Merck & Co., Inc. vs Nasdaq Inc — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $132.68 (market cap $327.94B), while Nasdaq Inc trades at $95.68 (market cap $53.47B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 6.1× Nasdaq Inc's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.56%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MRK | NDAQ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $327.94B | $53.47B |
Sector | Health | Financials |
52-Week High | $132.93 | $100.98 |
52-Week Low | $77.60 | $76.85 |
Enterprise Value | $374.70B | $59.93B |
Dividend Yield | 2.56% | 1.21% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Merck (MRK) trades at $130.45, down 0.34% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $2.27. Revenue for 2025 reached $65.01B, net income was $18.25B, and the P/E ratio stands at 104.34. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, reflecting strategic growth initiatives.
Outlook: Merck's acquisition strategy and consistent dividend payments ($0.85 per share) support a positive view, with analyst consensus price target at $140.58. Risks include high valuation multiples and competitive pressures in pharmaceuticals. Institutional holdings show increased interest, but investors should monitor integration of acquisitions and patent expirations.
Nasdaq (NDAQ) trades at $95.92, up 0.31% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong support at $95. The company reported robust earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.07 exceeding expectations, and revenue growth accelerated to $8.26 billion in 2025. Recent news includes the acquisition of LeveL Markets, advancing its always-on markets strategy.
The outlook is positive, supported by analyst consensus of $109.20 price target and 61% buy ratings. Key opportunities include sustained revenue growth and strategic acquisitions, while risks involve competitive pressures and market volatility. The stock offers a dividend yield with recent payouts of $0.31 per share.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Founded in 1971, Nasdaq is primarily known for its equity exchange, but in addition to its market-services business (about 35% of sales), the company sells and distributes market data as well as offers Nasdaq-branded indexes to asset managers and investors through its information-services segment (30%). Nasdaq's corporate-services business (20%) offers listing services and related investor relations products to publicly traded companies and through the company's market technology group (15%), Nasdaq facilitates the exchange operations of other exchanges throughout the world and provides financial compliance services.
Read more on NDAQ →