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A vs. MRK: Agilent vs. Merck Stock Comparison

How do Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but A is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services while MRK is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

Company profile comparison for Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK)
Profile ItemAMRK
NameAgileThought, Inc. Class A Common StockMerck & Co., Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization49.28 billion USD361.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateNovember 18, 1999January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

A
MRK
GSPC
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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAMRK
Total Return (1Y)22.92%76.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.33%16.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)3.03%15.77%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

A
MRK
GSPC
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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAMRK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)33.10%30.24%
Beta (5Y)1.220.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)-38.09%-43.44%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.25M10.24M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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A and MRK are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAMRK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.562.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.964.33

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Agilent (A) at 20.97% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Merck (MRK) at 5.06% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for A.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

20.97%

Max
109.18%
A
20.97%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.06%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
MRK
5.06%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Agilent (A) at 19.53% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Merck (MRK) at 3.64% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

19.53%

A
19.53%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.64%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
MRK
3.64%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Agilent (A) at 25.56% and Merck (MRK) at 35.22% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

25.56%

Max
83.12%
A
25.56%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

35.22%

Max
83.12%
MRK
35.22%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAMRK
ROE (TTM)20.97%5.06%
ROA (TTM)8.63%11.29%
Net Margin (TTM)19.53%3.64%
Operating Margin (TTM)25.56%35.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)53.65%75.20%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Agilent (A) at 6.73% and Merck (MRK) at 1.31% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Agilent (A) at 3.16% and Merck (MRK) at 8.01% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAMRK
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.73%1.31%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.48%3.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)3.16%8.01%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)3.02%8.43%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Agilent (A) at 2.05 and Merck (MRK) at 1.35 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.05

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
A
2.05
Min
0.10

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.35

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
MRK
1.35
Min
0.10
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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Agilent (A) at 0.56 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Merck (MRK) at 1.20 uses more debt funding than most peers.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.56

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
A
0.56
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.20

Max
1.42
MRK
1.20
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAMRK
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.051.35
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.561.20
Net Debt / EBITDA1.151.50

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Agilent (A) at 0.59% and Merck (MRK) at 2.29% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.59%

A
0.59%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.29%

MRK
2.29%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Merck (MRK) reports payout ratio above 100% at 343.43%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Agilent (A) reports 19.98%, ranking against industry peers normally.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

19.98%

A
19.98%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

343.43%

MRK
343.43%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAMRK
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.59%2.29%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)19.98%343.43%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Agilent (A) at 34.47 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Merck (MRK) at 148.21 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for MRK’s trailing earnings.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

34.47

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
A
34.47
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

148.21

MRK
148.21
Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Agilent (A) at 6.68 and Merck (MRK) at 5.37 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.68

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
A
6.68
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.37

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
MRK
5.37
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Agilent (A) at 6.69 and Merck (MRK) at 8.06 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.69

Max
13.53
A
6.69
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.06

Max
13.53
MRK
8.06
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Agilent (A) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Agilent (A) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAMRK
P/E Ratio (TTM)34.47148.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.685.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.698.06
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.15%3.88%