Compare Kimberly Clark Corp (KMB) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Kimberly Clark Corp vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Kimberly Clark Corp trades at $107.45 (market cap $36.01B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $125.36 (market cap $307.25B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 8.5× Kimberly Clark Corp's market cap, and Kimberly Clark Corp pays the higher dividend (4.72%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KMB | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.01B | $307.25B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $136.77 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $93.05 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $42.55B | $350.66B |
Dividend Yield | 4.72% | 2.73% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Kimberly-Clark (KMB) trades at $108.43, up 0.07% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and bullish moving averages. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $1.97 exceeding the $1.93 estimate. Revenue declined to $16.45B in 2025, but net income margin remains strong at 12.8%. Recent news highlights KMB's innovation strategy and its status as a Dividend King, with a 4.5% yield attracting income investors.
KMB offers stable income with a high dividend yield and solid fundamentals, but faces revenue pressure and competitive risks. Analyst consensus is a $115.33 price target with a hold-heavy rating. Key risks include consumer sentiment impacts and input cost inflation, while the pending Kenvue merger provides growth potential.
Merck (MRK) trades at $125.25, down 1.76% on the day, with a neutral technical signal. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 results surpassing expectations. Fundamentals show robust profitability with a 73.91% gross margin and 13.59% net margin, though valuations are elevated with a P/E of 35.04. Recent news highlights the company's strategic acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline.
The outlook is supported by a strong analyst consensus with a $137.30 price target and 68% buy ratings, but risks include high valuation multiples, competitive pressures in oncology, and significant capital expenditure for pipeline development as indicated by negative investing cash flow trends.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Kimberly Clark Corp
With around half of sales from personal care and another third from tissue products, Kimberly-Clark sits as a leading manufacturer of tissue and hygiene realm. Its brand mix includes Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex, Depend, Kleenex, and Cottonelle. The firm also operates K-C Professional, which partners with businesses to provide safety and sanitary products for the workplace. Kimberly-Clark generates just over of half its sales in North America and more than 10% in Europe, with the rest primarily concentrated in Asia and Latin America.
Read more on KMB →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 →
