Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Sortino Ratio: 2.17
MRK's Sortino Ratio of 2.17 indicates that for each unit of downside volatility, it generates 2.17 units of excess return. The ratio is calculated using historical daily returns over the past 12 months (as of Apr 2, 2026).
Unlike other measures, Sortino only focuses on downside volatility (losses), making it particularly useful for investors more concerned about protecting against drawdowns than overall price swings.
MRK Sortino Ratio Rank
MRK ranks above 80.5% of all investments in our database based on Sortino Ratio over the past 12 months, demonstrating exceptional downside-adjusted returns. Securities are ranked from 0 (worst) to 100 (best).
What moves the rank
- Strong returns with minimal downside volatility → Higher rank
- Severe or frequent drawdowns → Lower rank
- Upside volatility → No impact (Sortino doesn't penalize upside swings)
What you can do with this information
- Suitable as a core holding given strong downside protection
- Monitor rank changes to detect weakening downside characteristics
- Exceptional risk-adjusted profile supports larger position sizes
- Compare with category peers to assess whether strength is investment-specific or category-wide
MRK Sortino Ratio Market Positioning
The chart shows MRK's Sortino Ratio relative to all stocks on our platform, with color zones indicating percentile rankings. Higher ratios indicate better downside-adjusted returns.
- Red zone (bottom 25%): -0.16 or lower
- Yellow zone (middle 50%): -0.16 to 1.93
- Green zone (top 25%): 1.93 or higher
- Top 1%: 5.67+
- Median: 0.86 — half of all investments score higher
How it compares to other similar stocks
The table compares Merck & Co., Inc.'s Sortino Ratio with other stocks in the Drug Manufacturers - General industry across multiple time periods, showing how MRK's risk-adjusted performance compares to industry peers.
Data shows 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods, plus each stock's all-time average, as of Apr 2, 2026.
| Symbol | Name | 1Y Sortino Ratio | 5Y Sortino Ratio | 10Y Sortino Ratio | All Time Sortino Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAWPY | Haw Par Corporation Ltd ADR | 11.35 | |||
| JNJ | Johnson & Johnson | 4.95 | |||
| ALPMY | Astellas Pharma Inc | 3.42 | |||
| BAYRY | Bayer AG PK | 2.87 | |||
| NVS | Novartis AG | 2.74 | |||
| GSK | GlaxoSmithKline plc | 2.51 | |||
| OPHLY | Ono Pharmaceutical Co Ltd | 2.48 | |||
| CSPCY | CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited | 2.27 | |||
| AZN | AstraZeneca PLC | 2.25 | |||
| MRK | Merck & Co., Inc. | 2.17 |
Historical Sortino Ratio
The chart shows MRK's rolling Sortino ratio over time compared to your chosen benchmark. Rising trends indicate improving returns relative to downside risk, while declining trends may signal deteriorating risk-adjusted performance or increased volatility during market stress. Use multiple timeframes to distinguish short-term fluctuations from long-term patterns.
Identify market cycles by observing when MRK consistently outperforms (line above benchmark), underperforms (below benchmark), or aligns with the benchmark.
Loading graphics...
Explore MRK risk-adjusted metrics in detail
Dive deeper into individual metrics with historical trends, benchmark comparisons, and performance across different time periods.