BRK-B vs. MRK
BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) and MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) are both stocks. BRK-B operates in Insurance - Diversified (Financial Services), while MRK operates in Drug Manufacturers - General (Healthcare). Over the past 10 years, BRK-B returned 13.22%/yr vs 11.59%/yr for MRK. At a 0.28 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
BRK-B vs. MRK - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -2.67% return, which is significantly lower than MRK's 13.94% return. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B has outperformed MRK with an annualized return of 13.22%, while MRK has yielded a comparatively lower 11.59% annualized return.
BRK-B
- 1D
- 0.71%
- 1M
- 0.77%
- YTD
- -2.67%
- 6M
- -2.06%
- 1Y
- -0.22%
- 3Y*
- 13.30%
- 5Y*
- 11.27%
- 10Y*
- 13.22%
MRK
- 1D
- -1.42%
- 1M
- 4.94%
- YTD
- 13.94%
- 6M
- 20.60%
- 1Y
- 50.79%
- 3Y*
- 5.87%
- 5Y*
- 12.81%
- 10Y*
- 11.59%
BRK-B vs. MRK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | -2.67% | 10.89% | 27.09% | 15.46% | 3.31% | 28.95% | 2.37% | 10.93% | 3.01% | 21.62% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 13.94% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 22.27% | 39.95% | -1.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between BRK-B and MRK is 0.28, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.29 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 9, 1996 | 0.28 |
Fundamentals
BRK-B:
$1.06T
MRK:
$294.29B
BRK-B:
$33.62
MRK:
$3.58
BRK-B:
14.55
MRK:
33.21
BRK-B:
0.56
MRK:
0.03
BRK-B:
2.81
MRK:
4.52
BRK-B:
1.45
MRK:
6.41
BRK-B:
$375.39B
MRK:
$65.59B
BRK-B:
$94.36B
MRK:
$49.79B
BRK-B:
$71.92B
MRK:
$22.69B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
BRK-B vs. MRK — Risk / Return Rank
BRK-B
MRK
BRK-B vs. MRK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) 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.
| BRK-B | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.90 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.72 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.01 | 1.33 | -0.32 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.02 | 4.49 | -4.51 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.05 | 11.22 | -11.26 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
BRK-B vs. MRK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, smaller than the maximum MRK drawdown of -68.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and MRK.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| BRK-B | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.86% | -68.61% | +14.75% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.42% | -11.37% | +1.95% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.95% | -43.44% | +28.49% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.58% | -43.44% | +16.86% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.57% | -43.44% | +13.87% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.36% | -5.03% | -4.33% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.07% | -18.83% | +7.76% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.53% | 4.54% | -0.01% |
Volatility
BRK-B vs. MRK - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) is 3.95%, while Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a volatility of 9.57%. This indicates that BRK-B experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MRK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| BRK-B | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.95% | 9.57% | -5.62% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.78% | 18.04% | -7.26% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.38% | 27.18% | -12.80% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.12% | 23.66% | -6.54% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.44% | 22.96% | -3.52% |
Dividends
BRK-B vs. MRK - Dividend Comparison
BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders, while MRK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.79%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway 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. | 2.79% | 3.12% | 3.14% | 2.72% | 2.52% | 3.41% | 3.03% | 2.48% | 2.60% | 3.36% | 3.14% | 3.43% |
Financials
BRK-B vs. MRK - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Berkshire Hathaway 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
BRK-B vs. MRK - Profitability Comparison
BRK-B - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported a gross profit of 26.98B and revenue of 93.68B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 28.8%.
MRK - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 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%.
BRK-B - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported an operating income of 15.05B and revenue of 93.68B, resulting in an operating margin of 16.1%.
MRK - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Merck & Co., Inc. reported an operating income of -1.88B and revenue of 16.29B, resulting in an operating margin of -11.6%.
BRK-B - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported a net income of 10.18B and revenue of 93.68B, resulting in a net margin of 10.9%.
MRK - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 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
BRK-B and MRK have a correlation of 0.28, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MRK has higher volatility (9.57%) compared to BRK-B (3.95%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs MRK's -68.61%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.88 vs -0.02), 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.
Find the right allocation for BRK-B and MRK
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer