Compare Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) vs Ulta Beauty Inc (ULTA) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Merck & Co., Inc. vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $133.55 (market cap $321.77B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $534.48 (market cap $23.27B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 13.8× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays a 2.61% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MRK | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $321.77B | $23.27B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $131.84 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $77.60 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $368.53B | $25.35B |
Dividend Yield | 2.61% | — |
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 & Co. (MRK) trades at $133.64, up 2.09% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong institutional buying interest. The company reported solid earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $2.27. Revenue for 2025 reached $65.01B, and net income was $18.25B, though the P/E ratio of 104.34 suggests high valuation expectations. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline.
Outlook: MRK's growth is supported by strategic acquisitions and a dominant oncology franchise, but risks include high valuation multiples and competitive pressures. The consensus price target of $140.36 implies modest upside, with 68% of analysts rating it a Buy. Investors should monitor execution on the Terns integration and Q3 earnings results for catalysts.
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) trades at $537.69, down 2.0% today, with a bullish technical outlook from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $618.29. Recent earnings show mixed quarterly beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74 exceeding expectations, while revenue growth remains steady at $11.3B for 2025. The company maintains strong profitability with a net margin of 9.36% and ROE of 47.45%, supported by an omnichannel strategy highlighted in recent news.
The stock presents a buy opportunity with Wall Street optimism (56.53% buy ratings) and solid fundamentals, but risks include margin compression from rising costs and competitive pressures. Near-term catalysts include the Q2 2026 earnings report, with expected EPS of $6.17, and the transition from the Target partnership, viewed as a growth opportunity by analysts.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
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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 Ulta Beauty Inc
With more than 1,300 stores and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the U.S. The firm offers makeup (43% of 2021 sales), fragrances, skin care, and hair care products (20% of 2021 sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Read more on ULTA →
