MRK vs VRTX
By Alex · Tickerpine
Merck & Co., Inc. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, side by side — the numbers that matter, in plain English. No “winner” hype; you decide.
| Metric | MRK | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $156.45 | $552.85 |
| Market cap | $385.99B | $140.13B |
| P/E ratio | 120.3 | 31.8 |
| ROE | 6.96% | 23.54% |
| Profit margin | 4.77% | 35.00% |
| Revenue growth | 5.10% | 12.50% |
| Dividend yield | 2.26% | — |
| Beta | 0.21 | 0.30 |
Green = the more favorable figure for that metric (lower P/E, higher ROE, margin, growth and yield). Not a recommendation.
MRK vs VRTX in plain English
- MRK is the bigger company — about 2.8× the market cap of VRTX.
- VRTX is cheaper on earnings (P/E 31.8 vs 120.3).
- VRTX earns a higher return on equity (24% vs 7%).
- VRTX is growing revenue faster (12% vs 5%).
- MRK pays a dividend (2.26%) while the other effectively doesn't.
How would $1,000 have done in each?
MRK return calculator
See what $1,000 in Merck & Co., Inc. would be worth today.
VRTX return calculator
See what $1,000 in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated would be worth today.
Figures from public market data, may be delayed. Comparison is informational only — not investment advice.