30 years of historical data (1996–2025) · Healthcare · Drug Manufacturers - General
Percentile shows where the current value sits in 30-year historical distribution. Sparklines show 5-year trend.
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
Merck & Co., Inc. trades at 15.6x earnings, 91% below its 5-year average of 168.5x, sitting at the 32nd percentile of its historical range. Compared to the Healthcare sector median P/E of 22.1x, the stock trades at a discount of 29%. On a free-cash-flow basis, the stock trades at 22.8x P/FCF, 8% above the 5-year average of 21.0x.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $281.2B | $263.9B | $252.8B | $277.7B | $282.0B | $194.5B | $198.2B | $223.7B | $195.2B | $147.4B | $156.4B |
| Enterprise Value | $317.2B | $299.9B | $277.8B | $307.1B | $301.3B | $221.0B | $223.6B | $241.4B | $212.3B | $165.7B | $174.8B |
| P/E Ratio → | 15.64 | 14.46 | 14.76 | 778.71 | 19.43 | 14.91 | 28.06 | 22.70 | 31.41 | 57.69 | 27.51 |
| P/S Ratio | 4.33 | 4.06 | 3.94 | 4.62 | 4.76 | 3.99 | 4.77 | 5.72 | 4.62 | 3.67 | 3.93 |
| P/B Ratio | 5.42 | 5.01 | 5.45 | 7.38 | 6.12 | 5.08 | 7.80 | 8.60 | 7.26 | 4.26 | 3.88 |
| P/FCF | 22.75 | 21.35 | 13.97 | 30.37 | 19.18 | 20.13 | 34.03 | 22.45 | 23.50 | 32.31 | 17.85 |
| P/OCF | 17.07 | 16.02 | 11.77 | 21.35 | 14.77 | 13.79 | 19.33 | 16.65 | 17.87 | 22.87 | 15.08 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
Merck & Co., Inc.'s enterprise value stands at 10.8x EBITDA, 42% below its 5-year average of 18.7x. The Healthcare sector median is 14.2x, placing the stock at a 24% discount on an enterprise-value basis.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 4.62 | 4.33 | 5.11 | 5.08 | 4.54 | 5.38 | 6.17 | 5.02 | 4.13 | 4.39 |
| EV / EBITDA | 10.82 | 10.23 | 11.24 | 44.99 | 13.58 | 13.47 | 24.75 | 21.49 | 15.79 | 14.45 | 15.93 |
| EV / EBIT | 13.51 | 12.77 | 13.10 | 101.19 | 17.31 | 15.05 | 33.40 | 19.54 | 22.42 | 22.78 | 32.65 |
| EV / FCF | — | 24.26 | 15.35 | 33.59 | 20.49 | 22.88 | 38.39 | 24.22 | 25.56 | 36.32 | 19.95 |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Merck & Co., Inc. earns an operating margin of 36.2%. Operating margins have expanded from 4.9% to 36.2% over the past 3 years, signaling improving operational efficiency. Return on equity of 36.9% is exceptionally high. ROIC of 22.0% represents excellent returns on invested capital.
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 72.0% | 72.0% | 76.3% | 73.2% | 70.6% | 72.0% | 67.2% | 69.3% | 68.1% | 67.8% | 64.8% |
| Operating Margin | 36.2% | 36.2% | 31.5% | 4.9% | 30.8% | 27.1% | 13.4% | 20.3% | 21.1% | 16.9% | 13.8% |
| Net Profit Margin | 28.1% | 28.1% | 26.7% | 0.6% | 24.5% | 26.8% | 17.0% | 25.2% | 14.7% | 6.0% | 9.8% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 36.9% | 36.9% | 40.8% | 0.9% | 34.4% | 41.0% | 27.5% | 37.2% | 20.2% | 6.4% | 9.2% |
| ROA | 14.4% | 14.4% | 15.3% | 0.3% | 13.5% | 13.2% | 8.0% | 11.8% | 7.3% | 2.6% | 4.0% |
| ROIC | 22.0% | 22.0% | 21.9% | 3.3% | 21.1% | 17.1% | 8.8% | 13.6% | 13.8% | 9.1% | 6.8% |
| ROCE | 23.8% | 23.8% | 23.8% | 3.6% | 21.9% | 18.1% | 8.8% | 12.9% | 13.8% | 9.2% | 6.8% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
Merck & Co., Inc. carries a Debt/EBITDA ratio of 1.7x, which is manageable (46% below the sector average of 3.2x). Net debt stands at $36.0B ($50.5B total debt minus $14.6B cash). Interest coverage of 17.3x signals virtually no risk of debt distress — earnings comfortably cover interest obligations.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 0.96 | 0.96 | 0.83 | 0.96 | 0.69 | 0.91 | 1.32 | 1.05 | 0.93 | 0.71 | 0.62 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 1.72 | 1.72 | 1.55 | 5.31 | 1.44 | 2.11 | 3.70 | 2.43 | 1.87 | 2.13 | 2.26 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 0.68 | 0.54 | 0.78 | 0.42 | 0.69 | 1.00 | 0.68 | 0.64 | 0.53 | 0.45 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.23 | 1.23 | 1.01 | 4.31 | 0.87 | 1.62 | 2.81 | 1.57 | 1.28 | 1.60 | 1.67 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 2.91 | 1.38 | 3.22 | 1.31 | 2.75 | 4.36 | 1.77 | 2.06 | 4.01 | 2.09 |
| Interest Coverage | 17.31 | 17.31 | 16.69 | 2.65 | 18.09 | 18.22 | 8.06 | 13.84 | 12.27 | 9.65 | 7.72 |
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
A current ratio of 1.54x means Merck & Co., Inc. can comfortably meet its short-term obligations, though there is limited excess liquidity. The current ratio has improved from 1.25x to 1.54x over the past 3 years.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 1.54 | 1.54 | 1.36 | 1.25 | 1.47 | 1.27 | 1.02 | 1.24 | 1.17 | 1.33 | 1.78 |
| Quick Ratio | 1.30 | 1.30 | 1.15 | 1.00 | 1.23 | 1.02 | 0.81 | 0.97 | 0.92 | 1.06 | 1.50 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.51 | 0.51 | 0.48 | 0.28 | 0.54 | 0.34 | 0.29 | 0.47 | 0.40 | 0.46 | 0.83 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 0.47 | 0.55 | 0.56 | 0.54 | 0.46 | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.51 | 0.46 | 0.42 |
| Inventory Turnover | 2.73 | 2.73 | 2.49 | 2.54 | 2.95 | 2.29 | 2.45 | 2.01 | 2.48 | 2.53 | 2.88 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 71.28 | 58.46 | 62.84 | 58.18 | 69.17 | 59.81 | 63.24 | 61.02 | 62.53 | 64.35 |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Merck & Co., Inc. returns 4.7% to shareholders annually — split between a 2.9% dividend yield and 1.8% buyback yield. A payout ratio of 44.8% is moderate and appears sustainable, balancing shareholder returns with reinvestment capacity. The earnings yield of 6.4% (inverse of P/E) provides a useful comparison to bond yields when assessing the stock's relative attractiveness to fixed income.
