Compare Kroger Co (KR) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Kroger Co vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Kroger Co trades at $56.21 (market cap $34.60B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $130.54 (market cap $323.00B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 9.3× Kroger Co's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.6%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KR | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.60B | $323.00B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $75.60 | $131.84 |
52-Week Low | $55.53 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $54.70B | $369.77B |
Dividend Yield | 2.55% | 2.6% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Kroger (KR) trades at $56.73, down 1.03% with bearish technical signals from moving averages. The company maintains stable revenue around $147B with recent earnings showing mixed results - beating estimates in Q3 and Q4 2025 but missing in Q1 2026. Kroger demonstrates strong cash flow generation with $5.8B from operations in 2025 and pays consistent dividends, while expanding digital services and AI shopping assistance.
Kroger presents a defensive investment opportunity with 2.7% dividend yield and analyst consensus target of $68.63 (21% upside). However, rising debt levels and competitive pressures in grocery retail pose risks. The stock offers value with P/S of 0.25x but trades at premium P/E of 33x, requiring earnings acceleration to justify valuation.
MRK trades at $130.90, up 1.81% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong institutional buying interest. The stock shows robust fundamentals with revenue of $65.01B in 2025 and net income of $18.25B, though a high P/E of 104.74 indicates premium valuation. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, reflecting strategic growth initiatives.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $139.90, offering ~7% upside, supported by 67.57% analyst buy ratings. Risks include integration challenges from acquisitions and patent expirations, but strong cash flow and dividend payments provide stability. Investors may find value in Merck's market leadership and pipeline expansion, though valuation metrics warrant caution.
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 Kroger Co
Kroger is the leading American grocer, with 2,726 supermarkets operating under several banners throughout the country as of the end of fiscal 2021. Around 83% of stores have pharmacies, while nearly 60% also sell fuel. The company also operates roughly 120 fine jewelry stores. Kroger features a leading private-label offering and manufactures around 30% of its own-brand units (and more than 40% of its grocery own-label assortment) itself, in 33 food production plants nationwide. Kroger is a top-two grocer in most of its major markets (as of early 2021, according to company data). Virtually all of Kroger's sales come from the United States.
Read more on KR →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 →
