Compare AES Corp (AES) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance
Price movement over the last 24 hours
Key statistics
Key statistics
AES Corp vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.64 (market cap $10.43B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $126.1 (market cap $318.26B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 30.5× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.81%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.43B | $318.26B |
Sector | Utilities | Health |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $11.07 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $39.77B | $361.68B |
Dividend Yield | 4.81% | 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
AES trades at $14.62, up 0.27% on the day, with strong fundamentals including a P/E of 7.59 and net income margin of 10.82%. Recent quarters show consistent earnings beats, while technical indicators signal bearish momentum. The company's pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a BlackRock/EQT consortium, approved by stockholders on June 26, 2026, caps near-term upside at $15 per share but provides a stable exit pathway.
The investment case hinges on the acquisition closing, offering a 2.6% gain to the $15 buyout price plus dividend yield. Risks include deal completion uncertainty and shareholder litigation. With no sell-side analysts recommending sell, the stock presents a low-risk arbitrage opportunity with defined upside and limited downside if the transaction proceeds as planned.
Merck (MRK) trades at $125.99, down 0.62% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong analyst consensus. The company reported solid earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 loss narrower than expected. Revenue grew to $65.01B in 2025, and net income reached $18.25B. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, reflecting strategic growth initiatives.
The outlook for MRK is positive, driven by earnings momentum, strategic acquisitions, and strong institutional interest. Risks include rising debt levels and competitive pressures in the pharma sector. With a consensus price target of $139.33, representing ~11% upside, the stock offers growth potential but requires monitoring of execution risks and market volatility.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About AES Corp
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →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 →
