MRK vs. WST: Merck vs. West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Comparison
This page compares Merck (MRK) with West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | MRK | WST |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | 50.79% | 46.68% |
Risk
Drawdown
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | MRK | WST |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Volatility | 27.18% | 41.40% |
| Beta | 0.20 | 1.17 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 9.77M | 852.79K |
Company Profile
Merck (MRK) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but MRK is classified in Pharmaceuticals while WST is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.
| Profile Item | MRK | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Merck & Co., Inc. | West Pharmaceutical Services, 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 | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 294.03 billion USD | 23.23 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Merck (MRK) at 33.54 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 44.08 sits in the richer quartile — WST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
33.54
- Max
- 77.14
- Q3
- 43.78
- MRK
- 33.54
- Median
- 24.68
- Q1
- 15.27
- Min
- 1.70
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
44.08
- Max
- 77.14
- WST
- 44.08
- Q3
- 43.78
- Median
- 24.68
- Q1
- 15.27
- Min
- 1.70
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Merck (MRK) at 4.47 and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 7.21 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.47
- Max
- 55.38
- Q3
- 24.42
- Median
- 6.98
- MRK
- 4.47
- Q1
- 3.30
- Min
- 0.01
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.21
- Max
- 55.38
- Q3
- 24.42
- WST
- 7.21
- Median
- 6.98
- Q1
- 3.30
- Min
- 0.01
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Both Merck (MRK) at 6.41 and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 7.80 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
6.41
- Max
- 13.23
- MRK
- 6.41
- Q3
- 6.38
- Median
- 3.46
- Q1
- 1.64
- Min
- -5.17
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.80
- Max
- 13.23
- WST
- 7.80
- Q3
- 6.38
- Median
- 3.46
- Q1
- 1.64
- Min
- -5.17
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | MRK | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 33.54 | 44.08 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 4.47 | 7.21 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 6.41 | 7.80 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 4.78% | 1.19% |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Both Merck (MRK) at 18.94% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 19.13% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
18.94%
- Max
- 101.32%
- MRK
- 18.94%
- Q3
- 2.92%
- Median
- -31.26%
- Q1
- -62.68%
- Min
- -158.89%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
19.13%
- Max
- 101.32%
- WST
- 19.13%
- Q3
- 2.92%
- Median
- -31.26%
- Q1
- -62.68%
- Min
- -158.89%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Both Merck (MRK) at 13.59% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 16.85% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.59%
- MRK
- 13.59%
- Max
- 12.76%
- Q3
- 4.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -2.26%
- Min
- -11.53%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
16.85%
- WST
- 16.85%
- Max
- 12.76%
- Q3
- 4.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -2.26%
- Min
- -11.53%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Both Merck (MRK) at 38.60% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 21.70% 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
38.60%
- Max
- 100.30%
- MRK
- 38.60%
- Q3
- 4.40%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -131.52%
- Min
- -333.43%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
21.70%
- Max
- 100.30%
- WST
- 21.70%
- Q3
- 4.40%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -131.52%
- Min
- -333.43%
Profitability at a Glance
| Metric | MRK | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 18.94% | 19.13% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 12.58% | 11.21% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 13.59% | 16.85% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 38.60% | 21.70% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 76.73% | 36.28% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Metric | MRK | WST |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 1.31% | 6.25% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 3.12% | 2.12% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Metric | MRK | WST |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | 8.01% | 1.49% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | 8.43% | -4.23% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 2.71 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Merck (MRK) at 1.30 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MRK.
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.30
- Max
- 24.81
- Q3
- 11.75
- Median
- 5.57
- Q1
- 2.69
- MRK
- 1.30
- Min
- 0.23
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.71
- Max
- 24.81
- Q3
- 11.75
- Median
- 5.57
- WST
- 2.71
- Q1
- 2.69
- Min
- 0.23
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 0.11 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Merck (MRK) at 1.07 uses more debt funding than most peers.
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.07
- Max
- 1.60
- MRK
- 1.07
- Q3
- 0.68
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.11
- Max
- 1.60
- Q3
- 0.68
- Median
- 0.15
- WST
- 0.11
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Metric | MRK | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.30 | 2.71 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.07 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.47 | -0.23 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Merck (MRK) at 2.86% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 0.27% 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
2.86%
- MRK
- 2.86%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.27%
- WST
- 0.27%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Merck (MRK) at 93.52% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 11.50% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
MRK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
93.52%
- MRK
- 93.52%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
11.50%
- WST
- 11.50%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | MRK | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.86% | 0.27% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 93.52% | 11.50% |