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 | $147.76 | $538.60 |
| Market cap | $364.26B | $136.56B |
| P/E ratio | 149.3 | 34.7 |
| ROE | 5.06% | 20.80% |
| Profit margin | 3.64% | 30.70% |
| Revenue growth | 4.70% | 11.80% |
| Dividend yield | 2.30% | 0.00% |
| Beta | 0.12 | 0.28 |
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 2.7× the market cap of VRTX.
- VRTX is cheaper on earnings (P/E 34.7 vs 149.3).
- VRTX earns a higher return on equity (21% vs 5%).
- VRTX is growing revenue faster (12% vs 5%).
- MRK pays a dividend (2.30%) 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.