Seek Returns

MRK vs. PCVX: Merck vs. Vaxcyte Stock Comparison

How do Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX) 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 Vaxcyte (PCVX) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but MRK is classified in Pharmaceuticals while PCVX is classified in Biotechnology.

Merck (MRK) has more than two decades of public-market history since January 2, 1962, whereas Vaxcyte (PCVX) listed on June 12, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
Profile ItemMRKPCVX
NameMerck & Co., Inc.Vaxcyte Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryPharmaceuticalsBiotechnology
GICS Sub-IndustryPharmaceuticalsBiotechnology
Market Capitalization361.73 billion USD10.11 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962June 12, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MRK
PCVX
GSPC
Loading price history…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricMRKPCVX
Total Return (1Y)76.14%59.00%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)16.48%11.29%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)15.77%21.60%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MRK
PCVX
GSPC
Loading price history…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricMRKPCVX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.24%56.01%
Beta (5Y)0.111.26
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.44%-76.22%
Avg. Volume (3M)10.24M2.12M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
MRK and PCVX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricMRKPCVX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.380.98
Sortino Ratio (1Y)4.331.76

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Vaxcyte (PCVX) reports a negative ROE of -42.68%; 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%

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-42.68%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
PCVX
-42.68%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
Loading chart…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Merck (MRK) at 3.64% and Vaxcyte (PCVX) at 0.00% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
PCVX
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
Loading chart…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Merck (MRK) at 35.22% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Vaxcyte (PCVX) at 0.00%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

Max
83.12%
Q3
14.77%
PCVX
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
Loading chart…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricMRKPCVX
ROE (TTM)5.06%-42.68%
ROA (TTM)11.29%-24.98%
Net Margin (TTM)3.64%0.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)35.22%0.00%
Gross Margin (TTM)75.20%0.00%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: Merck (MRK) reports revenue growth of 1.31%, ranked against its industry; Vaxcyte (PCVX) has no revenue growth figure this period.

Loading chart…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Merck (MRK) reports EPS growth of 8.01%, ranked against its industry; Vaxcyte (PCVX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Loading chart…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricMRKPCVX
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.31%--
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.12%--
EPS Growth (YoY)8.01%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)8.43%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Vaxcyte (PCVX) at 4.56 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Merck (MRK) at 1.35 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MRK.

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

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.56

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
PCVX
4.56
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10
Loading chart…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Vaxcyte (PCVX) at 0.09 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

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.09

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
PCVX
0.09
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricMRKPCVX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.354.56
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.200.09
Net Debt / EBITDA1.50--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Vaxcyte (PCVX) 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%

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

PCVX
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Merck (MRK) reports payout ratio above 100% at 343.43%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; Vaxcyte (PCVX) 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%

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

PCVX
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricMRKPCVX
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 Vaxcyte (PCVX) 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

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
PCVX
--
Loading chart…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): PCVX does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; MRK is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

A sales-based read is only available for Merck (MRK), whose P/S ratio of 5.37 ranks against industry peers; Vaxcyte (PCVX) reports no figure this period.

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

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
PCVX
--
Loading chart…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): PCVX does not report P/S ratio, so it has no value marker; MRK is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Vaxcyte (PCVX) at 3.83 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Merck (MRK) at 8.06 carries an above-peer premium to book — MRK is pricier on assets.

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

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.83

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
PCVX
3.83
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
Loading chart…
Merck (MRK) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Merck (MRK) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricMRKPCVX
P/E Ratio (TTM)148.21--
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.37--
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.063.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.88%-5.24%