.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMY This pageBristol-Myers Squibb Company | — | −2.3% | −16.0% | −29.4% | −22.9% | −4.1% | −16.3% | −10.5% | 0.0% | −39.2% | −69.5% |
| 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. | 2 of 6 | −1.5% | −21.9% | −32.1% | −18.1% | −5.8% | −29.8% | — | — | — | — |
| MCK McKesson Corporation | 4 of 10 | −0.9% | −10.5% | −32.1% | −20.7% | −6.5% | −30.8% | −14.2% | −3.5% | −57.7% | −39.4% |
| AMGN Amgen Inc. | 6 of 10 | −1.2% | −11.9% | −18.3% | −14.3% | −7.4% | −22.1% | −12.6% | −0.5% | −31.3% | −60.2% |
| MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 4 of 10 | −2.4% | −10.8% | −19.3% | −9.7% | −6.6% | −18.2% | −17.4% | −2.3% | −63.3% | −57.5% |
| GILD Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 4 of 10 | −1.6% | −20.0% | −13.7% | −22.7% | −5.5% | −28.7% | −18.2% | −2.1% | −34.3% | −53.6% |
| JNJ Johnson & Johnson | 8 of 10 | −1.1% | −12.7% | −25.4% | −16.9% | −8.2% | −9.0% | −9.8% | −0.1% | −34.4% | −35.9% |
| TEVA Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited | 2 of 10 | −7.4% | −34.0% | −50.3% | −40.1% | −10.7% | −21.8% | −25.8% | −2.4% | −23.5% | −34.7% |
| VTRS Viatris Inc. | 1 of 10 | −6.9% | −43.3% | −37.3% | −32.8% | −6.8% | −31.9% | −32.4% | −0.1% | −64.4% | −47.3% |
| TAK Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited | 3 of 8 | −0.6% | −14.8% | −31.5% | −27.9% | −6.5% | −17.0% | −5.6% | −3.7% | — | — |
| 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. | 3 of 10 | −0.2% | −25.8% | −12.7% | −17.3% | −7.3% | −37.7% | −23.2% | −7.2% | −49.9% | −71.6% |
| COR Cencora, Inc. | 2 of 10 | −2.3% | −17.8% | −23.8% | −24.2% | −7.1% | −21.4% | −14.5% | −2.8% | −41.9% | −29.7% |
| 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% |
| NVS Novartis AG | 4 of 10 | −1.1% | −20.4% | −25.5% | −9.9% | −6.6% | −30.1% | −14.5% | −2.6% | −41.7% | −25.7% |
| GSK GSK plc | 5 of 10 | −0.3% | −37.6% | −26.5% | −11.5% | −4.3% | −15.7% | −12.4% | −2.0% | −46.6% | −45.1% |
| IQV IQVIA Holdings Inc. | 1 of 6 | −6.8% | −35.9% | −48.9% | −19.2% | −5.3% | −28.7% | — | — | — | — |
| XBI State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF | 1 of 9 | −6.9% | −43.6% | −32.9% | −32.5% | −5.5% | −42.6% | −26.7% | −4.1% | −37.5% | — |
| NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | 4 of 10 | −1.1% | −21.4% | −23.7% | −13.8% | −3.9% | −20.8% | −23.1% | −1.7% | −40.9% | −51.0% |
| 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% |
| PFE Pfizer Inc. | 4 of 10 | −1.8% | −24.6% | −21.8% | −12.3% | −8.1% | −18.2% | −16.1% | −1.8% | −49.8% | −46.0% |
| SNY Sanofi | 3 of 9 | −0.5% | −33.5% | −25.2% | −9.0% | −9.8% | −30.2% | −20.7% | −2.8% | −46.6% | — |
How closely does BMY 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 BMY with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.
- 16 of the 22 popular alternatives had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than BMY's 0.73, led by LLY, MCK and ABBV.
- LLY took just 6% of the S&P 500's losses, against 75% for BMY, while still keeping 101% of its gains.
- Over the past 10 years, BMY captured 55% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 75% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 0.41. Its share of the market's losses was larger than its share of the 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 BMY's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.
| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Capture ratio | Beta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMY This pageBristol-Myers Squibb Company | 55% | 75% | 0.73 | 0.41 |
| LLY Eli Lilly and Company | 101% | 6% | 15.73 | 0.37 |
| MCK McKesson Corporation | 72% | 27% | 2.71 | 0.56 |
| 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 |
| COR Cencora, Inc. | 80% | 58% | 1.39 | 0.56 |
| 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 |
| TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 104% | 104% | 1.00 | 0.81 |
| REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 55% | 66% | 0.84 | 0.19 |
| GSK GSK plc | 51% | 61% | 0.82 | 0.52 |
| NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | 75% | 94% | 0.80 | 0.60 |
| IQV IQVIA Holdings Inc. | 128% | 167% | 0.77 | 1.31 |
| XBI State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF | 93% | 122% | 0.76 | 1.01 |
| SNY Sanofi | 53% | 74% | 0.72 | 0.46 |
| PFE Pfizer Inc. | 52% | 81% | 0.65 | 0.54 |
| TAK Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited | 34% | 58% | 0.58 | 0.44 |
| TEVA Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited | 55% | 116% | 0.48 | 1.11 |
| VTRS Viatris Inc. | 74% | 179% | 0.41 | 1.14 |
| BIIB Biogen Inc. | 35% | 91% | 0.38 | 0.28 |
What diversifies BMY?
