Compare Southwest Airlines Co (LUV) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Southwest Airlines Co vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Southwest Airlines Co trades at $48.78 (market cap $23.63B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $125.53 (market cap $307.25B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 13× Southwest Airlines Co's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.73%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LUV | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.63B | $307.25B |
Sector | Industrials | Health |
52-Week High | $54.80 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $29.06 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $26.70B | $350.66B |
Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 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
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $48.28, up 0.42% today, with a neutral technical signal and mixed earnings history. Recent Q1 2026 EPS missed expectations, but Q4 2025 and Q3 2025 beat. Financials show modest revenue growth to $28.06B in 2025, but net income margin is thin at 2.83%. Analyst consensus is mixed with 42% buy, 47% hold, and 11% sell ratings, and a $52.47 price target implies potential upside. Key news highlights Q2 2026 earnings due July 23, 2026, amid fuel cost volatility and travel demand resilience.
LUV presents a cautious opportunity with upside to the consensus target, supported by operational improvements and sector tailwinds, but risks from fuel price swings, execution challenges, and thin margins warrant careful monitoring. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 32.05 appears elevated relative to earnings growth, requiring strong future performance to justify current levels.
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 Southwest Airlines Co
Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic carrier in the United States, as measured by the number of originating passengers boarded. Southwest operates over 700 aircraft in an all-Boeing 737 fleet. Despite expanding into longer routes and business travel, the airline still specializes in short-haul leisure flights, using a point-to-point network. Southwest operates a low-cost carrier business model.
Read more on LUV →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 →
