Compare Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) vs Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Merck & Co., Inc. vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $148.15 (market cap $366.28B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $225 (market cap $73.25B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 5× Ross Stores, Inc.'s market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.29%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MRK | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $366.28B | $73.25B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $156.43 | $255.23 |
52-Week Low | $77.60 | $144.67 |
Enterprise Value | $413.04B | $73.70B |
Dividend Yield | 2.29% | 0.78% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $229.31, down 0.6% on the day, showing bearish technical signals despite strong fundamental performance. The company reported three consecutive quarterly earnings beats, with Q2 2026 EPS of $2.66 beating expectations by 36%. Revenue growth accelerated to 13% in Q2 2026, with comparable store sales surging 10% driven by increased traffic and margin expansion. The stock faces technical resistance near $234 while maintaining strong analyst support with a $271.33 consensus price target.
ROST presents a compelling growth story with robust fundamentals but faces near-term technical headwinds. The company's value-focused retail strategy resonates with cost-conscious consumers, driving consistent earnings outperformance. Key risks include competitive pressures in off-price retail and macroeconomic sensitivity. With 64% of analysts maintaining buy ratings and a 19% upside to consensus targets, the stock offers growth potential for investors comfortable with current technical weakness.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 Ross Stores, Inc.
Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →
