Seek Returns

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK)

This page compares Eli Lilly (LLY) with Merck (MRK) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

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

SymbolLLYMRK
NameEli Lilly and CompanyMerck & Co., Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization985.37 billion USD293.22 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 39.21 and Merck (MRK) at 33.44 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

39.21

Max
77.51
Q3
42.45
Median
25.47
Q1
14.64
Min
1.58

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

33.44

Max
77.51
Q3
42.45
Median
25.47
Q1
14.64
Min
1.58
Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

On Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 13.64 and Merck (MRK) at 4.46 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.64

Max
60.01
Q3
26.95
Median
6.83
Q1
3.43
Min
0.01

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.46

Max
60.01
Q3
26.95
Median
6.83
Q1
3.43
Min
0.01
Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Merck (MRK) at 6.39 sits in the upper Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) quartile, and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 31.65 prices even higher, above its industry range.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

31.65

Max
12.80
Q3
6.35
Median
3.45
Q1
1.69
Min
-4.09

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.39

Max
12.80
Q3
6.35
Median
3.45
Q1
1.69
Min
-4.09
Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolLLYMRK
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)39.2133.44
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)13.644.46
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)31.656.39
Free Cash Flow Yield0.93%4.79%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Eli Lilly (LLY) leads with Return on Equity (TTM) of 107.46%, above its industry benchmark range, while Merck (MRK) at 18.94% also ranks strongly in the top quartile.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

107.46%

Max
94.73%
Q3
2.50%
Median
-32.62%
Q1
-61.80%
Min
-157.07%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

18.94%

Max
94.73%
Q3
2.50%
Median
-32.62%
Q1
-61.80%
Min
-157.07%
Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 34.99% and Merck (MRK) at 13.59% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each Net Profit Margin (TTM) clears its industry’s benchmark range.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

34.99%

Max
11.21%
Q3
3.34%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-2.04%
Min
-9.05%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.59%

Max
11.21%
Q3
3.34%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-2.04%
Min
-9.05%
Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 49.39% and Merck (MRK) at 38.60% squeeze more operating profit from each sales dollar than most peers, ranking in the top Operating Profit Margin (TTM) quartile of their industries.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

49.39%

Max
100.30%
Q3
3.47%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-138.44%
Min
-337.81%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

38.60%

Max
100.30%
Q3
3.47%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-138.44%
Min
-337.81%
Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolLLYMRK
Return on Equity (TTM)107.46%18.94%
Return on Assets (TTM)20.74%12.58%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)34.99%13.59%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)49.39%38.60%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)82.83%76.73%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolLLYMRK
1-Year Revenue Growth44.70%1.31%
3-Year Revenue CAGR31.69%3.12%

EPS Growth

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolLLYMRK
1-Year EPS Growth95.99%8.01%
3-Year EPS CAGR51.71%8.43%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.50 and Merck (MRK) at 1.30 run Current Ratio (MRQ) in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.50

Max
24.81
Q3
11.93
Median
5.83
Q1
2.73
Min
0.23

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.30

Max
24.81
Q3
11.93
Median
5.83
Q1
2.73
Min
0.23
Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.39 and Merck (MRK) at 1.07 run Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) in the higher-leverage quartile of industry peers, indicating more debt relative to equity than typical competitors.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.39

Max
1.60
Q3
0.67
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.07

Max
1.60
Q3
0.67
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolLLYMRK
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.501.30
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)1.391.07
Net Debt / EBITDA1.051.47

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 0.63% and Merck (MRK) at 2.86% report Dividend Yield (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on cash yield relative to share price.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.63%

Max
6.57%
Q3
3.18%
Median
1.97%
Q1
0.62%
Min
0.27%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.86%

Max
6.57%
Q3
3.18%
Median
1.97%
Q1
0.62%
Min
0.27%
Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 22.13% and Merck (MRK) at 93.52% post Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) outside their industries’ typical mid-range — either leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

22.13%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

93.52%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

SymbolLLYMRK
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.63%2.86%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)22.13%93.52%

Performance & Risk

LLY
MRK
Loading price history…
Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Performance & Risk at a Glance

SymbolLLYMRK
1-Year Return54.01%61.04%
1-Year Volatility37.89%26.79%
Beta0.520.20
3-Month Avg. Volume3.11M9.54M