MRK vs. PFE: Merck vs. Pfizer Stock Comparison
How do Merck (MRK) and Pfizer (PFE) 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 Pfizer (PFE) are both classified in the Pharmaceuticals sub-industry within the broader Pharmaceuticals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | MRK | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Merck & Co., Inc. | Pfizer 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 | 361.73 billion USD | 167.52 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | June 1, 1972 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MRK | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 76.14% | 28.65% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 16.48% | 6.41% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 15.77% | -3.98% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MRK | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 30.24% | 21.72% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.11 | 0.35 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -43.44% | -58.96% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 10.24M | 33.67M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MRK | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.38 | 1.12 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 4.33 | 1.73 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Merck (MRK) at 5.06% and Pfizer (PFE) at 4.47% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
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%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.47%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- PFE
- 4.47%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) at 6.34% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Merck (MRK) at 3.64%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.34%
- Max
- 18.05%
- PFE
- 6.34%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Merck (MRK) at 35.22% and Pfizer (PFE) at 33.38% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
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%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
33.38%
- Max
- 83.12%
- PFE
- 33.38%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MRK | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 5.06% | 4.47% |
| ROA (TTM) | 11.29% | 5.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 3.64% | 6.34% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 35.22% | 33.38% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 75.20% | 74.90% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Merck (MRK) at 1.31% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Pfizer (PFE) at -1.65% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Merck (MRK) at 8.01% and Pfizer (PFE) at -3.55% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MRK | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.31% | -1.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.12% | -14.80% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 8.01% | -3.55% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.43% | -37.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Merck (MRK) at 1.35 and Pfizer (PFE) at 1.42 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
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.42
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- PFE
- 1.42
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Merck (MRK) at 1.20 and Pfizer (PFE) at 0.71 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.
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
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.71
- Max
- 1.42
- PFE
- 0.71
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | MRK | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.35 | 1.42 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.20 | 0.71 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.50 | 1.97 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Merck (MRK) at 2.29% and Pfizer (PFE) at 7.30% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
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%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.30%
- PFE
- 7.30%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Merck (MRK) at 343.43% and Pfizer (PFE) at 245.71% report payout ratio above 100%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings on both sides.
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%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
245.71%
- PFE
- 245.71%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MRK | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.29% | 7.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 343.43% | 245.71% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) at 41.99 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.
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
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
41.99
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- PFE
- 41.99
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) at 2.63 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Merck (MRK) at 5.37 prices around its industry’s middle — PFE costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
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
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.63
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- PFE
- 2.63
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Pfizer (PFE) at 1.88 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
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.88
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- PFE
- 1.88
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MRK | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 148.21 | 41.99 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.37 | 2.63 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 8.06 | 1.88 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.88% | 7.76% |