Clorox Co vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Clorox Co trades at $97.6 (market cap $11.46B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $123.6 (market cap $298.31B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 26× Clorox Co's market cap, and Clorox Co pays the higher dividend (5.23%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CLX | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.46B | $298.31B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $131.43 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $86.12 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $14.76B | $341.72B |
Dividend Yield | 5.23% | 2.82% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CLX trades at $95.05, down 1.56% on the day, with technical indicators showing a bearish trend. The company reported strong Q1 2026 earnings beat with EPS of $1.64 versus $1.55 expected, though revenue trends remain flat. Recent corporate developments include a simplified operating structure announcement and CEO transition for health reasons. The stock offers a 5%+ dividend yield with recent H1-26 dividend of $1.24 payable May 2026.
CLX presents a mixed outlook with attractive dividend income but faces growth challenges. The 8.7% upside to consensus price target of $103.38 suggests moderate potential, though high P/B ratio of 41.4 and declining revenue projections for 2026 warrant caution. Key risks include execution of new operating structure and competitive pressures in consumer staples.
Merck (MRK) trades at $123.45, down 0.47% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst consensus. Recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations, including Q1 2026, and the company is actively expanding its oncology pipeline through acquisitions like Terns Pharmaceuticals. Revenue reached $65.01B in 2025 with a net income margin of 28.07%, though 2026 forecasts show a decline in profitability.
The outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $137.30, offering ~11% upside. Key risks include increased debt levels, competitive pressures in oncology, and potential regulatory hurdles from acquisitions. Institutional buying activity supports confidence, but investors should monitor execution on growth initiatives and margin sustainability.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
With a history dating back more than 100 years, Clorox now plays in a variety of categories across the consumer products space, including cleaning supplies, laundry care, trash bags, cat litter, charcoal, food dressings, water-filtration products, and natural personal-care products. Beyond its namesake brand, the firm's portfolio includes Liquid-Plumr, Pine-Sol, S.O.S, Tilex, Kingsford, Fresh Step, Glad, Hidden Valley, KC Masterpiece, Brita, and Burt's Bees. Just shy of 85% of Clorox's sales stem from its home turf.
Read more on CLX →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 →