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 | $128.66 | $491.34 |
| Market cap | $317.77B | $124.70B |
| P/E ratio | 36.2 | 29.2 |
| ROE | 18.94% | 24.20% |
| Profit margin | 13.59% | 35.51% |
| Revenue growth | 4.90% | 7.80% |
| Dividend yield | 2.64% | — |
| Beta | 0.22 | 0.31 |
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 2.5× the market cap of VRTX.
- VRTX is cheaper on earnings (P/E 29.2 vs 36.2).
- VRTX earns a higher return on equity (24% vs 19%).
- VRTX is growing revenue faster (8% vs 5%).
- MRK pays a dividend (2.64%) 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.