Merck & Co., Inc. vs Starbucks Corp — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $133.42 (market cap $321.77B), while Starbucks Corp trades at $108.59 (market cap $121.59B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 2.6× Starbucks Corp's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MRK | SBUX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $321.77B | $121.59B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $131.84 | $108.37 |
52-Week Low | $77.60 | $78.46 |
Enterprise Value | $368.53B | $140.42B |
Dividend Yield | 2.61% | 2.33% |
Volume | — | 7,493,833 |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
MRK trades at $133.6, up 2.06% today, near its 52-week high. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving average support. Recent earnings have consistently beaten estimates, with Q3 2026 expected at $2.27 EPS. The company's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals aims to bolster its oncology pipeline, while revenue growth remains steady at $65.01B in 2025.
MRK presents a positive outlook with a consensus price target of $140.36, indicating potential upside. Strong institutional buying and a 67.57% buy rating from analysts support bullish sentiment. Risks include rising debt-to-asset ratios and competitive pressures in the pharma sector. The dividend yield of $0.85 per half-year adds income appeal for long-term investors.
Starbucks (SBUX) trades at $108.03, up 3.23% with strong technical momentum and bullish moving average signals. The company shows improving fundamentals with recent earnings beats and raised 2026 guidance, though valuation remains elevated at a P/E of 61.65. Recent news highlights a successful turnaround strategy under CEO Brian Niccol, with traffic recovery and margin expansion driving optimism.
The outlook remains positive with analyst consensus pointing to $113.60 price target, though high valuation and execution risks require monitoring. Key opportunities include sustained traffic growth and cost efficiency initiatives, while risks involve premium pricing sensitivity and competitive pressures in the coffee retail space.
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 →Starbucks Corporation retails, roasts, and provides its own brand of specialty coffee. The Company operates retail locations worldwide and sells whole bean coffees through its sales group, direct response business, supermarkets, and on the world wide web. Starbucks also produces and sells bottled coffee drinks and a line of ice creams.
Read more on SBUX →