Amgen and Merck both pay quarterly dividends and raise them annually, but Amgen offers a higher yield (2.6% vs. 2.29%) and has consistently raised dividends by about 6% annually. While Merck relies heavily on its Keytruda franchise, facing a looming patent expiration, Amgen's diversified portfolio with 17 products over $1 billion in sales provides stronger dividend sustainability. Despite higher debt, Amgen's free cash flow comfortably covers its dividend, making it a better choice for income-focused investors seeking durable dividend growth through patent cliffs. Merck remains attractive for growth investors betting on its pipeline success.
As investors weigh the dividend growth stories of Amgen and Merck, Amgen's shares are up 1.55% at USD 385.65 on Pluang as of Sep 19, 2026 20:11 WIB, offering a dividend yield of 2.61%. Merck's stock trades slightly down 0.28% at USD 146.76 with a 2.31% yield. Amgen sees stronger buying interest with 76% of orders to buy versus Merck's 68%, reflecting its appeal to income-focused investors on Pluang.
