Compare Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Merck & Co., Inc. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $125.97 (market cap $307.25B), while Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated trades at $478.11 (market cap $121.95B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 2.5× Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays a 2.73% dividend while Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MRK | VRTX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $307.25B | $121.95B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $129.52 | $529.59 |
52-Week Low | $77.60 | $366.54 |
Enterprise Value | $350.66B | $116.69B |
Dividend Yield | 2.73% | — |
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 $126.27, down 0.96% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The company reported robust 2025 results with $65.01B revenue and $18.25B net income, beating EPS estimates in recent quarters. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, while analyst consensus remains bullish with a $137.30 price target.
Outlook is positive driven by earnings momentum and strategic M&A, but risks include patent expirations and competitive pressures. The stock offers a dividend yield with upcoming payment, supporting income investors. Valuation multiples are elevated, requiring sustained growth to justify current levels amid macroeconomic uncertainties.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) trades at $482.00, down 0.75% on the day, with mixed technical signals showing a bullish overall trend but bearish moving averages. The company maintains strong fundamentals with $12.0B revenue (2025), 35.51% net margin, and recent earnings beats. Vertex's $10B acquisition of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals adds significant growth potential in endocrinology treatments.
The outlook remains positive with 85.7% analyst buy ratings and $538 consensus target offering 11.6% upside. Key risks include integration challenges from the Crinetics acquisition and competitive pressures in biopharmaceutical markets. Strong cash flow generation and profitability support continued growth despite recent volatility.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
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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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that discovers and develops small-molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases. Its key drugs are Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symdeko, and Trikafta/Kaftrio for cystic fibrosis, where Vertex therapies remain the standard of care globally. In addition to its focus on cystic fibrosis, Vertex is diversifying its pipeline through gene-editing therapies such as CTX001 for beta-thalassemia and sickle-cell disease, small-molecule inhibitors targeting acute and chronic pain using non-opioid treatments, and small-molecule inhibitors of APOL1-mediated kidney diseases. Vertex is also investigating cell therapies to deliver a potential functional cure for type 1 diabetes.
Read more on VRTX →
