Where Does Merck Stock Rank Among Competitors?
Merck’s stock delivered solid 12-month returns, similar to LLY, but how does it measure up against pharma peers as of 2/4/2026? A closer look reveals strong operating margins and moderate valuation (PE ~15.5), yet revenue growth lags many rivals. While free cash flow generation is competitive, it trails leaders like ABBV, implying areas for optimization despite its profitability.
- MRK’s 34.9% op margin shows strong cost control/pricing power; LLY’s 44.4% suggests even superior operational efficiency or high-value portfolio.
- MRK’s 1.7% revenue growth points to mature portfolio or patent expiries, trailing peers; BMY’s lower growth suggests greater market challenges.
- MRK’s 35.3% stock gain and 15.5 PE reflect solid value, but JNJ’s stronger returns imply greater investor confidence in pipeline/outlook.
Here’s how Merck stacks up across size, valuation, and profitability versus key peers.
| MRK | PFE | JNJ | LLY | ABBV | BMY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap ($ Bil) | 295.2 | 152.2 | 564.7 | 993.0 | 384.1 | 117.3 |
| Revenue ($ Bil) | 64.2 | 62.8 | 92.1 | 59.4 | 59.6 | 48.0 |
| PE Ratio | 15.5 | 15.5 | 22.5 | 53.9 | 160.8 | 19.4 |
| LTM Revenue Growth | 1.7% | 3.9% | 5.1% | 45.4% | 7.4% | 1.3% |
| LTM Operating Margin | 34.9% | 24.6% | 26.2% | 44.4% | 24.1% | 23.8% |
| LTM FCF Margin | 20.3% | 16.5% | 20.3% | 10.8% | 33.0% | 31.9% |
| 12M Market Return | 35.3% | 11.0% | 57.4% | 35.0% | 18.1% | 2.4% |
For more details on Merck, read Buy or Sell MRK Stock. Below we compare MRK’s growth, margin, and valuation with peers across years
Revenue Growth Comparison
| LTM | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRK | 1.7% | 6.7% | 1.4% | 21.7% |
| PFE | 3.9% | 6.8% | -41.1% | 24.5% |
| JNJ | 5.1% | 4.3% | 6.5% | 1.6% |
| LLY | 45.4% | 32.0% | 19.6% | 0.8% |
| ABBV | 7.4% | 3.7% | -6.4% | 3.3% |
| BMY | 1.3% | 7.3% | -2.5% | -0.5% |
Operating Margin Comparison
| LTM | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRK | 34.9% | 31.5% | 4.9% | 30.8% |
| PFE | 24.6% | 23.3% | 7.1% | 36.7% |
| JNJ | 26.2% | 24.9% | 27.5% | 26.3% |
| LLY | 44.4% | 37.8% | 30.3% | 29.0% |
| ABBV | 24.1% | 21.1% | 24.9% | 32.4% |
| BMY | 23.8% | 12.2% | 18.2% | 19.7% |
PE Ratio Comparison
| LTM | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRK | 15.5 | 15.6 | 691.5 | 19.0 |
| PFE | 15.5 | 17.6 | 70.7 | 5.1 |
| JNJ | 22.5 | 35.4 | 10.4 | 22.9 |
| LLY | 53.9 | 91.4 | 132.6 | 84.2 |
| ABBV | 160.8 | 94.5 | 64.6 | 23.2 |
| BMY | 19.4 | -12.2 | 14.6 | 17.3 |
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