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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK)

This page compares AbbVie (ABBV) with Merck (MRK) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

AbbVie (ABBV) and Merck (MRK) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ABBV is classified in Biotechnology while MRK is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

SymbolABBVMRK
Company NameAbbVie Inc.Merck & Co., Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization378.98 billion USD286.20 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 2013January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

ABBV
MRK
Loading price history…
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolABBVMRK
5-Day Price Return0.73%4.04%
13-Week Price Return-7.18%-4.91%
26-Week Price Return-8.97%24.70%
52-Week Price Return14.85%50.53%
Month-to-Date Return0.46%6.14%
Year-to-Date Return-7.09%10.09%
10-Day Avg. Volume5.71M7.82M
3-Month Avg. Volume6.95M10.62M
3-Month Volatility25.27%24.25%
Beta0.300.20

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 95.59% and Merck (MRK) at 17.93% rank in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM) among industry peers, indicating strong returns on shareholders’ equity.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

95.59%

Max
101.31%
Q3
9.45%
Median
-24.29%
Q1
-57.59%
Min
-152.10%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.93%

Max
101.31%
Q3
9.45%
Median
-24.29%
Q1
-57.59%
Min
-152.10%
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 6.91% and Merck (MRK) at 13.59% post Net Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on net profitability.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.91%

Max
90.67%
Q3
13.59%
Median
-9.02%
Q1
-156.67%
Min
-407.00%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.59%

Max
90.67%
Q3
13.59%
Median
-9.02%
Q1
-156.67%
Min
-407.00%
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 24.65% and Merck (MRK) at 18.18% rank in the top quartile for Operating Profit Margin (TTM) among industry peers, indicating both companies convert revenue into operating income more strongly than typical competitors.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

24.65%

Max
65.08%
Q3
16.47%
Median
-9.50%
Q1
-194.89%
Min
-449.94%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

18.18%

Max
65.08%
Q3
16.47%
Median
-9.50%
Q1
-194.89%
Min
-449.94%
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolABBVMRK
Return on Equity (TTM)95.59%17.93%
Return on Assets (TTM)3.12%6.97%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)6.91%13.59%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)24.65%18.18%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)71.62%78.07%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 0.67 and Merck (MRK) at 1.30 run Current Ratio (MRQ) in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.67

Max
19.59
Q3
9.51
Median
4.07
Q1
2.07
Min
0.67

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.30

Max
19.59
Q3
9.51
Median
4.07
Q1
2.07
Min
0.67
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Merck (MRK) at 1.07 sits in the higher-leverage quartile relative to peers, but AbbVie (ABBV) at 49.22 is higher still, above its industry benchmark range.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

49.22

Max
2.26
Q3
1.00
Median
0.19
Q1
0.00
Min
0.00

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.07

Max
2.26
Q3
1.00
Median
0.19
Q1
0.00
Min
0.00
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Merck (MRK) at 22.74 ranks in the top quartile for Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM), ahead of AbbVie (ABBV) at 3.46, which sits around the industry mid-range.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.46

Max
72.37
Q3
4.99
Median
-4.89
Q1
-43.93
Min
-104.22

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

22.74

Max
72.37
Q3
4.99
Median
-4.89
Q1
-43.93
Min
-104.22
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolABBVMRK
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.671.30
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.411.06
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)49.221.07
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)3.4622.74

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolABBVMRK
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)10.04%4.87%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)8.57%2.89%
3-Year Revenue CAGR1.75%3.12%
5-Year Revenue CAGR5.95%9.38%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolABBVMRK
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)----
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)-1.30%-48.26%
3-Year EPS CAGR-28.99%8.43%
5-Year EPS CAGR-2.88%21.23%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 3.11% and Merck (MRK) at 2.91% report Dividend Yield (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on cash yield relative to share price.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.11%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.91%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AbbVie (ABBV) reports an unusual Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) of 275.84% — outside the typical 0–100% range, indicating either negative earnings (negative ratio) or dividends above current-period earnings (above 100%), both signaling sustainability concerns. Meanwhile Merck (MRK) reports 44.79%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

275.84%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

44.79%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolABBVMRK
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.11%2.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)275.84%44.79%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Merck (MRK) at 31.61 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while AbbVie (ABBV) at 88.76 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated trailing earnings multiple for ABBV relative to peers.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

88.76

Max
68.36
Q3
38.86
Median
25.36
Q1
17.81
Min
4.59

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

31.61

Max
68.36
Q3
38.86
Median
25.36
Q1
17.81
Min
4.59
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 6.13 and Merck (MRK) at 4.30 post Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing revenue multiple.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.13

Max
45.85
Q3
22.84
Median
6.16
Q1
3.49
Min
0.19

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.30

Max
45.85
Q3
22.84
Median
6.16
Q1
3.49
Min
0.19
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Merck (MRK) at 6.48 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while AbbVie (ABBV) at 261.01 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated book-value multiple for ABBV relative to peers.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

261.01

Max
19.86
Q3
9.76
Median
4.52
Q1
2.54
Min
0.54

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.48

Max
19.86
Q3
9.76
Median
4.52
Q1
2.54
Min
0.54
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolABBVMRK
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)88.7631.61
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)6.134.30
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)261.016.48
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)21.0520.01