Compare Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) Price & Performance

Merck & Co., Inc.Trade

Vanguard S&P 500 ETFTrade

Price performance (Past 24H)

Key statistics

Merck & Co., Inc. vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $130.22 (market cap $321.77B), while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF trades at $710.11. The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. pays a 2.61% dividend while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.

	MRK	VOO
Market Cap	$321.77B	—
Sector	Health	Broad Market / Factor
52-Week High	$131.84	$710.71
52-Week Low	$77.60	$580.93
Enterprise Value	$368.53B	—
Dividend Yield	2.61%	—

View details →View details →

Aura AI Summary

Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice

Merck & Co., Inc.

Merck (MRK) trades at $130.90, up 1.81% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook and strong institutional support. Recent earnings beats in Q4 2025 and Q1-Q2 2026, alongside a 28.07% net income margin in 2025, highlight operational strength. The acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals aims to bolster its oncology pipeline, though a high P/E of 104.74 signals premium valuation. Cash flow remains positive at $1.37B in 2025, but investing outflows have increased.

The stock offers growth potential from pipeline expansion and analyst consensus targeting $140.36, but risks include elevated debt-to-asset ratios (36.06% in 2025) and competitive pressures. Investors should weigh robust profitability against valuation concerns and macroeconomic headwinds affecting the pharma sector.

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

No Aura AI signal available yet.

Aura AI is an analytical signal, not financial advice — do your own research.

Returns comparison

Trailing returns across standard periods

Top news

Latest headlines on both assets

MRK

Bio-Techne reports flat FY2026 revenue, EPS rise, and confirms $11.3B acquisition by Merck KGaA.PRNewsWire · 5 hours agoBullish Trump orders splitting MMR vaccine into three shots despite no scientific support and expert criticism.CNBC · 23 hours agoBearish View details →

VOO

Fidelity's zero-fee fund challenges Vanguard's S&P 500 ETF but offers limited gains for taxable accounts.24/7 Wall Street · 1 day agoNeutral Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF lags S&P 500 by $141K over 10 years despite dividends.24/7 Wall Street · 1 day agoBearish Vanguard's S&P 500 ETF (VOO) offers cheaper, more flexible access than the mutual fund VFIAX.24/7 Wall Street · 2 days agoBullish View details →

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.

About Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

VOO is a foundational ETF that tracks the S&P 500 Index, providing exposure to 500 of the largest and most established companies in the United States. Renowned for its ultra-low expense ratio and tax efficiency, it serves as a core building block for long-term investors seeking to capture the total return of the U.S. large-cap market in a single, highly liquid vehicle.