MEDP vs. MRK: Medpace vs. Merck Stock Comparison
How do Medpace (MEDP) 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
Medpace (MEDP) and Merck (MRK) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but MEDP is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services while MRK is classified in Pharmaceuticals.
| Profile Item | MEDP | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Medpace Holdings, Inc. | 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 | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Pharmaceuticals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 18.27 billion USD | 361.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 11, 2016 | January 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MEDP | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 13.29% | 76.14% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 35.26% | 16.48% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 24.49% | 15.77% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Merck (MRK) is heavily traded at around 10.24M shares per day, whereas Medpace (MEDP) sees a more moderate 258.39K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | MEDP | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 44.16% | 30.24% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.10 | 0.11 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -42.87% | -43.44% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 258.39K | 10.24M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MEDP | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.20 | 2.38 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.26 | 4.33 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Medpace (MEDP) at 117.88% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Merck (MRK) at 5.06%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
117.88%
- MEDP
- 117.88%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Medpace (MEDP) at 18.24% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Merck (MRK) at 3.64% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
18.24%
- MEDP
- 18.24%
- Max
- 18.05%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Medpace (MEDP) at 23.12% and Merck (MRK) at 35.22% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
23.12%
- Max
- 83.12%
- MEDP
- 23.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MEDP | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 117.88% | 5.06% |
| ROA (TTM) | 18.71% | 11.29% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 18.24% | 3.64% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.12% | 35.22% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 72.24% | 75.20% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Medpace (MEDP) at 19.97% 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.
EPS Growth
Both Medpace (MEDP) at 20.98% and Merck (MRK) at 8.01% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MEDP | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 19.97% | 1.31% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 20.12% | 3.12% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 20.98% | 8.01% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 28.04% | 8.43% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Medpace (MEDP) at 0.83 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.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.83
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- MEDP
- 0.83
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Medpace (MEDP) at 0.29 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Merck (MRK) at 1.20 uses more debt funding than most peers.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.29
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- MEDP
- 0.29
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | MEDP | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.83 | 1.35 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.29 | 1.20 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.84 | 1.50 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Medpace (MEDP) 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.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MEDP
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Merck (MRK) reports payout ratio above 100% at 343.43%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; Medpace (MEDP) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MEDP
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MEDP | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 2.29% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 343.43% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Medpace (MEDP) at 36.26 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Merck (MRK) at 148.21 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for MRK’s trailing earnings.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
36.26
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- MEDP
- 36.26
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Medpace (MEDP) at 6.44 and Merck (MRK) at 5.37 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.44
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- MEDP
- 6.44
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Merck (MRK) at 8.06 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Medpace (MEDP) at 31.23 prices even higher, above its industry range.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
31.23
- MEDP
- 31.23
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MEDP | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 36.26 | 148.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.44 | 5.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 31.23 | 8.06 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.72% | 3.88% |