MRK vs. SNN: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at MRK and SNN, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
MRK is a standard domestic listing, while SNN trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors access to its foreign-listed shares.
| Symbol | MRK | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Merck & Co., Inc. | Smith & Nephew plc |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Health Care Equipment & Supplies |
| Market Capitalization | 218.23 billion USD | 16.34 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | November 16, 1999 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of MRK and SNN by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | MRK | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 3.74% | 2.60% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 13.50% | 30.35% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 4.90% | 34.08% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -24.70% | 18.10% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 11.84% | 18.97% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -12.17% | 39.50% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 10.52M | 3.24M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 14.65M | 2.40M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 24.15% | 34.25% |
| Beta | 0.37 | 1.16 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
MRK
34.88%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 38.59%
- Q3
- 19.84%
- Median
- 11.90%
- Q1
- 5.63%
- Min
- -9.96%
In the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry, MRK’s Return on Equity of 34.88% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
SNN
9.09%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 34.53%
- Q3
- 19.38%
- Median
- 9.52%
- Q1
- 4.86%
- Min
- -7.58%
SNN’s Return on Equity of 9.09% is on par with the norm for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
MRK
25.79%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 34.51%
- Q3
- 17.73%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 5.99%
- Min
- -7.73%
A Net Profit Margin of 25.79% places MRK in the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
SNN
8.26%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 23.34%
- Q3
- 13.06%
- Median
- 9.53%
- Q1
- 5.96%
- Min
- -3.87%
SNN’s Net Profit Margin of 8.26% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
MRK
30.00%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 41.53%
- Q3
- 23.00%
- Median
- 16.24%
- Q1
- 9.24%
- Min
- -6.94%
An Operating Profit Margin of 30.00% places MRK in the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
SNN
12.75%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 29.44%
- Q3
- 17.80%
- Median
- 13.95%
- Q1
- 8.73%
- Min
- -3.56%
SNN’s Operating Profit Margin of 12.75% is around the midpoint for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | MRK | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 34.88% | 9.09% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 14.04% | 4.67% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 25.79% | 8.26% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 30.00% | 12.75% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 78.32% | 70.04% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
MRK
1.42
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 4.49
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.74
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- 0.11
MRK’s Current Ratio of 1.42 aligns with the median group of the Pharmaceuticals industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
SNN
3.00
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.90
- Q3
- 3.05
- Median
- 2.14
- Q1
- 1.49
- Min
- 0.86
SNN’s Current Ratio of 3.00 aligns with the median group of the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
MRK
0.72
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 2.44
- Q3
- 1.07
- Median
- 0.42
- Q1
- 0.11
- Min
- 0.00
MRK’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.72 is typical for the Pharmaceuticals industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
SNN
0.62
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 1.49
- Q3
- 0.71
- Median
- 0.45
- Q1
- 0.14
- Min
- 0.00
SNN’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.62 is typical for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
MRK
19.65
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 103.95
- Q3
- 44.18
- Median
- 9.83
- Q1
- 2.82
- Min
- -42.71
MRK’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 19.65 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Pharmaceuticals industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
SNN
4.80
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 58.29
- Q3
- 25.56
- Median
- 9.06
- Q1
- 3.60
- Min
- -28.92
SNN’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 4.80 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | MRK | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.42 | 3.00 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.17 | 1.40 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.72 | 0.62 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 19.65 | 4.80 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
MRK
3.77%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 6.98%
- Q3
- 3.32%
- Median
- 2.13%
- Q1
- 0.14%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 3.77%, MRK offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Pharmaceuticals industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
SNN
2.03%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.05%
- Q3
- 1.76%
- Median
- 0.71%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 2.03%, SNN offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
MRK
48.95%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 165.20%
- Q3
- 90.59%
- Median
- 49.13%
- Q1
- 28.91%
- Min
- 0.00%
MRK’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 48.95% is within the typical range for the Pharmaceuticals industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
SNN
66.60%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 160.00%
- Q3
- 72.47%
- Median
- 27.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SNN’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 66.60% is within the typical range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | MRK | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.77% | 2.03% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 48.95% | 66.60% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
MRK
12.97
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 42.51
- Q3
- 26.88
- Median
- 19.11
- Q1
- 15.12
- Min
- 0.00
In the lower quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry, MRK’s P/E Ratio of 12.97 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
SNN
32.78
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 73.48
- Q3
- 51.69
- Median
- 34.31
- Q1
- 25.74
- Min
- 11.47
SNN’s P/E Ratio of 32.78 is within the middle range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
MRK
3.35
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 7.55
- Q3
- 4.54
- Median
- 2.11
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
MRK’s P/S Ratio of 3.35 aligns with the market consensus for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
SNN
2.71
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 9.53
- Q3
- 5.26
- Median
- 3.39
- Q1
- 2.13
- Min
- 0.00
SNN’s P/S Ratio of 2.71 aligns with the market consensus for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
MRK
4.06
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 9.78
- Q3
- 4.96
- Median
- 2.23
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.60
MRK’s P/B Ratio of 4.06 is within the conventional range for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
SNN
2.38
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 10.85
- Q3
- 5.98
- Median
- 3.48
- Q1
- 2.43
- Min
- 0.69
SNN’s P/B Ratio of 2.38 is in the lower quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | MRK | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 12.97 | 32.78 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 3.35 | 2.71 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 4.06 | 2.38 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 14.46 | 20.20 |