DOW vs. MRK
DOW (Dow Inc.) and MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) are both stocks. DOW operates in Chemicals (Basic Materials), while MRK operates in Drug Manufacturers - General (Healthcare). Over the past 5 years, DOW returned -8.18%/yr vs 13.57%/yr for MRK. At a 0.20 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
DOW vs. MRK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DOW achieves a 49.52% return, which is significantly higher than MRK's 14.39% return.
DOW
- 1D
- 0.68%
- 1M
- -6.30%
- YTD
- 49.52%
- 6M
- 52.92%
- 1Y
- 26.06%
- 3Y*
- -7.69%
- 5Y*
- -8.18%
- 10Y*
- —
MRK
- 1D
- -1.05%
- 1M
- 7.31%
- YTD
- 14.39%
- 6M
- 22.75%
- 1Y
- 56.85%
- 3Y*
- 5.78%
- 5Y*
- 13.57%
- 10Y*
- 11.61%
DOW vs. MRK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DOW Dow Inc. | 49.52% | -37.38% | -22.79% | 14.71% | -6.65% | 6.81% | 7.88% | 14.82% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 14.39% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 13.06% |
Correlation
The correlation between DOW and MRK is 0.22, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 21, 2019 | 0.20 |
Fundamentals
DOW:
$24.67B
MRK:
$295.45B
DOW:
-$3.86
MRK:
$3.58
DOW:
0.62
MRK:
4.54
DOW:
1.62
MRK:
6.44
DOW:
$39.33B
MRK:
$65.59B
DOW:
$2.42B
MRK:
$49.79B
DOW:
$840.00M
MRK:
$22.69B
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Return for Risk
DOW vs. MRK — Risk / Return Rank
DOW
MRK
DOW vs. MRK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Dow Inc. (DOW) 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.
| DOW | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.57 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.00 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.13 | 1.36 | -0.23 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.82 | 5.03 | -4.21 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.54 | 12.59 | -11.05 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| DOW | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.53 | 2.10 | -1.57 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.25 | 0.58 | -0.82 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.51 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.01 | 0.48 | -0.47 |
Drawdowns
DOW vs. MRK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DOW drawdown since its inception was -64.37%, smaller than the maximum MRK drawdown of -68.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DOW and MRK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DOW | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -64.37% | -68.61% | +4.24% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -32.02% | -11.37% | -20.65% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -62.16% | -43.44% | -18.72% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -64.37% | -43.44% | -20.93% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -43.44% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -38.56% | -4.65% | -33.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -22.75% | -18.84% | -3.91% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 16.93% | 4.53% | +12.40% |
Volatility
DOW vs. MRK - Volatility Comparison
Dow Inc. (DOW) and Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) have volatilities of 9.44% and 9.44%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DOW | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.44% | 9.44% | 0.00% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 33.01% | 18.14% | +14.87% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 49.50% | 27.30% | +22.20% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 33.52% | 23.71% | +9.81% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 38.65% | 22.96% | +15.69% |
Dividends
DOW vs. MRK - Dividend Comparison
DOW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.09%, more than MRK's 2.78% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DOW Dow Inc. | 4.09% | 8.98% | 6.98% | 5.11% | 5.56% | 4.94% | 5.05% | 3.84% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 2.78% | 3.12% | 3.14% | 2.72% | 2.52% | 3.41% | 3.03% | 2.48% | 2.60% | 3.36% | 3.14% | 3.43% |
Financials
DOW vs. MRK - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Dow 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
DOW vs. MRK - Profitability Comparison
DOW - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Dow Inc. reported a gross profit of 640.00M and revenue of 9.79B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 6.5%.
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%.
DOW - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Dow Inc. reported an operating income of -31.00M and revenue of 9.79B, resulting in an operating margin of -0.3%.
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%.
DOW - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Dow Inc. reported a net income of -445.00M and revenue of 9.79B, resulting in a net margin of -4.5%.
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
DOW and MRK have a correlation of 0.22, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MRK has higher volatility (9.44%) compared to DOW (9.44%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DOW dropped -64.37% vs MRK's -68.61%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.10 vs 0.53), 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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