ING Groep NV vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? ING Groep NV trades at $33.15 (market cap $96.81B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $141.84 (market cap $352.29B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 3.6× ING Groep NV's market cap, and ING Groep NV pays the higher dividend (3.9%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold ING Groep NV for 93 Days and Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days on average.
| ING | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $96.81B | $352.29B |
Volume | 2,635,505 | 6,348,796 |
Sector | Financials | Health |
52-Week High | $37.27 | $156.43 |
52-Week Low | $23.66 | $82.49 |
Typical Hold Time | 93 Days | 98 Days |
Enterprise Value | $236.31B | $399.05B |
Dividend Yield | 3.9% | 2.38% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ING trades at $33.92, down 2.81% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages and oscillators. The company reported revenue of $22.90 billion in 2025, with net income of $6.33 billion and a net margin of 28.34%. Recent earnings beats and a raised 2027 ROE target above 16% highlight operational strength, though cash flow trends show persistent net outflows.
The outlook is mixed: strong profitability and analyst consensus (64.71% buy ratings) support upside, but bearish technicals and regulatory scrutiny in Australia pose risks. Valuation appears reasonable with a P/E of 13.09, offering a potential entry for long-term investors focused on execution of growth initiatives.
Merck (MRK) trades at $142.79, up 0.61% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamental performance. The company reported revenue of $65.01B in 2025 with a net income margin of 28.07%, and recent quarterly EPS have consistently beaten expectations. Merck is actively expanding its pipeline through acquisitions, such as the pending $6.7B purchase of Terns Pharmaceuticals announced in April 2026.
The outlook is supported by solid profitability and analyst optimism, with a consensus price target of $158.78 implying upside. Key risks include integration challenges from acquisitions and competitive pressures in the oncology sector. Cash flow trends show variability, with a projected net cash outflow of $1.2B in 2026 due to significant investing activities.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Latest headlines on both assets
The merger of the Dutch postal bank and NN Insurance in 1991 created ING. Through a series of further acquisitions ING build up a global footprint. The 2008 financial crisis forced ING to seek government support--a precondition of which was that ING should separate its banking and insurance activities, which saw ING revert to being solely a bank. ING has market- leading banking operations in the Netherlands and Belgium, and a range of digital banks across Europe and Australia. Its global wholesale banking operation is primarily focused on lending.
Read more on ING →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 →