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 BMY's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing BMY with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.
- Moving a fifth of the money in BMY into SMH would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 20% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (+5.1% for BMY alone, +12.7% for the mix).
- Among large ETFs, LVHI, DXJ and EMLP have moved largely independently of BMY over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.47 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
- FIX made money in seven of the ten calendar years in which BMY 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 BMY lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% BMY and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.
ETFs
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2023 | 2018 | 2016 | 2012 | 2008 | 2005 | 2004 | 2002 | 2001 | 1999 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (this page) | 1.00 | +30.6% | 0.34 | −26.1% | −12.9% | −13.5% | −3.8% | −6.1% | −6.2% | −7.2% | −52.4% | −26.2% | −2.8% | 24.7% | +5.1% |
| LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | 0.47 | +119% | 1.48 | +17.4% | −5.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20.7% | +7.8% |
| DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.18 | +225% | 1.34 | +42.0% | −19.8% | +1.1% | +19.6% | −20.8% | — | — | — | — | — | 20.4% | +9.8% |
| EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund | 0.39 | +101% | 1.04 | +8.0% | −8.7% | +29.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21.1% | +7.6% |
| SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | -0.16 | +323% | 0.97 | +73.4% | −9.1% | +35.6% | +8.6% | −44.7% | +10.8% | −19.3% | −47.0% | −14.6% | — | 19.9% | +12.7% |
| DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | 0.25 | +85.0% | 0.96 | +20.1% | −9.5% | +6.3% | +20.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20.4% | +7.3% |
| GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares | 0.22 | +126% | 0.96 | +12.7% | −1.9% | +8.0% | +6.6% | +4.9% | +17.8% | — | — | — | — | 20.8% | +8.3% |
| SPMO Broad MarketInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | -0.04 | +136% | 0.93 | +17.6% | −0.9% | +7.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20.0% | +9.1% |
| XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.40 | +177% | 0.93 | −0.6% | −18.2% | +28.0% | +5.2% | −39.0% | +40.1% | +33.8% | −14.8% | −18.2% | +18.1% | 22.4% | +9.1% |
Stocks
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2023 | 2018 | 2016 | 2012 | 2008 | 2005 | 2004 | 2002 | 2001 | 1999 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (this page) | 1.00 | +30.6% | 0.34 | −26.1% | −12.9% | −13.5% | −3.8% | −6.1% | −6.2% | −7.2% | −52.4% | −26.2% | −2.8% | 24.7% | +5.1% |
| CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc. | 0.13 | +479% | 1.55 | +34.1% | −24.5% | −17.5% | +3.8% | −39.6% | +18.7% | −4.7% | −8.3% | −2.5% | −36.8% | 21.1% | +12.0% |
| CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc. | -0.11 | +3,143% | 1.47 | +160% | −16.3% | +7.4% | +11.2% | −20.5% | −25.2% | −6.4% | −65.1% | −25.6% | +350% | 21.8% | +24.8% |
| FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc. | -0.03 | +1,636% | 1.46 | +79.6% | +0.8% | +18.3% | +15.7% | −15.2% | +20.1% | +40.0% | −9.4% | +73.7% | −58.7% | 21.5% | +20.7% |
| MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation | 0.27 | +413% | 1.44 | +24.1% | −28.4% | −28.3% | +25.6% | −40.4% | +64.9% | −1.4% | −27.2% | +4.9% | −71.3% | 21.7% | +11.3% |
| MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 0.23 | +690% | 1.41 | +30.4% | −8.2% | +0.7% | +94.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22.2% | +13.8% |
Common questions
What was BMY's worst drawdown?
BMY's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 70.6%, from October 1999 to July 2002. It took about 11 years from the low to climb back to its old high.
What were BMY's best and worst years?
Over 29 full calendar years, BMY's best year was 1997, when it returned 77.1%. Its worst was 2002, with a return of -52.4%.
Is there a better investment than BMY?
Among BMY's popular alternatives, JNJ, ABBV and TAK earned more than BMY with less volatility over the past 5 years. JNJ returned 12.7% a year at 17.9% volatility, against 5.5% a year at 24.9%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, VRTX (biotechnology) earned more for the risk it took than BMY over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 41.6%, against 47.7% for BMY.
Is BMY more volatile than the S&P 500?
Yes. BMY's volatility over the past 5 years was 24.9%, 1.5 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, BMY's return lands within 24.9% 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 BMY's Sharpe ratio?
BMY's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.34, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so BMY 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 BMY with the S&P 500?
Over the past 5 years, BMY's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.12 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 BMY instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a BMY holding.
What are the best alternatives to BMY?
Of the 22 popular alternatives we compared, 12 outperformed BMY in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: LLY, ABBV and MCK.
Did BMY outperform the S&P 500?
BMY finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 11 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +0.1%, against +17.7% for the index.
How did BMY do in stock market crashes?
BMY 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 BMY fell 39.2% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.
What diversifies BMY?
These had a low correlation with BMY over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.47), DXJ (correlation 0.18) and EMLP (correlation 0.39); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.13), CLS (correlation -0.11) and FIX (correlation -0.03). 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 BMY's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of BMY'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.