GILD vs. MRK
GILD (Gilead Sciences, 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, GILD returned 9.13%/yr vs 11.06%/yr for MRK. Their 0.27 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
GILD vs. MRK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GILD achieves a 11.55% return, which is significantly lower than MRK's 23.39% return. Over the past 10 years, GILD has underperformed MRK with an annualized return of 9.13%, while MRK has yielded a comparatively higher 11.06% annualized return.
GILD
- 1D
- 3.13%
- 1M
- 3.03%
- 6M
- -4.44%
- YTD
- 11.55%
- 1Y
- 21.19%
- 3Y*
- 23.80%
- 5Y*
- 18.56%
- 10Y*
- 9.13%
- ALL TIME*
- 18.64%
MRK
- 1D
- 0.18%
- 1M
- -1.20%
- 6M
- 12.12%
- YTD
- 23.39%
- 1Y
- 65.64%
- 3Y*
- 10.17%
- 5Y*
- 14.63%
- 10Y*
- 11.06%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.49%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $883.63M | $898.88M | $999.96M | |
| $1.10B | $1.12B | $1.24B |
GILD vs. MRK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GILD Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 11.55% | 36.59% | 18.68% | -1.99% | 23.63% | 29.95% | -6.70% | 7.88% | -9.92% | 2.96% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 23.39% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 22.27% | 39.95% | -1.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between GILD and MRK is 0.35, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.35 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.34 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.36 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.38 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 22, 1992 | 0.27 |
The correlation between GILD and MRK shifts across timeframes, from 0.27 (all time) to 0.38 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
GILD:
$167.92B
MRK:
$316.24B
GILD:
$4.18
MRK:
$3.59
GILD:
32.32
MRK:
35.61
GILD:
0.08
MRK:
0.03
GILD:
5.56
MRK:
4.85
GILD:
$30.46B
MRK:
$65.59B
GILD:
$12.58B
MRK:
$49.79B
GILD:
-$53.00M
MRK:
$22.69B
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Return for Risk
GILD vs. MRK — Risk / Return Rank
GILD
MRK
GILD vs. MRK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) 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.
| GILD | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.61 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.06 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.15 | 1.40 | -0.25 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.99 | 5.80 | -4.82 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.23 | 14.61 | -12.39 |
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Drawdowns
GILD vs. MRK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GILD drawdown since its inception was -70.83%, roughly equal to the maximum MRK drawdown of -68.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GILD and MRK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| GILD | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -70.83% | -68.61% | -2.22% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -21.59% | -11.37% | -10.22% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.59% | -43.44% | +16.85% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.59% | -43.44% | +16.85% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -30.47% | -43.44% | +12.97% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.12% | -2.90% | -9.22% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -22.13% | -18.79% | -3.34% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.55% | 4.51% | +5.04% |
Volatility
GILD vs. MRK - Volatility Comparison
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) has a higher volatility of 9.59% compared to Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) at 7.47%. This indicates that GILD'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
| GILD | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.59% | 7.47% | +2.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 19.45% | 19.53% | -0.08% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.14% | 27.52% | -0.38% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.57% | 24.11% | +0.46% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.48% | 22.91% | +2.57% |
Dividends
GILD vs. MRK - Dividend Comparison
GILD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.38%, less than MRK's 2.63% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GILD Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 2.38% | 2.57% | 3.33% | 3.70% | 3.40% | 3.91% | 4.67% | 3.88% | 3.65% | 2.90% | 2.57% | 1.27% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 2.62% | 3.12% | 3.14% | 2.72% | 2.52% | 3.41% | 3.03% | 2.48% | 2.60% | 3.36% | 3.14% | 3.43% |
Financials
GILD vs. MRK - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Gilead Sciences, 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
Frequently Asked Questions
GILD and MRK have a correlation of 0.35, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GILD has higher volatility (9.59%) compared to MRK (7.47%). In terms of maximum drawdown, GILD dropped -70.83% vs MRK's -68.61%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.40 vs 0.78), 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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