MRK vs. MRNA: Merck vs. Moderna Stock Comparison
How do Merck (MRK) and Moderna (MRNA) 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
Merck (MRK) and Moderna (MRNA) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but MRK is classified in Pharmaceuticals while MRNA is classified in Biotechnology.
| Profile Item | MRK | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Merck & Co., Inc. | Moderna 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 | Biotechnology |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Biotechnology |
| Market Capitalization | 361.73 billion USD | 101.48 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | December 7, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MRK | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 76.14% | 1,031.66% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 16.48% | 58.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 15.77% | 3.23% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MRK | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 30.24% | 194.88% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.11 | 1.08 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -43.44% | -93.93% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 10.24M | 21.61M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MRK | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.38 | 5.27 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 4.33 | 20.44 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative ROE of -39.00%; 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.
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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-39.00%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- MRNA
- -39.00%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative net margin of -141.43%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Merck (MRK) reports 3.64%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-141.43%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
- MRNA
- -141.43%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative operating margin of -557.93%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Merck (MRK) reports 35.22%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-557.93%
- Max
- 83.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
- MRNA
- -557.93%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MRK | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 5.06% | -39.00% |
| ROA (TTM) | 11.29% | -13.26% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 3.64% | -141.43% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 35.22% | -557.93% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 75.20% | -66.02% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Merck (MRK) at 1.31% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Moderna (MRNA) at -39.92% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Merck (MRK) reports EPS growth of 8.01%, ranked against its industry; Moderna (MRNA) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MRK | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.31% | -39.92% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.12% | -53.30% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 8.01% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.43% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Merck (MRK) at 1.35 and Moderna (MRNA) at 2.30 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.30
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- MRNA
- 2.30
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Moderna (MRNA) at 0.19 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Merck (MRK) at 1.20 uses more debt funding than most peers.
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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.19
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- MRNA
- 0.19
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | MRK | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.35 | 2.30 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.20 | 0.19 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.50 | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) 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.
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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MRNA
- 0.00%
- 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; Moderna (MRNA) pays no dividend (payout 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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MRNA
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MRK | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.29% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 343.43% | 0.00% |
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 Moderna (MRNA) has no P/E ratio this period.
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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
- MRNA
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Merck (MRK) at 5.37 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Moderna (MRNA) at 45.55 sits in the pricier quartile — MRNA costs more per dollar of sales.
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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
45.55
- Max
- 58.18
- MRNA
- 45.55
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Merck (MRK) at 8.06 and Moderna (MRNA) at 11.58 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
11.58
- Max
- 13.53
- MRNA
- 11.58
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MRK | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 148.21 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.37 | 45.55 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 8.06 | 11.58 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.88% | 0.29% |