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Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK)

This page compares Eli Lilly (LLY) with Merck (MRK) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, 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
Company 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 Capitalization910.83 billion USD282.15 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

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.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolLLYMRK
5-Day Price Return0.56%0.17%
13-Week Price Return-1.41%-7.29%
26-Week Price Return3.32%29.75%
52-Week Price Return35.27%47.99%
Month-to-Date Return9.29%3.10%
Year-to-Date Return-4.96%6.94%
10-Day Avg. Volume3.14M7.66M
3-Month Avg. Volume3.18M10.81M
3-Month Volatility37.35%23.70%
Beta0.480.20

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 101.31% and Merck (MRK) at 17.93% rank in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM) among industry peers, indicating strong returns on shareholders’ equity.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

101.31%

Max
101.31%
Q3
9.45%
Median
-24.29%
Q1
-57.59%
Min
-152.10%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.93%

Max
101.31%
Q3
9.45%
Median
-24.29%
Q1
-57.59%
Min
-152.10%
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)

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 34.99% ranks in the top quartile for Net Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of Merck (MRK) at 13.59%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

34.99%

Max
90.67%
Q3
13.59%
Median
-9.02%
Q1
-156.67%
Min
-407.00%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.59%

Max
90.67%
Q3
13.59%
Median
-9.02%
Q1
-156.67%
Min
-407.00%
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 43.63% and Merck (MRK) at 18.18% rank in the top quartile for Operating Profit Margin (TTM) among industry peers, indicating both companies convert revenue into operating income more strongly than typical competitors.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

43.63%

Max
65.08%
Q3
16.47%
Median
-9.50%
Q1
-194.89%
Min
-449.94%

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

18.18%

Max
65.08%
Q3
16.47%
Median
-9.50%
Q1
-194.89%
Min
-449.94%
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)101.31%17.93%
Return on Assets (TTM)22.73%6.97%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)34.99%13.59%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)43.63%18.18%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)82.83%78.07%

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
19.59
Q3
9.51
Median
4.07
Q1
2.07
Min
0.67

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.30

Max
19.59
Q3
9.51
Median
4.07
Q1
2.07
Min
0.67
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
2.26
Q3
1.00
Median
0.19
Q1
0.00
Min
0.00

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.07

Max
2.26
Q3
1.00
Median
0.19
Q1
0.00
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.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 20.36 and Merck (MRK) at 22.74 rank in the top quartile for Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) among industry peers, indicating ample headroom to cover interest payments from operating income or EBIT.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

20.36

Max
72.37
Q3
4.99
Median
-4.89
Q1
-43.93
Min
-104.22

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

22.74

Max
72.37
Q3
4.99
Median
-4.89
Q1
-43.93
Min
-104.22
Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. Merck (MRK): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolLLYMRK
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.501.30
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.731.06
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)1.391.07
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)20.3622.74

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
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)55.55%4.87%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)47.44%2.89%
3-Year Revenue CAGR31.69%3.12%
5-Year Revenue CAGR21.58%9.38%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolLLYMRK
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)169.45%--
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)128.83%-48.26%
3-Year EPS CAGR49.25%8.43%
5-Year EPS CAGR27.59%21.23%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 0.59% and Merck (MRK) at 2.90% 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

0.59%

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

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.90%

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 Yield (TTM) against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 22.10% and Merck (MRK) at 44.79% 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

22.10%

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

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

44.79%

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.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolLLYMRK
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.59%2.90%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)22.10%44.79%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 37.67 and Merck (MRK) at 31.74 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

37.67

Max
66.65
Q3
37.86
Median
25.12
Q1
17.65
Min
4.66

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

31.74

Max
66.65
Q3
37.86
Median
25.12
Q1
17.65
Min
4.66
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)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 13.18 and Merck (MRK) at 4.31 post Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing revenue multiple.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.18

Max
44.16
Q3
22.29
Median
6.11
Q1
3.45
Min
0.19

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.31

Max
44.16
Q3
22.29
Median
6.11
Q1
3.45
Min
0.19
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)

Merck (MRK) at 6.48 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 27.85 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated book-value multiple for LLY relative to peers.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

27.85

Max
19.86
Q3
9.76
Median
4.53
Q1
2.54
Min
0.54

MRK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.48

Max
19.86
Q3
9.76
Median
4.53
Q1
2.54
Min
0.54
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)37.6731.74
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)13.184.31
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)27.856.48
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)91.8520.09