Ecopetrol SA vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Ecopetrol SA trades at $16.93 (market cap $34.09B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $141.98 (market cap $351.28B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 10.3× Ecopetrol SA's market cap, and Ecopetrol SA pays the higher dividend (3.91%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ecopetrol SA for 84 Days and Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days on average.
| EC | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.09B | $351.28B |
Volume | 952,204 | 7,969,665 |
Sector | Energy | Health |
52-Week High | $18.26 | $156.43 |
52-Week Low | $8.61 | $82.49 |
Typical Hold Time | 84 Days | 98 Days |
Enterprise Value | $62.65B | $398.04B |
Dividend Yield | 3.91% | 2.39% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Ecopetrol (EC) trades at $16.63, down 1.95% with bearish technical signals. The stock shows attractive valuation metrics with P/E of 7.99 and EV/EBITDA of 4.04, but faces declining revenue from $159.6B in 2022 to $119.7B in 2025. Recent management changes and board restructuring under Colombia's new government create uncertainty, while the company maintains solid profitability with 11.37% net margin and 17.67% ROE.
EC presents a mixed outlook with undervalued fundamentals against operational challenges. Investment opportunity lies in discounted valuation and potential stabilization under new leadership, but risks include persistent revenue decline, political interference, and negative cash flow trends. Analyst consensus remains cautious with 54.55% hold rating and $16.85 price target, slightly above current levels.
Merck (MRK) trades at $142.79, up 0.61% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamental performance. The company reported revenue of $65.01B in 2025 with a net income margin of 28.07%, and recent quarterly EPS have consistently beaten expectations. Merck is actively expanding its pipeline through acquisitions, such as the pending $6.7B purchase of Terns Pharmaceuticals announced in April 2026.
The outlook is supported by solid profitability and analyst optimism, with a consensus price target of $158.78 implying upside. Key risks include integration challenges from acquisitions and competitive pressures in the oncology sector. Cash flow trends show variability, with a projected net cash outflow of $1.2B in 2026 due to significant investing activities.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Latest headlines on both assets
Ecopetrol SA is a vertically integrated oil company with operations in Latin America and the United States Gulf Coast. Based out of Colombia, the company explores, develops, and conducts production activities in various countries. Ecopetrol works as the primary operator or partner in a joint venture, in a host of assets held onshore and offshore. Along with production, the company refines and markets crude oils and byproducts produced from its fields. Crude products are moved by Ecopetrol through a series of pipelines throughout Colombia, along with a network of third-party production centers and facilities.
Read more on EC →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 →