Herbalife Nutrition Ltd vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Herbalife Nutrition Ltd trades at $12.18 (market cap $1.25B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $128.33 (market cap $311.84B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 249.5× Herbalife Nutrition Ltd's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays a 2.69% dividend while Herbalife Nutrition Ltd pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HLF | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $1.25B | $311.84B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $19.96 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $7.75 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $2.98B | $355.26B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.69% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HLF trades at $12.04, up 0.42% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $0.64, beating expectations of $0.607, and raised full-year guidance. Revenue for 2025 was $5.04 billion with a net income margin of 4.66%, while valuation ratios remain low with a P/E of 5.38 and P/S of 0.25. Recent news includes Herbalife's inclusion in TIME's America's Best Companies 2026 and a $1.45 billion debt refinancing completed in April 2026.
The outlook for HLF is cautiously optimistic due to strong earnings beats and strategic initiatives, but risks include high debt levels and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus is 57.69% buy, with institutional sentiment leaning positive amid ongoing business transformation efforts.
Merck (MRK) trades at $127.52, up 2.5% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst consensus. The stock recently beat earnings estimates in Q1 2026 and announced a $6.7 billion acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline. Revenue grew to $65.01 billion in 2025, with a net income margin of 28.07%, though 2026 forecasts show a decline in profitability. Cash flow remains positive, but debt levels have increased.
The outlook is positive due to strategic acquisitions and earnings beats, but risks include rising debt, competitive pressures, and a projected profit margin drop in 2026. The consensus price target of $137.30 suggests modest upside, supported by institutional buying and a bullish technical trend.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Herbalife Nutrition Ltd is an international nutrition company.
Read more on HLF →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 →