Merck & Co., Inc. vs Okta, Inc. — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $133.68 (market cap $321.77B), while Okta, Inc. trades at $148.32 (market cap $26.13B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 12.3× Okta, Inc.'s market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays a 2.61% dividend while Okta, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MRK | OKTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $321.77B | $26.13B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $131.84 | $154.62 |
52-Week Low | $77.60 | $62.93 |
Enterprise Value | $368.53B | $23.95B |
Dividend Yield | 2.61% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Merck & Co. (MRK) trades at $133.64, up 2.09% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong institutional buying interest. The company reported solid earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $2.27. Revenue for 2025 reached $65.01B, and net income was $18.25B, though the P/E ratio of 104.34 suggests high valuation expectations. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline.
Outlook: MRK's growth is supported by strategic acquisitions and a dominant oncology franchise, but risks include high valuation multiples and competitive pressures. The consensus price target of $140.36 implies modest upside, with 68% of analysts rating it a Buy. Investors should monitor execution on the Terns integration and Q3 earnings results for catalysts.
Okta trades at $150.04, down 0.48% today, near its pivot point of $150 with bullish moving averages but overbought RSI signals. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $0.91 exceeding expectations. Revenue growth is robust, rising to $2.61B in 2025, while the firm achieved GAAP profitability with net income of $28M, a significant turnaround from prior losses. Recent news highlights Okta's acquisition of Permiso Security to enhance AI-driven identity threat detection, positioning it in the expanding cybersecurity market.
Outlook is positive with analyst consensus at Buy (72.55%) and a $129.71 price target, though current price exceeds this. Opportunities include sustained revenue growth and margin expansion, while risks involve high valuation multiples (P/E 108.93) and competitive pressure from Microsoft. Institutional activity shows mixed signals, with some funds increasing stakes amid the stock's 55.6% YTD gain.
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 →Okta is a cloud-native security company that focuses on identity and access management. The San Francisco-based firm went public in 2017 and focuses on two key client stakeholder groups: workforces and customers. Okta's workforce offerings enable a company's employees to securely access its cloud-based and on-premises resources. The firm's customer offerings allow its clients' customers to securely access the client's applications.
Read more on OKTA →