Compare Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) vs Boston Beer Company Inc (SAM) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Merck & Co., Inc. vs Boston Beer Company Inc — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $142.38 (market cap $352.29B), while Boston Beer Company Inc trades at $171.2 (market cap $1.73B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 203.6× Boston Beer Company Inc's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays a 2.38% dividend while Boston Beer Company Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days and Boston Beer Company Inc for 59 Days on average.
| MRK | SAM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $352.29B | $1.73B |
Volume | 6,348,796 | 196,621 |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $156.43 | $260.05 |
52-Week Low | $82.49 | $161.08 |
Typical Hold Time | 98 Days | 59 Days |
Enterprise Value | $399.05B | $1.50B |
Dividend Yield | 2.38% | — |
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% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamental performance. The company reported revenue of $65.01B in 2025 with a net income margin of 28.07%, and recent quarterly EPS have consistently beaten expectations. Merck is actively expanding its pipeline through acquisitions, such as the pending $6.7B purchase of Terns Pharmaceuticals announced in April 2026.
The outlook is supported by solid profitability and analyst optimism, with a consensus price target of $158.78 implying upside. Key risks include integration challenges from acquisitions and competitive pressures in the oncology sector. Cash flow trends show variability, with a projected net cash outflow of $1.2B in 2026 due to significant investing activities.
Boston Beer Company (SAM) trades at $168.16, down 1.3% with a neutral technical outlook. The stock shows mixed fundamentals with a P/E of 22.66 and P/S of 0.92, but negative net income margin of -3.64% and ROE of -8.61%. Recent earnings missed expectations in Q1 and Q2 2026, though Q4 2025 beat estimates. The company maintains positive operating cash flow of $270M in 2025 while expanding brand innovation with new product launches and marketing initiatives.
SAM faces headwinds from volume declines and cost pressures, but brand investments and new product categories offer growth potential. Analyst consensus is cautious with 72% hold ratings, though the $204.44 price target suggests 22% upside. Key risks include competitive pressures and shifting consumer preferences in the alcoholic beverage market.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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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 Boston Beer Company Inc
Boston Beer is a leader in U.S. high-end malt beverages and adjacent categories, with strong positions in craft beer, hard cider, and hard seltzer. The firm sells an array of flavor variants and package sizes, predominantly centered around four priority brands: Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard, Twisted Tea, and Truly Hard Seltzer. Its drinks are produced in both company-owned breweries as well as through third-party contract arrangements, and while the company primarily goes to market through independent wholesalers (as mandated by law), it operates a fairly large salesforce to induce demand across the value chain (distributors, retailers, and drinkers). The preponderance of revenue is generated domestically.
Read more on SAM →
