Merck & Co., Inc. vs Upstart Holdings Inc — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $146.2 (market cap $351.28B), while Upstart Holdings Inc trades at $24.08 (market cap $2.35B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 149.5× Upstart Holdings Inc's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays a 2.39% dividend while Upstart Holdings Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days and Upstart Holdings Inc for 39 Days on average.
| MRK | UPST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $351.28B | $2.35B |
Volume | 7,969,665 | 4,203,337 |
Sector | Health | Financials |
52-Week High | $156.43 | $52.74 |
52-Week Low | $82.49 | $22.81 |
Typical Hold Time | 98 Days | 39 Days |
Enterprise Value | $398.04B | $3.88B |
Dividend Yield | 2.39% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Merck (MRK) trades at $145.6, up 1.97% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamental performance. Recent earnings have consistently beaten estimates, and the company is expanding its oncology pipeline through the acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals. Revenue growth is steady, with 2025 revenue at $65.01B and net income of $18.25B, though 2026 projections show a significant drop in net income to $3.2B. The stock is supported by a high analyst buy consensus of 68.42% and a price target of $158.78.
The outlook for MRK is mixed; strong earnings beats and strategic acquisitions provide upside potential, but high valuation ratios and a projected earnings decline in 2026 pose risks. Investors should weigh the company's robust profitability and analyst support against execution risks and market volatility.
Upstart Holdings (UPST) trades at $24.10, showing modest daily gains but facing technical bearish signals. The company achieved profitability in 2025 with $1.02B revenue and $53.6M net income, though recent quarters show earnings misses. Analyst sentiment is mixed with a $39.50 price target, while technical indicators suggest near-term resistance at $25. Recent news highlights partnership expansions and securitization activity amid sector-wide pressure on consumer lending stocks.
UPST presents a turnaround story with improving fundamentals but faces execution risks in a challenging lending environment. The stock trades below analyst targets offering potential upside, though volatility remains high given recent earnings misses and competitive pressures. Key catalysts include AI lending platform adoption and credit market stability, while risks involve credit quality deterioration and macroeconomic headwinds affecting loan demand.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
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 →Upstart Holdings Inc provides credit services. The company provides a proprietary, cloud-based, artificial intelligence lending platform. The platform aggregates consumer demand for loans and connects it to the network of Upstart AI-enabled bank partners. The revenue of the company is primarily comprised of fees paid by banks.
Read more on UPST →