GILD vs. MRK: Gilead Sciences vs. Merck Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Gilead Sciences (GILD) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK)
Profile Item	GILD	MRK
Name	Gilead Sciences 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	207.00 billion USD	361.73 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	January 22, 1992	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GILD

MRK

GSPC

Gilead Sciences (GILD) 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 Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK)
Metric	GILD	MRK
Total Return (1Y)	45.69%	76.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	35.30%	16.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.00%	15.77%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GILD

MRK

GSPC

Gilead Sciences (GILD) 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 Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK)
Metric	GILD	MRK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.57%	30.24%
Beta (5Y)	0.36	0.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-26.59%	-43.44%
Avg. Volume (3M)	5.98M	10.24M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

GILD 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 Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK)
Metric	GILD	MRK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.50	2.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.48	4.33

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Gilead Sciences (GILD) reports a negative ROE of -22.45%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Merck (MRK) reports 5.06%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GILD

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-22.45%

Max: 109.18%
Q3: 6.23%
GILD: -22.45%
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%

Gilead Sciences (GILD) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Gilead Sciences (GILD) reports a negative net margin of -12.46%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Merck (MRK) reports 3.64%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GILD

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-12.46%

Max: 18.05%
Q3: 4.78%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -4.14%
GILD: -12.46%
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%

Gilead Sciences (GILD) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 42.43% 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.

GILD

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

42.43%

Max: 83.12%
GILD: 42.43%
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%

Gilead Sciences (GILD) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK)
Metric	GILD	MRK
ROE (TTM)	-22.45%	5.06%
ROA (TTM)	13.47%	11.29%
Net Margin (TTM)	-12.46%	3.64%
Operating Margin (TTM)	42.43%	35.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)	79.95%	75.20%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 2.39% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 1,684.21% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Merck (MRK) at 8.01%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK)
Metric	GILD	MRK
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.39%	1.31%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	2.57%	3.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)	1,684.21%	8.01%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	23.04%	8.43%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 1.38 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.

GILD

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.38

Max: 25.13
Q3: 12.13
Median: 5.52
Q1: 2.47
GILD: 1.38
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

Gilead Sciences (GILD) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but GILD is more stretched: Merck (MRK) at 1.20 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 2.02 is above its industry benchmark range.

GILD

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.02

GILD: 2.02
Max: 1.42
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

Gilead Sciences (GILD) 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 Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK)
Metric	GILD	MRK
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.38	1.35
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.02	1.20
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.25	1.50

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 1.94% and Merck (MRK) at 2.29% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

GILD

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.94%

GILD: 1.94%
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%

Gilead Sciences (GILD) 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 Gilead Sciences (GILD) reports 43.46%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GILD

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

43.46%

GILD: 43.46%
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%

Gilead Sciences (GILD) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK)
Metric	GILD	MRK
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.94%	2.29%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	43.46%	343.43%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Merck (MRK) trades at 148.21 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Gilead Sciences (GILD) has no P/E ratio this period.

GILD

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

Max: 85.34
Q3: 43.46
Median: 26.69
Q1: 13.30
Min: 0.07
GILD: --

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

Gilead Sciences (GILD) vs. Merck (MRK): GILD does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; MRK is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Gilead Sciences (GILD) 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.

GILD

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.68

Max: 58.18
Q3: 25.77
Median: 7.30
GILD: 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

Gilead Sciences (GILD) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Merck (MRK) at 8.06 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 15.88 prices even higher, above its industry range.

GILD

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

15.88

GILD: 15.88
Max: 13.53
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

Gilead Sciences (GILD) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK)
Metric	GILD	MRK
P/E Ratio (TTM)	--	148.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.68	5.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	15.88	8.06
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	5.16%	3.88%