Compare Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) vs 22nd Century Group Inc (XXII) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Merck & Co., Inc. vs 22nd Century Group Inc — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $148 (market cap $363.98B), while 22nd Century Group Inc trades at $2.17 (market cap $1.50M). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 242653.3× 22nd Century Group Inc's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays a 2.3% dividend while 22nd Century Group Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MRK | XXII | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $363.98B | $1.50M |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $156.43 | $594.00 |
52-Week Low | $77.60 | $2.13 |
Enterprise Value | $410.75B | -$2.81M |
Dividend Yield | 2.3% | — |
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 $148.49, down 1.23% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and support near $147. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $2.22. Revenue reached $65.01B in 2025, and the acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals aims to bolster its oncology pipeline.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $157, offering ~6% upside. Risks include high P/E of 118.77 and competitive pressures in pharma. Institutional buying and a 67.57% buy rating from analysts support a constructive view, though net income margin of 4.77% warrants monitoring.
XXII trades at $2.29, down 4.58% today, showing continued bearish momentum with negative technical signals. The company faces severe financial challenges with negative profit margins (-76.01% net income margin) and consecutive earnings misses. Despite analyst optimism (75% buy ratings), fundamental weakness persists with declining revenue and substantial losses. Recent corporate actions include a 20:1 reverse stock split completed June 2026 to maintain listing compliance.
The outlook remains challenging given persistent operational losses and negative cash flow from operations. Investment opportunity exists if the company can capitalize on its claimed $50B market opportunity and improve gross margins. Key risks include continued cash burn, competitive pressures in tobacco alternatives, and execution challenges in commercializing VLN products.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 22nd Century Group Inc
22nd Century Group is a plant biotechnology company that uses genetic engineering and gene editing to control the levels of nicotine in tobacco plants. Its flagship product line, VLN®, is the first and only combustible cigarette authorized by the FDA as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP), containing 95% less nicotine than traditional cigarettes to help adult smokers smoke less.
Read more on XXII →
