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ICLR vs. MRK: ICON vs. Merck Stock Comparison

How do ICON (ICLR) 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

ICON (ICLR) and Merck (MRK) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ICLR is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services while MRK is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

Company profile comparison for ICON (ICLR) and Merck (MRK)
Profile ItemICLRMRK
NameICON plcMerck & Co., Inc.
Country/RegionIrelandUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization15.34 billion USD361.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 15, 1998January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ICLR
MRK
GSPC
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ICON (ICLR) 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 ICON (ICLR) and Merck (MRK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Merck (MRK)
MetricICLRMRK
Total Return (1Y)30.55%76.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-6.05%16.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.40%15.77%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Merck (MRK) is heavily traded at around 10.24M shares per day, whereas ICON (ICLR) sees a more moderate 943.50K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk profile metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Merck (MRK)
MetricICLRMRK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)68.62%30.24%
Beta (5Y)1.170.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)-76.87%-43.44%
Avg. Volume (3M)943.50K10.24M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ICLR 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 ICON (ICLR) and Merck (MRK)
MetricICLRMRK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.382.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.524.33

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 4.70% and Merck (MRK) at 5.06% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.70%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
ICLR
4.70%
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%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

ICON (ICLR) at 5.26% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Merck (MRK) at 3.64%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.26%

Max
18.05%
ICLR
5.26%
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%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Merck (MRK) at 35.22% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of ICON (ICLR) at 10.73%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.73%

Max
83.12%
Q3
14.77%
ICLR
10.73%
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%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Merck (MRK)
MetricICLRMRK
ROE (TTM)4.70%5.06%
ROA (TTM)0.85%11.29%
Net Margin (TTM)5.26%3.64%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.73%35.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)23.44%75.20%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Merck (MRK) at 8.01% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while ICON (ICLR) at -71.56% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Merck (MRK)
MetricICLRMRK
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.76%1.31%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.15%3.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)-71.56%8.01%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-23.82%8.43%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 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.

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.32

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
ICLR
1.32
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
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Merck (MRK) at 1.20 uses more debt funding than most peers.

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.38

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
ICLR
0.38
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
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ICON (ICLR) 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 ICON (ICLR) and Merck (MRK)
MetricICLRMRK
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.321.35
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.381.20
Net Debt / EBITDA5.551.50

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

ICON (ICLR) 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.

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ICLR
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%
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ICON (ICLR) 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; ICON (ICLR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Merck (MRK)
MetricICLRMRK
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.29%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%343.43%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on trailing earnings: ICON (ICLR) at 81.90 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Merck (MRK) at 148.21 is richer still, above its industry range.

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

81.90

Max
85.34
ICLR
81.90
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
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
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

ICON (ICLR) at 1.86 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Merck (MRK) at 5.37 prices around its industry’s middle — ICLR costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.86

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
ICLR
1.86
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
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

ICON (ICLR) at 1.68 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Merck (MRK) at 8.06 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.68

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
ICLR
1.68
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
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Merck (MRK)
MetricICLRMRK
P/E Ratio (TTM)81.90148.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.865.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.688.06
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.51%3.88%