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INSM vs. MRK: Insmed vs. Merck Stock Comparison

How do Insmed (INSM) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Insmed (INSM) and Merck (MRK)
Profile ItemINSMMRK
NameInsmed IncorporatedMerck & Co., Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization25.10 billion USD361.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 2000January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

INSM
MRK
GSPC
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Insmed (INSM) 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 Insmed (INSM) and Merck (MRK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Merck (MRK)
MetricINSMMRK
Total Return (1Y)-39.17%76.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)70.17%16.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)28.96%15.77%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Merck (MRK)
MetricINSMMRK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)63.09%30.24%
Beta (5Y)0.800.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.54%-43.44%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.76M10.24M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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INSM 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 Insmed (INSM) and Merck (MRK)
MetricINSMMRK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.692.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.044.33

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Insmed (INSM) reports a negative ROE of -72.45%; 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.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-72.45%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
INSM
-72.45%
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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Insmed (INSM) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Insmed (INSM) reports a negative net margin of -39.85%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Merck (MRK) reports 3.64%, ranking against industry peers normally.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-39.85%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
INSM
-39.85%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Insmed (INSM) reports a negative operating margin of -15.60%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Merck (MRK) reports 35.22%, ranking against industry peers normally.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-15.60%

Max
83.12%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
INSM
-15.60%
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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Insmed (INSM) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Merck (MRK)
MetricINSMMRK
ROE (TTM)-72.45%5.06%
ROA (TTM)-17.25%11.29%
Net Margin (TTM)-39.85%3.64%
Operating Margin (TTM)-15.60%35.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)84.40%75.20%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Insmed (INSM) at 66.73% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Merck (MRK) at 1.31% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for INSM.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Merck (MRK) reports EPS growth of 8.01%, ranked against its industry; Insmed (INSM) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Merck (MRK)
MetricINSMMRK
Revenue Growth (YoY)66.73%1.31%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)35.20%3.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)--8.01%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--8.43%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Insmed (INSM) at 2.86 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.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.86

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
INSM
2.86
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
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Insmed (INSM) at 1.01 and Merck (MRK) at 1.20 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.01

Max
1.42
INSM
1.01
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
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Insmed (INSM) 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 Insmed (INSM) and Merck (MRK)
MetricINSMMRK
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.861.35
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.011.20
Net Debt / EBITDA--1.50

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Insmed (INSM) 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.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

INSM
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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Insmed (INSM) 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; Insmed (INSM) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Merck (MRK)
MetricINSMMRK
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.29%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%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 Insmed (INSM) has no P/E ratio this period.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
INSM
--

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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Insmed (INSM) vs. Merck (MRK): INSM 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 Insmed (INSM) at 16.52 and Merck (MRK) at 5.37 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

16.52

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
INSM
16.52
Median
7.30
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
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Insmed (INSM) 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 Insmed (INSM) at 34.55 prices even higher, above its industry range.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

34.55

INSM
34.55
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
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Merck (MRK)
MetricINSMMRK
P/E Ratio (TTM)--148.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)16.525.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)34.558.06
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-1.82%3.88%