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 2.9% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 2.5% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 3.5% | 3.3% |
| Payout Ratio | 44.8% | 44.8% | 45.8% | 2039.7% | 48.3% | 50.7% | 87.9% | 57.9% | 83.2% | 215.8% | 130.7% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 6.4% | 6.9% | 6.8% | 0.1% | 5.1% | 6.7% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 3.2% | 1.7% | 3.6% |
| FCF Yield | 4.4% | 4.7% | 7.2% | 3.3% | 5.2% | 5.0% | 2.9% | 4.5% | 4.3% | 3.1% | 5.6% |
| Buyback Yield | 1.8% | 1.9% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 2.1% | 4.7% | 2.7% | 2.2% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 4.7% | 5.0% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 2.5% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 4.7% | 7.3% | 6.2% | 5.5% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $2.5B | $2.5B | $2.5B | $2.5B | $2.5B | $2.5B | $2.6B | $2.7B | $2.7B | $2.8B |
Compare MRK with 10 similar companies in its peer group
| Company | Market Cap | P/E | EV/EBITDA | P/FCF | Gross Margin | Op Margin | ROE | ROIC | Debt/EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $281B | 15.6 | 10.8 | 22.8 | 72.0% | 36.2% | 36.9% | 22.0% | 1.7 | |
| $143B | 18.5 | 10.3 | 15.8 | 70.3% | 24.7% | 8.9% | 7.5% | 3.3 | |
| $1.0T | 47.8 | 34.3 | 115.6 | 83.8% | 45.6% | 101.2% | 41.8% | 1.4 | |
| $383B | 91.4 | 15.8 | 21.5 | 70.2% | 32.8% | 6214.7% | 23.9% | 2.4 | |
| $110B | 15.7 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 67.6% | 26.3% | 40.4% | 16.9% | 2.8 | |
| $182B | 23.7 | 14.4 | 22.5 | 70.8% | 29.1% | 106.1% | 14.8% | 3.4 | |
| $550B | 39.4 | 19.1 | 27.7 | 69.1% | 24.9% | 20.1% | 20.7% | 1.2 | |
| $271B | 26.7 | 15.2 | 23.1 | 81.9% | 23.4% | 22.9% | 14.9% | 1.5 | |
| $102B | 6.9 | 8.6 | 13.2 | 72.4% | 25.5% | 39.4% | 22.1% | 1.7 | |
| $192B | 12.2 | 9.1 | 43.1 | 81.0% | 41.3% | 60.7% | 36.2% | 0.9 | |
| $154B | 18.3 | 11.8 | 16.2 | 78.8% | 39.7% | 40.7% | 23.2% | 1.7 | |
| Healthcare Median | — | 22.1 | 14.2 | 18.5 | 63.9% | -4.3% | -32.6% | -11.6% | 3.2 |
Peer selection based on competitive and market overlap. Compare multiple stocks →
Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
Deep dive into MRK consensus models and risk factors.
Wall Street verdict, signals, and target summaries.
DCF models, multiple analysis, and analyst estimates.
10-year return with dividends reinvested.
See how regular investing compounds over time.
Compare growth, multiples, and margins vs sector.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying MRK stock.
Merck & Co., Inc.'s current P/E ratio is 15.6x. The historical average is 25.8x. This places it at the 32th percentile of its historical range.
Merck & Co., Inc.'s current EV/EBITDA is 10.8x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 15.0x.
Merck & Co., Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) is 36.9%. This is above the typical threshold of 15-20% considered good for most companies. The historical average is 24.9%.
Based on historical data, Merck & Co., Inc. is trading at a P/E of 15.6x. This is at the 32th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
Merck & Co., Inc.'s current dividend yield is 2.86% with a payout ratio of 44.8%.
Merck & Co., Inc. has 72.0% gross margin and 36.2% operating margin. Operating margin above 20% indicates strong pricing power and cost efficiency.
Merck & Co., Inc.'s Debt/EBITDA ratio is 1.7x, indicating moderate leverage. A ratio below 2x is generally considered financially healthy.