Carlyle Group Inc vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Carlyle Group Inc trades at $46.14 (market cap $16.37B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $123.42 (market cap $298.31B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 18.2× Carlyle Group Inc's market cap, and Carlyle Group Inc pays the higher dividend (3.08%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CG | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $16.37B | $298.31B |
Sector | Financials | Health |
52-Week High | $69.35 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $40.52 | $77.60 |
Dividend Yield | 3.08% | 2.82% |
Enterprise Value | — | $341.72B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CG trades at $44.14, down 1.27% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and bearish moving averages. The company reported revenue of $3.21B and net income of $808.70M for 2025, with a P/E ratio of 30.24. Recent developments include the acquisition of a majority stake in MAI Capital Management and the upcoming Q2 2026 earnings release on August 5, 2026.
The outlook is mixed, with analyst consensus leaning bullish (53.84% Buy) and a price target of $58.57 implying significant upside. However, risks include volatile cash flows from operations, recent earnings misses, and a high valuation. The stock's performance hinges on successful execution of growth initiatives and improved earnings consistency.
Merck (MRK) trades at $123.6, down 0.35% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong institutional interest. Recent earnings have consistently beaten estimates, including Q1 2026, and the company is acquiring Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline. The stock shows robust profitability with a net income margin of 28.07% in 2025 and a consensus analyst price target of $137.30, indicating potential upside.
The outlook remains positive due to earnings momentum and strategic acquisitions, though risks include rising debt levels and competitive pressures. Investors should weigh the strong analyst buy consensus against execution risks in integrating new assets and macroeconomic uncertainties affecting the pharmaceutical sector.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
The Carlyle Group is one of the world's largest alternative-asset managers, with $376.4 billion in total assets under management, including $259.6 billion in fee-earning AUM, at the end of June 2022. The company has three core business segments: private equity, which includes private equity, real estate, infrastructure and natural resources funds (accounting for 41% of fee-earning AUM and 65% of base management fees during 2021), global credit (45% and 24%) and investment solutions (14% and 11%). The firm primarily serves institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals. Carlyle operates through 29 offices across five continents, serving close to 2,700 active carry fund investors from 95 countries.
Read more on CG →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 →