HALO vs. MRK: Halozyme Therapeutics vs. Merck Stock Comparison
How do Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) 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
Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) and Merck (MRK) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but HALO is classified in Biotechnology while MRK is classified in Pharmaceuticals.
| Profile Item | HALO | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Halozyme Therapeutics 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 | 11.81 billion USD | 361.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 16, 2004 | January 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HALO | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 50.94% | 76.14% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 41.08% | 16.48% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 21.68% | 15.77% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HALO | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.19% | 30.24% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.96 | 0.11 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -49.06% | -43.44% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.29M | 10.24M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HALO | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.13 | 2.38 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.78 | 4.33 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) at 216.38% 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.
HALO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
216.38%
- HALO
- 216.38%
- 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)
Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) at 26.93% 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.
HALO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
26.93%
- HALO
- 26.93%
- 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 Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) at 59.84% 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.
HALO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
59.84%
- Max
- 83.12%
- HALO
- 59.84%
- 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 | HALO | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 216.38% | 5.06% |
| ROA (TTM) | 22.42% | 11.29% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 26.93% | 3.64% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 59.84% | 35.22% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 77.74% | 75.20% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) at 37.55% 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.
EPS Growth
Both Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) at -25.36% and Merck (MRK) at 8.01% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | HALO | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 37.55% | 1.31% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 28.38% | 3.12% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -25.36% | 8.01% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 21.14% | 8.43% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) at 3.88 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.
HALO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
3.88
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- HALO
- 3.88
- 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)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Merck (MRK) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20 against its industry range, while Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) reports no figure this period.
HALO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
- HALO
- --
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 | HALO | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 3.88 | 1.35 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 1.20 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.90 | 1.50 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) 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.
HALO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- HALO
- 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; Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).
HALO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- HALO
- 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 | HALO | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 2.29% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 343.43% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) at 25.91 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Merck (MRK) at 148.21 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for MRK’s trailing earnings.
HALO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
25.91
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- HALO
- 25.91
- Q1
- 13.30
- 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 Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) at 6.55 and Merck (MRK) at 5.37 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
HALO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.55
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- HALO
- 6.55
- 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)
Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) reports a negative P/B ratio of -213.67, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Merck (MRK) reports 8.06, ranking against industry peers normally.
HALO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-213.67
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
- HALO
- -213.67
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 | HALO | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 25.91 | 148.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.55 | 5.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -213.67 | 8.06 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.48% | 3.88% |