Compare Lamb Weston Holdings Inc (LW) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Lamb Weston Holdings Inc vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Lamb Weston Holdings Inc trades at $52.6 (market cap $7.23B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $133.25 (market cap $321.77B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 44.5× Lamb Weston Holdings Inc's market cap, and Lamb Weston Holdings Inc pays the higher dividend (2.89%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LW | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.23B | $321.77B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $66.57 | $131.84 |
52-Week Low | $38.48 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $11.10B | $368.53B |
Dividend Yield | 2.89% | 2.61% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Lamb Weston (LW) trades at $51.81, down 0.88% today, with a bullish technical signal and consistent earnings beats. The stock shows strong profitability with a 16.28% ROE and a 4.39% net margin, supported by positive cash flow from operations of $868.3M in 2025. Recent news highlights Q4 2026 results exceeding expectations and a declared $0.38 dividend.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $53.86, though risks include margin pressure from cost inflation and international headwinds. The stock offers a solid dividend yield and growth potential from operational improvements, but investors should monitor debt levels and competitive dynamics.
Merck (MRK) trades at $130.9, up 1.81% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $140.36. Recent earnings beats and a 72.97% gross margin highlight strong profitability, while the acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals aims to bolster its oncology pipeline. The stock faces headwinds from a high P/E ratio of 104.34 and fluctuating cash flows.
The outlook is positive with robust fundamentals and strategic M&A, but valuation concerns and competitive pressures in pharma pose risks. Upside is likely if earnings growth continues, though investors should monitor debt levels and integration of acquisitions.
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 Lamb Weston Holdings Inc
Lamb Weston is the world's second-largest producer of branded and private-label frozen potato products, such as French fries, sweet potato fries, tater tots, diced potatoes, mashed potatoes, hash browns, and chips. The company also has a small appetizer business that produces onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and cheese curds. Including joint ventures, 63% of fiscal 2022 revenue was U.S.-based, with the remainder stemming from Europe, Canada, Japan, China, Korea, Mexico, and several other countries. Lamb Weston's customer mix is estimated 58% quick-serve restaurants, 19% full-service restaurants, 8% other food services (hotels, commercial cafeterias, arenas, schools), and 16% retail. Lamb Weston became an independent company in 2016 when it was spun off from Conagra.
Read more on LW →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 →
