Compare Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) vs Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Merck & Co., Inc. vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $142.58 (market cap $351.28B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $483 (market cap $68.83B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 5.1× Northrop Grumman Corporation's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.39%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days and Northrop Grumman Corporation for 81 Days on average.
| MRK | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $351.28B | $68.83B |
Volume | 7,969,665 | 1,081,989 |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $156.43 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $82.49 | $473.46 |
Typical Hold Time | 98 Days | 81 Days |
Enterprise Value | $398.04B | $82.81B |
Dividend Yield | 2.39% | 2.04% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Merck (MRK) trades at $142.79, up 0.61% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite beating earnings estimates in recent quarters. The company reported 2025 revenue of $65.01B and net income of $18.25B, with a high P/E ratio of 113.9 reflecting premium valuation. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, while institutional investors have been increasing stakes.
The outlook is mixed: strong analyst consensus (68% buy ratings) and a $158.78 price target suggest upside, but high valuation and bearish technicals pose near-term risks. Key opportunities include pipeline expansion via M&A; risks involve integration challenges and patent pressures.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $473.46, down 2.0% on the day, reflecting a bearish technical signal amid recent contract loss news. The stock exhibits strong fundamentals with a P/E of 15.05, net income margin of 10.48%, and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Revenue growth is steady, supported by a record backlog, though the loss of the $20 billion Navy F/A-XX contract to Boeing introduces competitive pressure.
The outlook remains supported by robust defense budgets and key programs like the B-21 bomber, but investor sentiment is cautious near-term. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $600.62 price target, though technical indicators suggest potential near-term weakness. Risks include contract dependencies and macroeconomic shifts in defense spending.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →About Northrop Grumman Corporation
Northrop Grumman is a defense contractor that is diversified across short-cycle and long-cycle businesses. The firm's segments include aeronautics, mission systems, defense services, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces various piloted and autonomous flight systems. Mission systems creates a variety of sensors and processors for defense hardware. The defense systems segment is a long-range missile manufacturer. Finally, the company's space systems segment produces various space structures, sensors, and satellites.
Read more on NOC →
