LW vs. MRK
LW (Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.) and MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) are both stocks. LW operates in Packaged Foods (Consumer Defensive), while MRK operates in Drug Manufacturers - General (Healthcare). Over the past 5 years, LW returned -9.85%/yr vs 12.81%/yr for MRK. At a 0.21 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
LW vs. MRK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, LW achieves a 10.21% return, which is significantly lower than MRK's 13.94% return.
LW
- 1D
- 0.62%
- 1M
- 7.21%
- YTD
- 10.21%
- 6M
- -22.62%
- 1Y
- -14.70%
- 3Y*
- -25.00%
- 5Y*
- -9.85%
- 10Y*
- —
MRK
- 1D
- -1.42%
- 1M
- 6.89%
- YTD
- 13.94%
- 6M
- 20.60%
- 1Y
- 50.99%
- 3Y*
- 5.87%
- 5Y*
- 12.81%
- 10Y*
- 11.59%
LW vs. MRK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LW Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. | 10.21% | -35.69% | -37.01% | 22.32% | 42.89% | -18.40% | -7.23% | 18.27% | 31.81% | 51.77% |
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 LW and MRK is 0.27, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 10, 2016 | 0.21 |
Fundamentals
LW:
$6.32B
MRK:
$294.29B
LW:
$2.15
MRK:
$3.58
LW:
21.09
MRK:
33.21
LW:
0.29
MRK:
0.03
LW:
0.97
MRK:
4.52
LW:
3.46
MRK:
6.41
LW:
$6.52B
MRK:
$65.59B
LW:
$1.34B
MRK:
$49.79B
LW:
$893.90M
MRK:
$22.69B
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Return for Risk
LW vs. MRK — Risk / Return Rank
LW
MRK
LW vs. MRK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (LW) 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.
| LW | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.27 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -3.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.96 | 1.33 | -0.37 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.41 | 4.49 | -4.90 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.71 | 11.22 | -11.92 |
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Drawdowns
LW vs. MRK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum LW drawdown since its inception was -64.56%, smaller than the maximum MRK drawdown of -68.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LW and MRK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| LW | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -64.56% | -68.61% | +4.05% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -41.37% | -11.37% | -30.00% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -64.56% | -43.44% | -21.12% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -64.56% | -43.44% | -21.12% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -43.44% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -57.84% | -5.03% | -52.81% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -21.32% | -18.83% | -2.49% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 24.00% | 4.54% | +19.46% |
Volatility
LW vs. MRK - Volatility Comparison
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (LW) and Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) have volatilities of 9.19% and 9.57%, 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
| LW | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.19% | 9.57% | -0.38% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 38.28% | 18.04% | +20.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 44.27% | 27.18% | +17.09% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 37.84% | 23.66% | +14.18% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 35.87% | 22.96% | +12.91% |
Dividends
LW vs. MRK - Dividend Comparison
LW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.31%, more than MRK's 2.79% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LW Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. | 3.31% | 3.53% | 2.15% | 1.04% | 1.10% | 1.48% | 1.17% | 0.93% | 1.04% | 1.33% | 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
LW vs. MRK - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Lamb Weston Holdings, 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
LW vs. MRK - Profitability Comparison
LW - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. reported a gross profit of 331.60M and revenue of 1.56B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 21.2%.
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%.
LW - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. reported an operating income of 126.60M and revenue of 1.56B, resulting in an operating margin of 8.1%.
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%.
LW - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. reported a net income of 54.00M and revenue of 1.56B, resulting in a net margin of 3.5%.
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
LW and MRK have a correlation of 0.27, 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 LW (9.19%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LW dropped -64.56% vs MRK's -68.61%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.88 vs -0.38), 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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