MRK vs. BMY
MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) and BMY (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company) are both stocks. Both operate in the Drug Manufacturers - General industry within the Healthcare sector. Over the past 10 years, MRK returned 11.42%/yr vs 0.91%/yr for BMY. A 0.51 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
MRK vs. BMY - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MRK achieves a 11.50% return, which is significantly higher than BMY's 3.67% return. Over the past 10 years, MRK has outperformed BMY with an annualized return of 11.42%, while BMY has yielded a comparatively lower 0.91% annualized return.
MRK
- 1D
- 1.41%
- 1M
- -4.83%
- YTD
- 11.50%
- 6M
- 12.07%
- 1Y
- 51.19%
- 3Y*
- 3.45%
- 5Y*
- 12.33%
- 10Y*
- 11.42%
BMY
- 1D
- 1.30%
- 1M
- -8.01%
- YTD
- 3.67%
- 6M
- 2.30%
- 1Y
- 22.56%
- 3Y*
- -1.14%
- 5Y*
- 0.49%
- 10Y*
- 0.91%
MRK vs. BMY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 11.50% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 22.27% | 39.95% | -1.49% |
BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | 3.67% | 0.11% | 15.81% | -26.14% | 18.98% | 2.88% | 0.41% | 27.74% | -12.90% | 7.71% |
Correlation
The correlation between MRK and BMY is 0.51, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.51 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 13, 1978 | 0.51 |
The correlation between MRK and BMY has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.43 to 0.51 - a consistent structural relationship.
Fundamentals
MRK:
$285.47B
BMY:
$111.78B
MRK:
$3.58
BMY:
$3.57
MRK:
32.22
BMY:
15.34
MRK:
0.03
BMY:
0.88
MRK:
4.39
BMY:
2.30
MRK:
6.22
BMY:
5.57
MRK:
$65.59B
BMY:
$48.48B
MRK:
$49.79B
BMY:
$33.33B
MRK:
$22.69B
BMY:
$13.34B
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Return for Risk
MRK vs. BMY — Risk / Return Rank
MRK
BMY
MRK vs. BMY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY). 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.
| MRK | BMY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.43 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.16 | +0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.53 | 1.81 | +2.72 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.16 | 4.13 | +7.03 |
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Drawdowns
MRK vs. BMY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MRK drawdown since its inception was -68.61%, roughly equal to the maximum BMY drawdown of -72.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MRK and BMY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MRK | BMY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -68.61% | -72.03% | +3.42% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.37% | -12.53% | +1.16% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -43.44% | -36.02% | -7.42% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -43.44% | -47.67% | +4.23% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.44% | -47.67% | +4.23% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.06% | -21.28% | +14.22% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.83% | -22.38% | +3.55% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.60% | 5.48% | -0.88% |
Volatility
MRK vs. BMY - Volatility Comparison
Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a higher volatility of 9.78% compared to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) at 8.54%. This indicates that MRK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BMY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MRK | BMY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.78% | 8.54% | +1.24% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.13% | 17.98% | +0.15% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.15% | 26.98% | +0.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.72% | 24.08% | -0.36% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.96% | 25.31% | -2.35% |
Dividends
MRK vs. BMY - Dividend Comparison
MRK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.07%, less than BMY's 4.57% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | 4.57% | 4.60% | 4.24% | 4.44% | 3.00% | 2.36% | 3.69% | 2.55% | 3.08% | 2.55% | 1.95% | 2.17% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 3.07% | 3.12% | 3.14% | 2.72% | 2.52% | 3.41% | 3.03% | 2.48% | 2.60% | 3.36% | 3.14% | 3.43% |
Financials
MRK vs. BMY - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Merck & Co., Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. 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
MRK vs. BMY - Profitability Comparison
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%.
BMY - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company reported a gross profit of 8.07B and revenue of 11.49B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 70.2%.
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%.
BMY - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company reported an operating income of 3.27B and revenue of 11.49B, resulting in an operating margin of 28.5%.
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%.
BMY - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company reported a net income of 2.68B and revenue of 11.49B, resulting in a net margin of 23.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions
MRK and BMY have a correlation of 0.51, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MRK has higher volatility (9.78%) compared to BMY (8.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MRK dropped -68.61% vs BMY's -72.03%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.90 vs 0.84), 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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