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 $120.2 (market cap $26.49B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $133.12 (market cap $321.77B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 12.1× Dollar General Corp.'s market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DG | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.49B | $321.77B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $156.26 | $131.84 |
52-Week Low | $95.94 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $40.93B | $368.53B |
Dividend Yield | 1.97% | 2.61% |
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 $119.65, down 2.24% amid broader market weakness. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a P/E of 16.98 and P/S of 0.62, trading below analyst consensus target of $128.45. Recent earnings beats and positive cash flow trends ($395M net in 2025) support the bullish case, though profit margins have compressed from 7.01% in 2022 to 2.77% in 2025. Technical indicators show mixed signals with bullish overall sentiment but bearish moving averages.
Outlook remains positive given 52% analyst buy ratings and projected earnings growth, but investors face margin pressure and competitive threats from Walmart and Amazon. The stock offers value characteristics with upside to price targets, though same-store sales growth and cost management will be critical for sustained performance.
MRK trades at $133.6, up 2.06% today, near its 52-week high. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving average support. Recent earnings have consistently beaten estimates, with Q3 2026 expected at $2.27 EPS. The company's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals aims to bolster its oncology pipeline, while revenue growth remains steady at $65.01B in 2025.
MRK presents a positive outlook with a consensus price target of $140.36, indicating potential upside. Strong institutional buying and a 67.57% buy rating from analysts support bullish sentiment. Risks include rising debt-to-asset ratios and competitive pressures in the pharma sector. The dividend yield of $0.85 per half-year adds income appeal for long-term investors.
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 →
