LLY vs. MRK: Eli Lilly vs. Merck Stock Comparison
How do Eli Lilly (LLY) 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
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.
| Profile Item | LLY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Eli Lilly and Company | 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 | Pharmaceuticals | Pharmaceuticals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 1,069.58 billion USD | 317.37 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | January 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LLY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 54.95% | 67.76% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | LLY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 38.54% | 27.69% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.51 | 0.19 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.31M | 10.34M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Eli Lilly (LLY) at 107.46% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Merck (MRK) at 18.94% also sits in the top quartile.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
107.46%
- LLY
- 107.46%
- Max
- 100.65%
- Q3
- 2.17%
- Median
- -32.62%
- Q1
- -63.57%
- Min
- -158.89%
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
18.94%
- Max
- 100.65%
- MRK
- 18.94%
- Q3
- 2.17%
- Median
- -32.62%
- Q1
- -63.57%
- Min
- -158.89%
Net 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 margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
34.99%
- LLY
- 34.99%
- Max
- 8.29%
- Q3
- 2.10%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -2.04%
- Min
- -6.93%
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.59%
- MRK
- 13.59%
- Max
- 8.29%
- Q3
- 2.10%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -2.04%
- Min
- -6.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 49.39% and Merck (MRK) at 38.60% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
49.39%
- Max
- 100.30%
- LLY
- 49.39%
- Q3
- 3.47%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -135.53%
- Min
- -337.81%
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
38.60%
- Max
- 100.30%
- MRK
- 38.60%
- Q3
- 3.47%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -135.53%
- Min
- -337.81%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | LLY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 107.46% | 18.94% |
| ROA (TTM) | 20.74% | 12.58% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 34.99% | 13.59% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 49.39% | 38.60% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 82.83% | 76.73% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | LLY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 44.70% | 1.31% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 31.69% | 3.12% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | LLY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 95.99% | 8.01% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 51.71% | 8.43% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.50 and Merck (MRK) at 1.30 run current ratio 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
- 24.76
- Q3
- 11.79
- Median
- 5.69
- Q1
- 2.69
- LLY
- 1.50
- Min
- 0.23
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.30
- Max
- 24.76
- Q3
- 11.79
- Median
- 5.69
- Q1
- 2.69
- MRK
- 1.30
- Min
- 0.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.39 and Merck (MRK) at 1.07 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.39
- Max
- 1.60
- LLY
- 1.39
- Q3
- 0.68
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.07
- Max
- 1.60
- MRK
- 1.07
- Q3
- 0.68
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | LLY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.50 | 1.30 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.39 | 1.07 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.05 | 1.47 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 0.51% and Merck (MRK) at 2.54% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.51%
- LLY
- 0.51%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.54%
- MRK
- 2.54%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 22.13% and Merck (MRK) at 93.52% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
22.13%
- LLY
- 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%
- MRK
- 93.52%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | LLY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.51% | 2.54% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 22.13% | 93.52% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 42.55 and Merck (MRK) at 36.20 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
42.55
- Max
- 91.40
- Q3
- 48.24
- LLY
- 42.55
- Median
- 26.30
- Q1
- 15.83
- Min
- 2.03
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
36.20
- Max
- 91.40
- Q3
- 48.24
- MRK
- 36.20
- Median
- 26.30
- Q1
- 15.83
- Min
- 2.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 14.80 and Merck (MRK) at 4.83 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
14.80
- Max
- 65.04
- Q3
- 29.15
- LLY
- 14.80
- Median
- 7.88
- Q1
- 3.43
- Min
- 0.01
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.83
- Max
- 65.04
- Q3
- 29.15
- Median
- 7.88
- MRK
- 4.83
- Q1
- 3.43
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Merck (MRK) at 6.92 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 34.35 prices above its benchmark range — LLY looks rich relative to book.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
34.35
- LLY
- 34.35
- Max
- 15.83
- Q3
- 7.42
- Median
- 3.80
- Q1
- 1.75
- Min
- -6.63
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.92
- Max
- 15.83
- Q3
- 7.42
- MRK
- 6.92
- Median
- 3.80
- Q1
- 1.75
- Min
- -6.63
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LLY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 42.55 | 36.20 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 14.80 | 4.83 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 34.35 | 6.92 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.86% | 4.43% |