BIIB vs. MRK
BIIB (Biogen Inc.) and MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) are both stocks. Both operate in the Drug Manufacturers - General industry within the Healthcare sector. Over the past 10 years, BIIB returned -2.17%/yr vs 11.47%/yr for MRK. At a 0.28 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
BIIB vs. MRK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with BIIB having a 18.77% return and MRK slightly higher at 19.56%. Over the past 10 years, BIIB has underperformed MRK with an annualized return of -2.17%, while MRK has yielded a comparatively higher 11.47% annualized return.
BIIB
- 1D
- 4.96%
- 1M
- 4.49%
- 6M
- 12.61%
- YTD
- 18.77%
- 1Y
- 55.75%
- 3Y*
- -9.17%
- 5Y*
- -9.90%
- 10Y*
- -2.17%
MRK
- 1D
- 0.40%
- 1M
- 4.93%
- 6M
- 15.26%
- YTD
- 19.56%
- 1Y
- 53.76%
- 3Y*
- 8.22%
- 5Y*
- 13.31%
- 10Y*
- 11.47%
BIIB vs. MRK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BIIB Biogen Inc. | 18.77% | 15.09% | -40.91% | -6.55% | 15.42% | -2.02% | -17.48% | -1.39% | -5.54% | 12.34% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 19.56% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 22.27% | 39.95% | -1.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between BIIB and MRK is 0.47, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.36 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.36 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 17, 1991 | 0.28 |
The correlation between BIIB and MRK shifts across timeframes, from 0.28 (all time) to 0.47 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
BIIB:
$30.86B
MRK:
$306.33B
BIIB:
$14.01
MRK:
$3.59
BIIB:
14.92
MRK:
34.51
BIIB:
1.03
MRK:
0.03
BIIB:
2.08
MRK:
4.70
BIIB:
$9.86B
MRK:
$65.59B
BIIB:
$5.06B
MRK:
$49.79B
BIIB:
$2.24B
MRK:
$22.69B
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Return for Risk
BIIB vs. MRK — Risk / Return Rank
BIIB
MRK
BIIB vs. MRK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Biogen Inc. (BIIB) and Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| BIIB | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.31 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.43 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.34 | -0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.91 | 4.75 | -0.85 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.76 | 11.66 | -1.89 |
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Drawdowns
BIIB vs. MRK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BIIB drawdown since its inception was -89.98%, which is greater than MRK's maximum drawdown of -68.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BIIB and MRK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BIIB | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -89.98% | -68.61% | -21.37% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.34% | -11.37% | -2.97% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -59.35% | -43.44% | -15.91% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -67.59% | -43.44% | -24.15% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -72.66% | -43.44% | -29.22% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -56.08% | -4.27% | -51.81% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -36.66% | -18.81% | -17.85% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.77% | 4.63% | +1.14% |
Volatility
BIIB vs. MRK - Volatility Comparison
Biogen Inc. (BIIB) has a higher volatility of 11.60% compared to Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) at 9.28%. This indicates that BIIB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MRK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BIIB | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 11.60% | 9.28% | +2.32% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 25.83% | 19.28% | +6.55% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 34.52% | 27.89% | +6.63% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 34.36% | 23.98% | +10.38% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 41.39% | 23.06% | +18.33% |
Dividends
BIIB vs. MRK - Dividend Comparison
BIIB has not paid dividends to shareholders, while MRK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.71%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BIIB Biogen Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 2.71% | 3.12% | 3.14% | 2.72% | 2.52% | 3.41% | 3.03% | 2.48% | 2.60% | 3.36% | 3.14% | 3.43% |
Financials
BIIB vs. MRK - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Biogen Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
BIIB vs. MRK - Profitability Comparison
BIIB - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Biogen Inc. reported a gross profit of 0.00 and revenue of 2.48B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 0.0%.
MRK - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Merck & Co., Inc. reported a gross profit of 13.34B and revenue of 16.29B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 81.9%.
BIIB - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Biogen Inc. reported an operating income of 0.00 and revenue of 2.48B, resulting in an operating margin of 0.0%.
MRK - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Merck & Co., Inc. reported an operating income of -1.88B and revenue of 16.29B, resulting in an operating margin of -11.6%.
BIIB - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Biogen Inc. reported a net income of 319.50M and revenue of 2.48B, resulting in a net margin of 12.9%.
MRK - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Merck & Co., Inc. reported a net income of -4.24B and revenue of 16.29B, resulting in a net margin of -26.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions
BIIB and MRK have a correlation of 0.47, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BIIB has higher volatility (11.60%) compared to MRK (9.28%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BIIB dropped -89.98% vs MRK's -68.61%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.94 vs 1.63), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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