Head-to-head · Stock vs Stock
Pfizer vs Merck & Co.
vs
PFE vs MRK: the verdict
How PFE and MRK compare today, and what CleaRank Financial AI makes of it.
The verdict
CleaRank Financial AI favours
MRK
PFE
MRK
54/100
AI score
63/100
+19.6%
1-year change
+70.7%
25.5%
Volatility (30d, yearly)
36.5%
48.1
RSI (14-day)
53.0
41.8x
P/E ratio
149x
5.88%
Dividend yield
2.30%
The verdict
Merck & Co. (MRK) comes out ahead on CleaRank's model, scoring 63/100 (Buy) against 54/100 (Hold) for Pfizer (PFE). The widest gap is the analysts' outlook: for MRK, 19 of 28 analysts rate it a buy and the median target is 11.4% above the price.
Outlook
PFE's uptrend holds while it stays above its 50-day average at $28.77 and its 200-day at $26.92. MRK's uptrend holds while it stays above its 50-day average at $146.37 and its 200-day at $128.05.
Price, side by side
Both prices start at 0% on the first day of the period you pick, so the moves compare directly.
Rebased price
0%+5%+3.4%+1.7%
Nov '26
0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+14%+9.8%
Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
-10%0%+10%+20%+30%+40%+32%+13%
Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
0%+20%+40%+60%+80%+71%+20%
Dec '25Feb '26Apr '26Jul '26Sep '26Nov '26
-40%-20%0%+20%+27%+3.3%
Oct '24Mar '25Aug '25Jan '26Jun '26Nov '26
Over 1 year: PFE gained 19.8% and MRK gained 70.7%, a gap of 50.8 points in MRK's favour.
Valuation and profitability
What each costs relative to its earnings and sales, and how much of its revenue it keeps.
Side by side
Valuation
Lower multiples mean you pay less for each dollar of earnings or sales.
PFE
MRK
$166.6B
Market cap
$365.0B
41.8x
P/E ratio
149x
2.6x
Price / sales
5.4x
1.9x
Price / book
8.1x
8.7x
EV / EBITDA
13.8x
Profitability
How much of each dollar of revenue becomes profit, and how hard the capital works.
PFE
MRK
+2.6%
Revenue growth (quarter, y/y)
+5.1%
6.3%
Net margin
3.6%
4.5%
Return on equity
5.1%
5.6%
Return on assets
11.3%
0.71
Debt / equity
1.20
On valuation
MRK trades on the higher trailing P/E, 149.19 against 41.76 for PFE. Both P/Es are at a premium to peers, against a Healthcare median of 31.9. On sales, MRK is valued higher, at 5.40 times against 2.62. MRK is the larger company, worth $365.0B against $166.6B.
On profitability
PFE turns more of its sales into profit, with a net margin of 6.34% against 3.64% for MRK. MRK, though, posts the higher return on equity at 5.06%, compared with 4.47% at PFE. Year on year, revenue in the latest quarter grew 2.60% at PFE and 5.07% at MRK. The trailing dividend yield is 5.88% for PFE and 2.30% for MRK.
Earnings reality check
PFE
No reliable earnings figures in our data.
MRK
MRK beat the estimate in 8 of its last 8 reports (latest Oct '26); the shares fell in the first session after 3 of those beats.
Surprise
Next session
Apr '25Oct '25Apr '26Oct '26
Momentum and sentiment
The indicators behind each AI score, side by side.
Indicators side by side
PFE
MRK
54/100
AI score
63/100
48.1
RSI (14-day)
53.0
+1.6%
Price against 50-day average
+1.1%
+8.6%
Price against 200-day average
+15.6%
Technicals
PFE is in an uptrend, trading 1.61% above its 50-day average and 8.57% above its 200-day average. Its 14-day RSI is 48.1, in the neutral zone, with the MACD line positive. MRK is in an uptrend, trading 1.15% above its 50-day average and 15.62% above its 200-day average. Its 14-day RSI is 53.0, in the neutral zone, with the MACD line positive. MRK sits higher in its 52-week range, at 87% against 72% for PFE.
Sentiment
Of the 28 analysts covering PFE, 9 rate it buy, 17 hold and 2 sell; their median target is $30.00, 2.6% above the price. Of the 28 analysts covering MRK, 19 rate it buy, 9 hold and 0 sell; their median target is $165.00, 11.4% above the price.
Risk and practical tips
How much each moves, how much return each has paid for that risk, and what to watch if you hold either.
Risk measures
PFE
MRK
25.5%
Volatility (30d, yearly)
36.5%
0.30
Beta against the S&P 500
0.12
-0.05
Sharpe ratio
0.37
Risk
MRK typically moves more in a day, 2.06% against 1.50% for PFE. Against the S&P 500, PFE has a beta of 0.30 and MRK 0.12. Their worst falls in the price history were 57.8% for PFE (December 2021 to April 2025) and 41.6% for MRK (June 2024 to May 2025). The measures split: PFE has the higher beta and has had the deeper worst fall, while MRK typically moves more in a day.
ProTips
- For PFE, watch the 20-day EMA at $29.62 above the price and the 50-day SMA at $28.77 below it.
- For MRK, watch the 52-week high at $156.92 above the price and the 20-day EMA at $146.50 below it.
PFE vs MRK: long-term scenarios
Simulated paths from each price history. A range of outcomes, not a forecast.
Simulated growth of $10,000
$10K$20K$30K$40K$50K$47.2K$32K$19.2K$12.7K
202620282030203220342035
PFE
MRK
$5,010
Downside, 2035 (10th)
$7,771
$12,660
Base case, 2035 (median)
$19,154
$31,988
Upside, 2035 (90th)
$47,211
In the median simulated path, $10,000 in PFE grows to about $12,700 and $10,000 in MRK grows to about $19,200 by 2035. The paths come from each asset's own volatility and capped historical trend; they are statistical outcomes, not forecasts.
PFE vs MRK: questions people ask
Answered from the figures on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, PFE or MRK?+
CleaRank's model gives MRK the higher score, 63/100 with a Buy rating, against 54/100 with a Hold rating for PFE. The result reflects the data on this page and is not a personal recommendation.
Which has performed better over the past year, PFE or MRK?+
MRK has done better: its price rose 70.66% over the past year, while PFE rose 19.65%.
Which is cheaper on earnings, PFE or MRK?+
PFE has the lower trailing P/E of the two, at 41.76 against 149.19 for MRK.
Which pays more income, PFE or MRK?+
PFE pays the higher yield, 5.88% against 2.30% for MRK. Yield is the annual payout divided by the price, so it moves whenever either of those does.
Which is riskier, PFE or MRK?+
Most of the measures we track point to PFE as the riskier of the two. Average daily move: 1.50% for PFE, 2.06% for MRK. Beta against the S&P 500: 0.30 for PFE, 0.12 for MRK. Worst fall in the price history: 57.8% for PFE, 41.6% for MRK.
Which has stronger momentum right now, PFE or MRK?+
MRK has the higher 14-day RSI, 53.0 (neutral) against 48.1 (neutral) for PFE. Both MACD lines are positive. Readings above 70 or below 30 mark stretched momentum.
Which is the bigger company, PFE or MRK?+
MRK is the larger company, valued at $365.0B against $166.6B for PFE.
What do analysts say about PFE and MRK?+
PFE has 9 buy ratings out of 28 analysts, and its median target is 2.6% above the price. For MRK, 19 of 28 analysts rate it a buy, with a median target 11.4% above the price.
How would $10,000 have grown in PFE or MRK?+
Invested in December 2016, $10,000 would be worth $15,409 today in PFE and $34,561 in MRK.