Compare Dollar General Corp. (DG) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Dollar General Corp. vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Dollar General Corp. trades at $121.9 (market cap $26.50B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $123.38 (market cap $298.31B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 11.3× Dollar General Corp.'s market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.82%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DG | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.50B | $298.31B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $156.26 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $95.94 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $40.95B | $341.72B |
Dividend Yield | 1.96% | 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
Dollar General (DG) trades at $123.44, up 3.8% with strong technical momentum and bullish analyst sentiment. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.00 exceeding expectations of $1.89. Revenue growth continues at $40.61B for 2025, while profit margins face pressure at 3.63%. Recent news highlights the company's back-to-school initiatives and margin expansion efforts.
The outlook remains positive with a $128.45 consensus price target representing 4% upside. Key opportunities include continued same-store sales growth and margin recovery, while risks involve consumer spending sensitivity and competitive pressures in discount retail. The technical setup suggests near-term resistance around $125-$128 levels.
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.
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 Dollar General Corp.
A leading American discount retailer, Dollar General operates over 18,000 stores in 47 states, selling branded and private-label products across a wide variety of categories. In fiscal 2021, 77% of net sales came from consumables (including paper and cleaning products, packaged and perishable food, tobacco, and health and beauty items), 12% from seasonal merchandise (such as toys, greeting cards, decorations, and gardening supplies), 7% from home products (for example, kitchen supplies, small appliances, and cookware), and 4% from basic apparel. Stores average roughly 7,400 square feet, and about 75% of Dollar General locations are in towns of 20,000 or fewer people. The firm emphasizes value, with most of its items sold at everyday low prices of $5 or less.
Read more on DG →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 →
