Compare American Electric Power Company Inc (AEP) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance
Price movement over the last 24 hours
Key statistics
Key statistics
American Electric Power Company Inc vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? American Electric Power Company Inc trades at $137.21 (market cap $74.83B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $125.62 (market cap $318.26B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 4.3× American Electric Power Company Inc's market cap, and American Electric Power Company Inc pays the higher dividend (2.76%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AEP | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $74.83B | $318.26B |
Sector | Utilities | Health |
52-Week High | $138.69 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $103.96 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $126.09B | $361.68B |
Dividend Yield | 2.76% | 2.64% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AEP trades at $137.53, down 0.71% on the day, with strong analyst support (64% buy ratings) and a $142.82 consensus price target. The stock shows bullish technical momentum with recent earnings beats and robust revenue growth, climbing from $19.7B in 2024 to $21.9B in 2025. AEP benefits from AI-driven electricity demand and a $78B capital plan for grid expansion.
Outlook remains positive given AEP's strategic positioning in energy infrastructure, though risks include high capital expenditures and debt levels. The current valuation at 20.12x P/E appears reasonable for a utility with stable earnings growth and dividend payments, supporting a constructive view for long-term investors.
Merck (MRK) trades at $126.78, showing stable recent performance with strong institutional interest. The company demonstrates solid fundamentals with 2025 revenue of $65.01B and net income of $18.25B, representing a 28.07% profit margin. Recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations, and the company is actively expanding through strategic acquisitions like Terns Pharmaceuticals. Technical indicators show a bullish trend with moving averages supporting upward momentum, though oscillators suggest some consolidation may be needed.
Merck presents a compelling investment case with strong profitability, consistent earnings beats, and strategic pipeline expansion through M&A. The stock offers 9.9% upside to the consensus price target of $139.33, supported by 67.6% analyst buy ratings. Key risks include patent expirations, competitive pressures in oncology, and integration challenges from recent acquisitions. The company's robust cash flow generation supports continued dividend payments and strategic investments.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About American Electric Power Company Inc
American Electric Power is one of the largest regulated utilities in the United States, providing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. About 43% of AEP's of capacity is coal, with the remainder from a mix of natural gas (27%), renewable energy and hydro (19%), nuclear (7%), and demand response (4%). Vertically integrated utilities, transmission and distribution, and generation and marketing support earnings.
Read more on AEP →About Merck & Co., Inc.
Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent hepatitis B and pediatric diseases as well as HPV and shingles. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the firm's sales are generated in the United States.
Read more on MRK →
