ALNY vs. MRK: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals vs. Merck Stock Comparison
How do Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) 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
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) and Merck (MRK) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ALNY is classified in Biotechnology while MRK is classified in Pharmaceuticals.
| Profile Item | ALNY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Merck & Co., Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Biotechnology | Pharmaceuticals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Biotechnology | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 20.89 billion USD | 361.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 2004 | January 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ALNY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -64.57% | 76.14% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -1.58% | 16.48% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -3.13% | 15.77% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ALNY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 54.08% | 30.24% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.45 | 0.11 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -68.25% | -43.44% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.90M | 10.24M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ALNY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -1.27 | 2.38 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -1.45 | 4.33 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) at 138.07% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Merck (MRK) at 5.06%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
ALNY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
138.07%
- ALNY
- 138.07%
- Max
- 109.18%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) at 52.85% 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.
ALNY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
52.85%
- ALNY
- 52.85%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) at 23.72% 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.
ALNY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
23.72%
- Max
- 83.12%
- ALNY
- 23.72%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ALNY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 138.07% | 5.06% |
| ROA (TTM) | 9.51% | 11.29% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 52.85% | 3.64% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.72% | 35.22% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 77.28% | 75.20% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) at 65.19% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Merck (MRK) at 1.31% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ALNY.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Merck (MRK) reports EPS growth of 8.01%, ranked against its industry; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ALNY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 65.19% | 1.31% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 52.98% | 3.12% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | 8.01% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 8.43% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) at 2.48 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Merck (MRK) at 1.35 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MRK.
ALNY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.48
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- ALNY
- 2.48
- Q1
- 2.47
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) at 0.83 and Merck (MRK) at 1.20 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.
ALNY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.83
- Max
- 1.42
- ALNY
- 0.83
- Q3
- 0.65
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ALNY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.48 | 1.35 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.83 | 1.20 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.57 | 1.50 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Merck (MRK) reports a yield of 2.29%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ALNY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- ALNY
- 0.00%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Merck (MRK) reports payout ratio above 100% at 343.43%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).
ALNY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- ALNY
- 0.00%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ALNY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 2.29% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 343.43% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) at 7.88 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Merck (MRK) at 148.21 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.
ALNY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.88
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- ALNY
- 7.88
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) at 4.17 and Merck (MRK) at 5.37 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
ALNY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.17
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- ALNY
- 4.17
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) at 5.79 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Merck (MRK) at 8.06 carries an above-peer premium to book — MRK is pricier on assets.
ALNY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.79
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- ALNY
- 5.79
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ALNY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 7.88 | 148.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.17 | 5.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.79 | 8.06 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.57% | 3.88% |