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AZN vs. MRK: AstraZeneca vs. Merck Stock Comparison

How do AstraZeneca (AZN) 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

AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK) are both classified in the Pharmaceuticals sub-industry within the broader Pharmaceuticals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Merck (MRK) trades as ordinary local shares, while AstraZeneca (AZN) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK)
Profile ItemAZNMRK
NameAstraZeneca PLC American Depositary SharesMerck & Co., Inc.
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization276.82 billion USD308.90 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 12, 1993January 2, 1962
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AZN
MRK
GSPC
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AstraZeneca (AZN) 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 AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAZNMRK
Total Return (1Y)28.22%54.40%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)13.46%7.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)10.70%13.39%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AZN
MRK
GSPC
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AstraZeneca (AZN) 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 AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAZNMRK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.57%27.87%
Beta (5Y)0.250.19
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.87%-43.44%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.05M10.40M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AZN 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 AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAZNMRK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.881.81
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.423.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 23.48% and Merck (MRK) at 18.94% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

23.48%

Max
100.65%
AZN
23.48%
Q3
2.33%
Median
-32.48%
Q1
-63.24%
Min
-158.89%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

18.94%

Max
100.65%
MRK
18.94%
Q3
2.33%
Median
-32.48%
Q1
-63.24%
Min
-158.89%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 17.19% and Merck (MRK) at 13.59% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.19%

AZN
17.19%
Max
8.33%
Q3
1.75%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-2.69%
Min
-9.05%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.59%

MRK
13.59%
Max
8.33%
Q3
1.75%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-2.69%
Min
-9.05%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 27.94% and Merck (MRK) at 38.60% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

27.94%

Max
100.30%
AZN
27.94%
Q3
3.31%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-132.35%
Min
-333.43%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

38.60%

Max
100.30%
MRK
38.60%
Q3
3.31%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-132.35%
Min
-333.43%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAZNMRK
ROE (TTM)23.48%18.94%
ROA (TTM)8.49%12.58%
Net Margin (TTM)17.19%13.59%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.94%38.60%
Gross Margin (TTM)81.51%76.73%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAZNMRK
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.63%1.31%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.82%3.12%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAZNMRK
EPS Growth (YoY)45.33%8.01%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)45.80%8.43%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.91 and Merck (MRK) at 1.30 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.91

Max
24.76
Q3
11.94
Median
5.81
Q1
2.72
AZN
0.91
Min
0.23

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.30

Max
24.76
Q3
11.94
Median
5.81
Q1
2.72
MRK
1.30
Min
0.23
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.72 and Merck (MRK) at 1.07 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.72

Max
1.60
AZN
0.72
Q3
0.68
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.07

Max
1.60
MRK
1.07
Q3
0.68
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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AstraZeneca (AZN) 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 AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAZNMRK
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.911.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.721.07
Net Debt / EBITDA1.321.47

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.69% and Merck (MRK) at 2.60% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.69%

AZN
1.69%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.60%

MRK
2.60%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 47.70% and Merck (MRK) at 93.52% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

47.70%

AZN
47.70%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

93.52%

MRK
93.52%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAZNMRK
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.69%2.60%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)47.70%93.52%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 28.51 and Merck (MRK) at 35.43 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

28.51

Max
81.24
Q3
47.23
AZN
28.51
Median
25.81
Q1
16.17
Min
2.22

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

35.43

Max
81.24
Q3
47.23
MRK
35.43
Median
25.81
Q1
16.17
Min
2.22
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AstraZeneca (AZN) 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 AstraZeneca (AZN) at 4.58 and Merck (MRK) at 4.70 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.58

Max
68.14
Q3
30.05
Median
8.45
AZN
4.58
Q1
3.55
Min
0.01

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.70

Max
68.14
Q3
30.05
Median
8.45
MRK
4.70
Q1
3.55
Min
0.01
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 5.84 and Merck (MRK) at 6.73 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.84

Max
15.69
Q3
7.48
AZN
5.84
Median
3.92
Q1
1.76
Min
-6.26

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.73

Max
15.69
Q3
7.48
MRK
6.73
Median
3.92
Q1
1.76
Min
-6.26
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK)
MetricAZNMRK
P/E Ratio (TTM)28.5135.43
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.584.70
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.846.73
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.37%4.55%