Compare HCA Health Inc (HCA) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
HCA Health Inc vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? HCA Health Inc trades at $451.09 (market cap $96.35B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $145.6 (market cap $351.28B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 3.6× HCA Health Inc's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.39%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold HCA Health Inc for 76 Days and Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days on average.
| HCA | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $96.35B | $351.28B |
Volume | 1,079,453 | 7,969,665 |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $545.13 | $156.43 |
52-Week Low | $361.32 | $82.49 |
Typical Hold Time | 76 Days | 98 Days |
Enterprise Value | $146.88B | $398.04B |
Dividend Yield | 0.7% | 2.39% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HCA Healthcare trades at $451.09, up 2.71% with strong technical momentum and bullish analyst sentiment. The stock shows consistent earnings beats with Q4 2025 and Q1-Q2 2026 exceeding expectations, supported by robust revenue growth from $70.6B in 2024 to $75.6B in 2025. Valuation metrics remain attractive with P/E of 14.92 and P/S of 1.31, while technical indicators signal bullish momentum above key support levels.
The outlook remains positive with 63% analyst buy ratings and $461.12 consensus target, though legal investigations and high debt levels pose risks. Revenue growth and operational efficiency provide upside potential, but investors should monitor regulatory developments and debt management closely given the 80.9% debt-to-asset ratio in 2025.
Merck (MRK) trades at $145.6, up 1.97% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamental performance. Recent earnings have consistently beaten estimates, and the company is expanding its oncology pipeline through the acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals. Revenue growth is steady, with 2025 revenue at $65.01B and net income of $18.25B, though 2026 projections show a significant drop in net income to $3.2B. The stock is supported by a high analyst buy consensus of 68.42% and a price target of $158.78.
The outlook for MRK is mixed; strong earnings beats and strategic acquisitions provide upside potential, but high valuation ratios and a projected earnings decline in 2026 pose risks. Investors should weigh the company's robust profitability and analyst support against execution risks and market volatility.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About HCA Health Inc
HCA Healthcare is a Nashville-based healthcare provider organization operating the largest collection of acute-care hospitals in the U.S. As of December 2021, the firm owned and operated 182 hospitals, 125 freestanding outpatient surgery centers, and a broad network of physician offices, urgent care clinics, and freestanding emergency rooms across nearly 20 states and a small foothold in England.
Read more on HCA →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 →
