Compare Halliburton Company (HAL) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Halliburton Company vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Halliburton Company trades at $33.78 (market cap $28.03B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $130.41 (market cap $323.00B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 11.5× Halliburton Company's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.6%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HAL | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $28.03B | $323.00B |
Sector | Energy | Health |
52-Week High | $42.98 | $131.84 |
52-Week Low | $20.50 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $34.18B | $369.77B |
Dividend Yield | 2.02% | 2.6% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Halliburton (HAL) trades at $31.89, down 1.91% amid technical bearish signals despite strong fundamentals. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $0.55, beating estimates, with revenue growth driven by international contracts. Valuation metrics remain attractive with P/E of 16.7 and P/S of 1.2, while analyst consensus shows 73% buy ratings with a $43.60 price target. Recent news highlights contract wins in Kuwait and Australia, though Middle East volatility presents near-term headwinds.
HAL offers value with solid earnings momentum and global expansion, but faces execution risks from geopolitical tensions and oil market volatility. The stock's current discount to analyst targets presents opportunity, though technical weakness suggests cautious entry timing. Long-term growth prospects remain intact through technology leadership and international contract pipeline.
Merck (MRK) trades at $130.45, up 1.46% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong institutional buying interest. The company reported revenue of $65.01B in 2025 with a net income margin of 28.07%, though the P/E ratio of 104.74 reflects high valuation expectations. Recent acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals aims to bolster its oncology pipeline, while dividend payments of $0.85 per share provide income stability.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $139.90, implying 7.2% upside, supported by 67.6% analyst buy ratings. Key risks include integration challenges from acquisitions, patent expirations, and regulatory pressures. Earnings growth and pipeline advancements are critical for sustaining the current premium valuation.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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Latest headlines on both assets
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About Halliburton Company
Halliburton is one of the three largest oilfield service firms in the world, offering superior expertise in a number of business lines, including completion fluids, wireline services, cementing, and countless others. It's the number one pressure pumper in North America, and has been a leading innovator in hydraulic fracturing over the last two decades.
Read more on HAL →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 →
