Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc trades at $326.59 (market cap $12.92B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $133 (market cap $321.77B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 24.9× Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HII | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $12.92B | $321.77B |
Sector | Technology | Health |
52-Week High | $453.73 | $131.84 |
52-Week Low | $265.40 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $15.84B | $368.53B |
Dividend Yield | 1.68% | 2.61% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HII trades at $328.43, down 0.72% today, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 results, beating EPS estimates with $5.27 versus $3.79 expected, and revenue growth of 10.9%. Recent news includes a $2.2 billion contract award for surveillance and intelligence capabilities, enhancing its defense portfolio. Valuation ratios show a P/E of 19.53 and P/S of 0.98, indicating reasonable pricing relative to earnings and sales.
Outlook is positive due to contract wins and operational improvements, but risks include political headwinds and execution challenges. Analyst consensus price target is $359.67, suggesting 9.5% upside. Investment opportunity lies in margin expansion from submarine contracts, while monitoring defense budget volatility is key.
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.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Huntington Ingalls is the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S. and a provider of professional services to government and industry partners, specializing in nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
Read more on HII →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 →