Compare British American Tobacco PLC (BTI) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
British American Tobacco PLC vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? British American Tobacco PLC trades at $57.14 (market cap $120.84B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $135.4 (market cap $327.94B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 2.7× British American Tobacco PLC's market cap, and British American Tobacco PLC pays the higher dividend (5.98%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BTI | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $120.84B | $327.94B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $66.70 | $135.55 |
52-Week Low | $50.39 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $164.79B | $374.70B |
Dividend Yield | 5.98% | 2.56% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
British American Tobacco (BTI) trades at $57.35, up 0.95% with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The company maintains strong profitability with 24.99% net income margin and 13.33% ROE, supported by $25.6B revenue. Recent restructuring including 5,500 job cuts aims to streamline operations while maintaining dividend payments of $0.83 per share. Cash flow trends show operational strength despite recent net cash outflow of -$1.1B in 2025.
BTI presents a mixed outlook with attractive valuation (P/E 14.21) and 66.7% analyst buy rating, but faces regulatory headwinds and declining combustible sales. The transition to next-generation products like Velo nicotine pouches shows promise, though execution risks remain. The stock offers income appeal with consistent dividends but requires monitoring of debt levels and market share trends in non-combustible segments.
MRK trades at $132.93, up 1.9% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $140.58. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $2.22. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, while financials show solid revenue growth and profitability, though net income margin remains modest at 4.77%.
The stock presents a favorable risk-reward profile with analyst support and strategic M&A activity driving growth. Key risks include high valuation multiples, competitive pressures in pharma, and execution challenges from recent acquisitions. Institutional buying interest and a stable dividend add to the positive sentiment, but investors should monitor debt levels and pipeline developments.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About British American Tobacco PLC
Following the acquisition of Reynolds American, British American Tobacco is neck-and-neck with Philip Morris International to be the largest listed global tobacco company--slightly larger than PMI on net revenue, but slightly smaller on total tobacco volume. British American's Global Drive Brands are Dunhill, Kent, Pall Mall, Lucky Strike, and Rothmans, and it also owns Newport and Camel in the U.S. The firm also sells vapor e-cigarettes, including its Vype brand, heated tobacco, with Glo, as well as roll- your-own and smokeless tobacco products. The company holds 31% of ITC Limited, the leading Indian cigarette-maker.
Read more on BTI →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 →
