MRK.DE vs. VOO

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

MRK.DE (Merck & Company Inc) is a stock, while VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) is S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 10 years, MRK.DE returned 6.06%/yr vs 15.28%/yr for VOO. At a 0.28 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

MRK.DE vs. VOO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a €10,000 investment in Merck & Company Inc (MRK.DE) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

MRK.DE is traded in EUR, while VOO is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the VOO values have been converted to EUR using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, MRK.DE achieves a 16.07% return, which is significantly higher than VOO's 12.61% return. Over the past 10 years, MRK.DE has underperformed VOO with an annualized return of 6.06%, while VOO has yielded a comparatively higher 15.28% annualized return.

MRK.DE

• 1D: 4.49%
• 1M: 22.69%
• YTD: 16.07%
• 6M: 17.94%
• 1Y: 23.31%
• 3Y*: -4.41%
• 5Y*: 0.58%
• 10Y*: 6.06%

VOO

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 4.36%
• YTD: 12.61%
• 6M: 11.32%
• 1Y: 27.33%
• 3Y*: 19.27%
• 5Y*: 15.04%
• 10Y*: 15.28%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

MRK.DE vs. VOO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
MRK.DE Merck & Company Inc	16.07%	-10.75%	-1.49%	-19.25%	-19.46%	63.33%	36.58%	18.63%	1.79%	-8.46%
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	10.58%	3.84%	33.23%	22.54%	-13.10%	38.43%	8.57%	34.33%	-0.02%	6.81%

Correlation

The correlation between MRK.DE and VOO 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	0.14
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.19
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.23
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 10, 2010	0.28

The correlation between MRK.DE and VOO shifts across timeframes, from 0.14 (3 years) to 0.28 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

MRK.DE vs. VOO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

MRK.DE

MRK.DE Risk / Return Rank: 62
MRK.DE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 66
MRK.DE Sortino Ratio Rank: 61
MRK.DE Omega Ratio Rank: 58
MRK.DE Calmar Ratio Rank: 62
MRK.DE Martin Ratio Rank: 65

VOO

VOO Risk / Return Rank: 66
VOO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 67
VOO Sortino Ratio Rank: 63
VOO Omega Ratio Rank: 66
VOO Calmar Ratio Rank: 60
VOO Martin Ratio Rank: 73

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

MRK.DE vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Merck & Company Inc (MRK.DE) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). 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.

	MRK.DE	VOO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.76	2.26	-1.50
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.30	2.90	-1.60
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.15	1.42	-0.26
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.03	3.73	-2.70
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.77	14.10	-11.33
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

MRK.DE vs. VOO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current MRK.DE Sharpe Ratio is 0.76, which is lower than the VOO Sharpe Ratio of 2.26. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of MRK.DE and VOO, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	MRK.DE	VOO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.76	2.26	-1.50
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.02	0.90	-0.88
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.24	0.83	-0.59
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.32	0.90	-0.58

Drawdowns

MRK.DE vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum MRK.DE drawdown since its inception was -62.49%, which is greater than VOO's maximum drawdown of -33.49%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MRK.DE and VOO.

Drawdown Indicators

	MRK.DE	VOO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-62.49%	-33.49%	-29.00%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-21.68%	-7.37%	-14.31%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-40.46%	-23.87%	-16.59%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-52.55%	-23.87%	-28.68%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-52.55%	-33.49%	-19.06%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-34.32%	-0.18%	-34.14%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-19.37%	-4.03%	-15.34%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	8.04%	1.94%	+6.10%

Volatility

MRK.DE vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison

Merck & Company Inc (MRK.DE) has a higher volatility of 9.65% compared to Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) at 2.06%. This indicates that MRK.DE's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	MRK.DE	VOO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	9.65%	2.06%	+7.59%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	21.71%	8.55%	+13.16%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	29.32%	12.20%	+17.12%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	28.20%	16.69%	+11.51%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	25.44%	18.53%	+6.91%

Dividends

MRK.DE vs. VOO - Dividend Comparison

MRK.DE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.58%, more than VOO's 1.05% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
MRK.DE Merck & Company Inc	1.58%	1.79%	1.57%	1.53%	1.02%	0.62%	1.85%	1.19%	1.39%	1.34%	1.06%	1.12%
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	1.05%	1.13%	1.24%	1.46%	1.69%	1.25%	1.54%	1.88%	2.06%	1.78%	2.02%	2.10%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both MRK.DE and VOO in my portfolio?

MRK.DE and VOO 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.