Compare Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc (AMPH) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc trades at $19.44 (market cap $826.08M), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $123.43 (market cap $305.12B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 369.4× Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays a 2.75% dividend while Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMPH | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $826.08M | $305.12B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $30.81 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $16.87 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $1.22B | $348.54B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.75% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AMPH trades at $18.72, down 1.58% with bearish technical signals despite oversold RSI readings. The company reported mixed Q1 2026 results with EPS of $0.42 missing estimates of $0.70, continuing a trend of recent earnings disappointments. Valuation metrics appear reasonable with P/E of 11.29 and P/B of 1.07, while profitability remains solid with 47.34% gross margins. Recent news includes a Zacks Strong Sell rating and ongoing securities law investigation.
The stock faces near-term headwinds from earnings misses and negative analyst sentiment, though current valuations provide some downside protection. Upside potential exists if the company can execute its strategic pivot to proprietary drugs and biosimilars while managing BAQSIMI discount pressures. Key risks include ongoing legal scrutiny and competitive pressures in the generic drug market.
MRK trades at $123.65, up 0.09% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but mixed oscillators. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 loss narrower than expected. Revenue grew to $65.01B in 2025, and net income margin improved to 28.07%. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, signaling strategic growth initiatives.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $135.14, offering ~9% upside. Risks include rising debt-to-asset ratio to 36.06% in 2025 and projected net cash flow decline in 2026. Institutional buying activity supports bullish sentiment, but competitive pressures and macroeconomic factors warrant caution.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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Latest headlines on both assets
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About Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc
Amphastar is a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops and markets injectable, intranasal, and inhalation products. Its portfolio includes both complex generic drugs and proprietary delivery systems.
Read more on AMPH →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 →
