Merck & Co., Inc. vs Southern Company — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $148.25 (market cap $366.28B), while Southern Company trades at $88.67 (market cap $102.37B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 3.6× Southern Company's market cap, and Southern Company pays the higher dividend (3.42%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MRK | SO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $366.28B | $102.37B |
Sector | Health | Utilities |
52-Week High | $156.43 | $99.72 |
52-Week Low | $77.60 | $84.08 |
Enterprise Value | $413.04B | $176.47B |
Dividend Yield | 2.29% | 3.42% |
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.
No Aura AI signal available yet.
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 →Southern Company is a U.S. energy company with electric and gas utility businesses. Its power generation portfolio includes natural gas, nuclear, renewable, and other energy sources.
Read more on SO →