Compare General Dynamics Corporation (GD) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
General Dynamics Corporation vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? General Dynamics Corporation trades at $367.2 (market cap $98.88B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $128.32 (market cap $305.29B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 3.1× General Dynamics Corporation's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.75%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| GD | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $98.88B | $305.29B |
Sector | Industrials | Health |
52-Week High | $376.88 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $297.05 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $105.06B | $348.71B |
Dividend Yield | 1.74% | 2.75% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
General Dynamics (GD) trades at $366.40, down 0.84% on the day, with strong technical momentum indicated by bullish moving averages and oscillators. The company demonstrates solid fundamentals with Q1 2026 EPS beating expectations at $4.10 versus $3.67, continuing a trend of earnings outperformance. Revenue growth has been consistent, reaching $52.55 billion in 2025 with an 8.07% net income margin. Analyst sentiment remains positive with a $395.83 consensus price target and 53% buy ratings.
The outlook for GD is favorable given strong defense spending tailwinds and a growing $130.8 billion backlog, particularly in marine systems. However, risks include execution challenges on large contracts and potential defense budget volatility. The stock's current valuation at 23x P/E appears reasonable relative to earnings growth prospects, positioning it as a core defense holding for long-term investors.
Merck (MRK) trades at $128.00, up 5.96% on the day. The stock shows a bullish technical signal with strong moving average support, while fundamentals reveal robust profitability with a 73.91% gross margin and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. The company is actively expanding its oncology pipeline through acquisitions, most notably the $6.7 billion tender offer for Terns Pharmaceuticals announced in April 2026.
The outlook is positive, supported by strong analyst consensus (67.57% Buy rating) and a price target implying ~7% upside. Key opportunities include pipeline expansion via M&A and solid cash flow generation. Primary risks involve integration of large acquisitions, patent cliffs for key drugs, and intense competition in the oncology space, which could pressure future growth margins.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About General Dynamics Corporation
General Dynamics is a defense contractor and business jet manufacturer. The firm's segments include aerospace, combat systems, marine, and technologies. The company's aerospace segment creates Gulfstream business jets. Combat system produces land-based combat vehicles, such as the M1 Abrams tank. The marine subsegment creates nuclear-powered submarines, among other things. The technologies segment contains two main units, an IT business that primarily serves the government market and a mission systems business that focuses on products that provide command, control, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to the military.
Read more on GD →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 →
