Compare Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) vs Unilever plc (UL) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Merck & Co., Inc. vs Unilever plc — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $142.58 (market cap $351.28B), while Unilever plc trades at $61.66 (market cap $131.63B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 2.7× Unilever plc's market cap, and Unilever plc pays the higher dividend (3.43%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days and Unilever plc for 112 Days on average.
| MRK | UL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $351.28B | $131.63B |
Volume | 7,969,665 | 2,978,741 |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $156.43 | $74.59 |
52-Week Low | $82.49 | $55.05 |
Typical Hold Time | 98 Days | 112 Days |
Enterprise Value | $398.04B | $156.65B |
Dividend Yield | 2.39% | 3.43% |
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% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite beating earnings estimates in recent quarters. The company reported 2025 revenue of $65.01B and net income of $18.25B, with a high P/E ratio of 113.9 reflecting premium valuation. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, while institutional investors have been increasing stakes.
The outlook is mixed: strong analyst consensus (68% buy ratings) and a $158.78 price target suggest upside, but high valuation and bearish technicals pose near-term risks. Key opportunities include pipeline expansion via M&A; risks involve integration challenges and patent pressures.
Unilever (UL) trades at $60.98, up 0.3% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal and mixed earnings performance. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.83, narrowly missing the $1.84 estimate, continuing a trend of recent misses. Financially, UL maintains strong profitability with an 18.32% net income margin and 54.56% ROE, though revenue declined to $50.5B in 2025. Analyst sentiment is divided with a Hold consensus, while news highlights strategic shifts including the planned food business merger with McCormick.
The outlook balances high profitability and emerging market exposure against execution risks from portfolio restructuring and recent earnings misses. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 21.32 appears reasonable relative to historical margins, but investor caution is warranted given the bearish technical trend and regulatory scrutiny of the McCormick deal. Upside potential hinges on successful integration and volume growth sustainability.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
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 Unilever plc
Unilever is a diversified personal product (42% of 2021 sales by value), home care (20%), and packaged food (38%) company. Its brands include Knorr soups and sauces, Hellmann's mayonnaise, Lipton teas, Axe and Dove skin products, and the TRESemme haircare brand. The firm has been acquisitive in recent years
Read more on UL →
