ARGX vs. MRK: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at ARGX and MRK, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.
Company Overview
MRK stands out with 193.30 billion USD in market value—about 5.41× ARGX’s market cap of 35.72 billion USD.
MRK carries a higher beta at 0.44, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while ARGX remains steadier at 0.17.
ARGX trades as an ADR, giving U.S. investors a simple on-ramp to its foreign shares, while MRK remains a standard domestic listing.
| Symbol | ARGX | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | argenx SE | Merck & Co., Inc. |
| Country | NL | US |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Biotechnology | Drug Manufacturers - General |
| CEO | Mr. Timothy Van Hauwermeiren EMBA, M.Sc. | Mr. Robert M. Davis J.D. |
| Price | 584.95 USD | 76.98 USD |
| Market Cap | 35.72 billion USD | 193.30 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.17 | 0.44 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NYSE |
| IPO Date | May 18, 2017 | January 13, 1978 |
| ADR | Yes | No |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of ARGX and MRK over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).
Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Valuation Metrics Comparison
The section examines key financial ratios to assess the valuation of ARGX and MRK based on earnings, cash flow, sales, and book value. Pay attention to the following notable points where extreme values stand out.
- ARGX has a negative Price-to-Free Cash Flow ratio of -455.95, signaling it consumed more cash than it produced over the last year—an important liquidity warning. In contrast, MRK (P/FCF 11.34) indicates positive free cash flow generation.
| Symbol | ARGX | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 51.08 | 11.18 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 1.35 | 4.93 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 16.50 | 3.02 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 7.75 | 4.03 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -455.95 | 11.34 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 4572.56 | 8.04 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 15.84 | 3.43 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | -437.78 | 12.88 |
Dividend Comparison
ARGX offers a 0% dividend yield, suggesting it may be reinvesting available cash back into the business for future growth, while MRK provides a 4.10% dividend yield, giving investors a steady income stream.
| Symbol | ARGX | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 4.10% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of ARGX and MRK, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- Both ARGX and MRK report negative interest coverage ratios (-20.85, -75.48), meaning EBIT itself is negative—neither can cover interest, a critical solvency warning.
| Symbol | ARGX | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 7.29 | 1.41 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 6.68 | 1.16 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.01 | 0.72 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.01 | 0.30 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -20.85 | -75.48 |