Compare Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) vs UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Merck & Co., Inc. vs UnitedHealth Group Inc — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $146.15 (market cap $351.28B), while UnitedHealth Group Inc trades at $379.86 (market cap $332.96B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Inc are close in size by market cap, and UnitedHealth Group Inc pays the higher dividend (2.5%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days and UnitedHealth Group Inc for 97 Days on average.
| MRK | UNH | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $351.28B | $332.96B |
Volume | 7,969,665 | 7,273,749 |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $156.43 | $436.35 |
52-Week Low | $82.49 | $259.02 |
Typical Hold Time | 98 Days | 97 Days |
Enterprise Value | $398.04B | $374.82B |
Dividend Yield | 2.39% | 2.5% |
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 $144.96, up 1.52% today, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The stock shows strong profitability with a 72.97% gross margin and 28.07% net income margin for 2025, though its P/E ratio of 113.9 indicates high valuation. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, reflecting strategic growth initiatives amid competitive pressures.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus is bullish with a $158.78 price target, but technical indicators and a high P/E suggest near-term caution. Key risks include integration challenges from acquisitions and macroeconomic headwinds affecting pharmaceutical R&D investment. Revenue growth and pipeline execution remain critical for sustained upside.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) trades at $375.98, showing minor daily weakness but maintaining a bullish technical signal. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates, and reaffirmed its full-year outlook. Revenue growth remains robust, though net margins have compressed from prior years. Analyst sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with a consensus price target of $473.89 implying significant upside.
The outlook for UNH is favorable, driven by earnings momentum and strategic initiatives like AI investment. Key risks include regulatory pressures and medical cost trends. The stock presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking exposure to a leading healthcare company with solid fundamentals and Wall Street support.
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 UnitedHealth Group Inc
UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers, providing medical benefits to 50 million members globally, including 5 million outside the U.S. at the end of 2021. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in managed care. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's continued investments in its Optum franchises have created a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from medical and pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.
Read more on UNH →
