Carlyle Group Inc vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Carlyle Group Inc trades at $47.43 (market cap $17.23B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $132.43 (market cap $321.77B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 18.7× Carlyle Group Inc's market cap, and Carlyle Group Inc pays the higher dividend (2.9%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CG | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.23B | $321.77B |
Sector | Financials | Health |
52-Week High | $69.35 | $131.84 |
52-Week Low | $40.52 | $77.60 |
Dividend Yield | 2.9% | 2.61% |
Enterprise Value | — | $368.53B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CG trades at $47.80, up 0.02% daily, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $59.14. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations, with EPS of $1.07 versus $0.91 expected, while revenue trends show volatility, declining to $2.8B in 2026 from $3.2B in 2025. The company maintains a dividend of $0.35 per share and has strong institutional interest, with 53.84% of analysts rating it a Buy.
The outlook for CG is positive due to earnings beats and analyst optimism, but risks include inconsistent cash flow from operations and declining revenue. Investment opportunity lies in potential upside to the price target, supported by fundraising strength and strategic partnerships, though investors should monitor execution risks and macroeconomic pressures.
Merck (MRK) trades at $130.9, up 1.81% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $140.36. Recent earnings beats and a 72.97% gross margin highlight strong profitability, while the acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals aims to bolster its oncology pipeline. The stock faces headwinds from a high P/E ratio of 104.34 and fluctuating cash flows.
The outlook is positive with robust fundamentals and strategic M&A, but valuation concerns and competitive pressures in pharma pose risks. Upside is likely if earnings growth continues, though investors should monitor debt levels and integration of acquisitions.
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 →