Compare CVS Health Corp (CVS) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
CVS Health Corp vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? CVS Health Corp trades at $106 (market cap $135.48B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $123.93 (market cap $298.31B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 2.2× CVS Health Corp's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.82%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CVS | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $135.48B | $298.31B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $106.18 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $58.75 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $202.02B | $341.72B |
Dividend Yield | 2.51% | 2.82% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CVS Health trades at $105.9, up 1.68% recently, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support (84.6% buy ratings). The company has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters, including Q1 2026 EPS of $2.57 versus $2.18 expected. Revenue growth remains robust, reaching $402.07B in 2025, though net margins are thin at 0.72%. Recent news highlights a settlement with the FTC advancing prescription drug affordability initiatives.
The outlook is positive given earnings momentum and strategic positioning in healthcare services, but risks include regulatory pressures and margin compression. The consensus price target of $110.62 suggests modest upside from current levels, supported by dividend payments and institutional confidence.
Merck (MRK) trades at $120.80, down 2.6% in the last session. The stock shows strong fundamentals with 2025 revenue of $65.01 billion and net income of $18.25 billion, yielding a net margin of 28.07%. Recent earnings beats and a bullish technical signal, with support at $120, highlight resilience. The acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals, announced April 7, 2026, aims to bolster its oncology pipeline, reflecting strategic growth initiatives amid a competitive landscape.
The outlook for MRK is positive, supported by robust profitability, strategic acquisitions, and a consensus price target of $137.30. Risks include rising debt levels, with debt-to-asset ratio increasing to 36.06% in 2025, and potential margin pressure from R&D investments. Institutional buying activity and a 67.57% buy rating from analysts underscore confidence, but investors should monitor execution risks and macroeconomic factors affecting the pharmaceutical sector.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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About CVS Health Corp
Following its acquisition of Aetna in late 2018, CVS Health now provides an even more integrated healthcare-services offering for its members. Legacy CVS combined both the largest pharmacy benefit manager, processing over 2 billion adjusted claims annually, and a sizable pharmacy operation, including nearly 10,000 retail pharmacy locations primarily in the U.S. Adding a managed-care organization with 24 million medical members gives the company a strong position in the insurance industry and should help CVS better control overall healthcare costs for its clients.
Read more on CVS →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 →
