Merck & Co., Inc. vs Yum China Holdings Inc — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $145.6 (market cap $351.28B), while Yum China Holdings Inc trades at $42.92 (market cap $14.11B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 24.9× Yum China Holdings Inc's market cap, and Yum China Holdings Inc pays the higher dividend (2.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days and Yum China Holdings Inc for 77 Days on average.
| MRK | YUMC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $351.28B | $14.11B |
Volume | 7,969,665 | 2,350,650 |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $156.43 | $57.95 |
52-Week Low | $82.49 | $39.98 |
Typical Hold Time | 98 Days | 77 Days |
Enterprise Value | $398.04B | $15.02B |
Dividend Yield | 2.39% | 2.78% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Merck (MRK) trades at $142.40, down 0.28% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 results pending. Revenue grew to $65.01 billion in 2025, and net income reached $18.25 billion. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, with institutional investors increasing stakes.
The outlook for Merck is supported by analyst consensus with a $158.78 price target and 68% buy ratings, but risks include high valuation multiples like a P/E of 113.9 and competitive pressures in the pharma sector. The stock's investment appeal hinges on pipeline execution and integration of acquisitions amid a challenging technical backdrop.
YUMC trades at $41.78, up 2.78% today, with a bearish technical signal despite strong fundamentals. The company shows consistent revenue growth from $9.6B in 2022 to $11.8B in 2025, with net income reaching $929M. Recent developments include the Pizza Hut brand acquisition and expansion of Burger Bar locations, while analysts maintain a 73.68% buy rating with 25.63% upside potential.
YUMC presents a value opportunity with reasonable valuation multiples (P/E 15.3, P/S 1.2) and solid profitability (ROE 17.5%). However, technical indicators show bearish momentum, and the stock faces execution risks from rapid expansion and Chinese consumer market volatility. The Q3 2026 earnings report will be critical for confirming growth trajectory.
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 →With almost 10,600 units and USD 9.5 billion in systemwide sales in 2020, Yum China is the largest restaurant chain in China. It generates revenue through its own restaurants and franchise fees. Key concepts include KFC (7,166 units) and Pizza Hut (2,355), but the company's portfolio also includes other brands such as Little Sheep, East Dawning, Taco Bell, Huang Ji Huang, COFFii & Joy, and Lavazza (collectively representing about 985 units). Yum China is a trademark licensee of Yum Brands, paying 3% of total systemwide sales to the company it separated from in October 2016.
Read more on YUMC →