MKS Instruments vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? MKS Instruments trades at $268.04 (market cap $17.95B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $148.15 (market cap $366.28B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 20.4× MKS Instruments's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.29%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MKSI | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.95B | $366.28B |
Sector | Technology | Health |
52-Week High | $444.80 | $156.43 |
52-Week Low | $110.60 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $21.53B | $413.04B |
Dividend Yield | 0.38% | 2.29% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
No Aura AI signal available yet.
MRK trades at $148.49, down 1.23% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and support near $147. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $2.22. Revenue reached $65.01B in 2025, and the acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals aims to bolster its oncology pipeline.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $157, offering ~6% upside. Risks include high P/E of 118.77 and competitive pressures in pharma. Institutional buying and a 67.57% buy rating from analysts support a constructive view, though net income margin of 4.77% warrants monitoring.
Trailing returns across standard periods
MKS develops instruments, systems, and process control solutions for advanced manufacturing. Its technologies serve semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, photonics, and specialty industrial applications.
Read more on MKSI →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 →