Compare Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance
Price movement over the last 24 hours
Key statistics
Key statistics
Ascendis Pharma A/S vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Ascendis Pharma A/S trades at $270.99 (market cap $17.74B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $124.37 (market cap $305.12B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 17.2× Ascendis Pharma A/S's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays a 2.75% dividend while Ascendis Pharma A/S pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ASND | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.74B | $305.12B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $277.18 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $163.32 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $18.11B | $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
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) trades at $270.45, down 1.81% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and positive analyst sentiment. The company reported Q1 2026 revenue of $241 million (converted from €197 million for YORVIPATH and €44 million for SKYTROFA, Q1 2026 earnings report May 7, 2026) and beat EPS expectations, while recent news highlights clinical progress in achondroplasia and hypoparathyroidism treatments. Valuation ratios are elevated with a P/E of 31.38 and P/S of 16.94, reflecting growth expectations.
The outlook is positive due to strong revenue growth, multiple product launches, and a 92% analyst buy rating with a $321.17 price target. Key risks include high debt levels, persistent net losses despite improving margins, and reliance on successful commercialization of new therapies. The stock's upside depends on execution of growth strategy and achieving profitability.
Merck (MRK) trades at $123.54, down 1.22% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $135.14. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of -$1.28 beating expectations. Revenue grew to $65.01B in 2025, and net income reached $18.25B, reflecting a robust 28.07% profit margin. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, signaling strategic growth initiatives.
The outlook for MRK remains positive driven by earnings momentum and strategic acquisitions, though risks include rising debt levels and competitive pressures. Wall Street sentiment is bullish with 68% buy ratings, but investors should monitor execution of the Terns integration and patent expirations. The stock offers potential upside to the price target with solid fundamentals supporting long-term value.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Ascendis Pharma A/S
Ascendis Pharma A/S is a biopharmaceutical company. It develops prodrug therapies with profiles to address large markets with significant unmet medical needs with its Transcon technology. The firm's product pipeline includes Transcon growth hormone, Transconpeptides, Transcon PTH, Transcon CNP, and others. It operates mainly in North America, Germany, China, and Denmark and derives the majority of its revenue from China.
Read more on ASND →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 →
