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 $133.42 (market cap $321.77B), while UnitedHealth Group Inc trades at $405.22 (market cap $361.00B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Inc are close in size by market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MRK | UNH | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $321.77B | $361.00B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $131.84 | $436.35 |
52-Week Low | $77.60 | $259.02 |
Enterprise Value | $368.53B | $402.86B |
Dividend Yield | 2.61% | 2.31% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
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.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) trades at $408.74, showing modest daily gains of 0.41% amid a bearish technical signal. The company demonstrates strong fundamental performance with consistent earnings beats in recent quarters and robust analyst support (82.7% buy ratings). Recent developments include dividend payments and strategic initiatives to streamline pediatric care authorizations, positioning UNH well in the healthcare sector.
UNH presents a compelling investment case with strong cash flow generation and market leadership, though investors face risks from regulatory scrutiny and margin compression. The stock trades at a discount to analyst consensus target of $476.50, offering potential upside if operational improvements and growth initiatives materialize as projected.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →
