MRK vs VRTX
By Alex · Tickerpine
Merck & Company, Inc. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, side by side — the numbers that matter, in plain English. No “winner” hype; you decide.
| Metric | MRK | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $132.92 | $525.73 |
| Market cap | $327.94B | $133.25B |
| P/E ratio | 106.3 | 30.9 |
| ROE | 6.96% | 23.54% |
| Profit margin | 4.77% | 35.00% |
| Revenue growth | 5.10% | 12.50% |
| Dividend yield | 2.56% | — |
| 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 2.5× the market cap of VRTX.
- VRTX is cheaper on earnings (P/E 30.9 vs 106.3).
- VRTX earns a higher return on equity (24% vs 7%).
- VRTX is growing revenue faster (12% vs 5%).
- MRK pays a dividend (2.56%) while the other effectively doesn't.
How would $1,000 have done in each?
MRK return calculator
See what $1,000 in Merck & Company, 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.