Merck & Co., Inc. vs Philip Morris International Inc. — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $125.97 (market cap $307.25B), while Philip Morris International Inc. trades at $190.1 (market cap $300.37B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. and Philip Morris International Inc. are close in size by market cap, and Philip Morris International Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.05%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MRK | PM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $307.25B | $300.37B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $129.52 | $192.98 |
52-Week Low | $77.60 | $144.33 |
Enterprise Value | $350.66B | $346.86B |
Dividend Yield | 2.73% | 3.05% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Merck (MRK) trades at $126.27, down 0.96% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The company reported robust 2025 results with $65.01B revenue and $18.25B net income, beating EPS estimates in recent quarters. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, while analyst consensus remains bullish with a $137.30 price target.
Outlook is positive driven by earnings momentum and strategic M&A, but risks include patent expirations and competitive pressures. The stock offers a dividend yield with upcoming payment, supporting income investors. Valuation multiples are elevated, requiring sustained growth to justify current levels amid macroeconomic uncertainties.
Philip Morris International (PM) trades at $192.98, up 1.65% today, near the analyst consensus price target of $194. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving average support. Fundamentally, the company reported robust 2025 results with revenue of $40.65 billion and net income of $11.35 billion, though recent news highlights a $500 million impairment charge and reduced profit guidance for 2026 due to cost pressures.
The outlook remains cautiously optimistic with 68% of analysts rating it a Buy, but investors face headwinds from currency volatility, rising illicit tobacco trade in Europe, and margin compression. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 27.13 appears full priced, requiring continued execution to justify further upside.
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 →Philip Morris International is an international tobacco company with a product portfolio primarily consisting of cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor and oral nicotine products, which are sold in markets outside the United States. The company diversified away from nicotine products with the acquisition of Vectura, a provider of innovative inhaled drug delivery solutions, in 2021.
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