MRK vs. QGEN: Merck vs. Qiagen Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Merck (MRK) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Profile Item	MRK	QGEN
Name	Merck & Co., Inc.	Qiagen N.V.
Country/Region	United States	Netherlands
GICS Sector	Health Care	Health Care
GICS Industry Group	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS Industry	Pharmaceuticals	Life Sciences Tools & Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Pharmaceuticals	Life Sciences Tools & Services
Market Capitalization	361.73 billion USD	10.39 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	June 28, 1996
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MRK

QGEN

GSPC

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN), 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 Qiagen (QGEN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

Calendar-year total returns for Merck (MRK) and Qiagen (QGEN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Merck (MRK) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	MRK	QGEN
Total Return (1Y)	76.14%	17.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	16.48%	10.44%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	15.77%	-0.72%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MRK

QGEN

GSPC

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN), 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 Qiagen (QGEN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Merck (MRK) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	MRK	QGEN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	30.24%	35.52%
Beta (5Y)	0.11	0.56
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-43.44%	-41.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)	10.24M	3.68M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

MRK and QGEN 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 Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	MRK	QGEN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	2.38	0.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	4.33	0.60

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Qiagen (QGEN) at 10.81% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Merck (MRK) at 5.06% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for QGEN.

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%

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.81%

Max: 109.18%
QGEN: 10.81%
Q3: 6.23%
Median: -26.66%
Q1: -64.05%
Min: -167.77%

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Qiagen (QGEN) at 18.20% 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.

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%

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

18.20%

QGEN: 18.20%
Max: 18.05%
Q3: 4.78%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -4.14%
Min: -17.05%

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Merck (MRK) at 35.22% and Qiagen (QGEN) at 27.75% 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%

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

27.75%

Max: 83.12%
QGEN: 27.75%
Q3: 14.77%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -78.82%
Min: -207.40%

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Merck (MRK) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	MRK	QGEN
ROE (TTM)	5.06%	10.81%
ROA (TTM)	11.29%	5.68%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.64%	18.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)	35.22%	27.75%
Gross Margin (TTM)	75.20%	67.06%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Merck (MRK) at 1.31% and Qiagen (QGEN) at 5.65% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Qiagen (QGEN) at 409.76% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Merck (MRK) at 8.01%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Merck (MRK) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	MRK	QGEN
Revenue Growth (YoY)	1.31%	5.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.12%	-0.81%
EPS Growth (YoY)	8.01%	409.76%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.43%	-0.19%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Qiagen (QGEN) at 2.63 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

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.63

Max: 25.13
Q3: 12.13
Median: 5.52
QGEN: 2.63
Q1: 2.47
Min: 0.10

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Qiagen (QGEN) at 0.47 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

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.47

Max: 1.42
Q3: 0.65
QGEN: 0.47
Median: 0.15
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): 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 Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	MRK	QGEN
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.35	2.63
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.20	0.47
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.50	1.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Merck (MRK) at 2.29% and Qiagen (QGEN) at 0.71% 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%

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.71%

QGEN: 0.71%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): 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 and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Qiagen (QGEN) reports 18.21%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

18.21%

QGEN: 18.21%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Merck (MRK) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	MRK	QGEN
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.29%	0.71%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	343.43%	18.21%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Qiagen (QGEN) at 27.21 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

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

27.21

Max: 85.34
Q3: 43.46
QGEN: 27.21
Median: 26.69
Q1: 13.30
Min: 0.07

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Merck (MRK) at 5.37 and Qiagen (QGEN) at 4.91 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.91

Max: 58.18
Q3: 25.77
Median: 7.30
QGEN: 4.91
Q1: 3.01
Min: 0.01

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Qiagen (QGEN) at 2.99 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

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.99

Max: 13.53
Q3: 6.54
Median: 3.25
QGEN: 2.99
Q1: 1.69
Min: -5.59

Merck (MRK) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Merck (MRK) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	MRK	QGEN
P/E Ratio (TTM)	148.21	27.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.37	4.91
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.06	2.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.88%	3.62%