MRK vs. BTC-USD
MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) is a stock, while BTC-USD (Bitcoin) is a cryptocurrency. Over the past 10 years, MRK returned 11.59%/yr vs 57.23%/yr for BTC-USD. At a 0.03 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
MRK vs. BTC-USD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MRK achieves a 13.94% return, which is significantly higher than BTC-USD's -26.27% return. Over the past 10 years, MRK has underperformed BTC-USD with an annualized return of 11.59%, while BTC-USD has yielded a comparatively higher 57.23% annualized return.
MRK
- 1D
- -1.42%
- 1M
- 4.97%
- YTD
- 13.94%
- 6M
- 20.60%
- 1Y
- 50.99%
- 3Y*
- 5.87%
- 5Y*
- 12.81%
- 10Y*
- 11.59%
BTC-USD
- 1D
- 1.71%
- 1M
- -20.43%
- YTD
- -26.27%
- 6M
- -28.52%
- 1Y
- -39.20%
- 3Y*
- 36.94%
- 5Y*
- 9.74%
- 10Y*
- 57.23%
MRK vs. BTC-USD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 13.94% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 22.27% | 39.95% | -1.49% |
BTC-USD Bitcoin | -26.27% | -6.27% | 120.76% | 155.82% | -64.23% | 59.40% | 304.57% | 94.10% | -73.37% | 1,324.24% |
Correlation
The correlation between MRK and BTC-USD is 0.06, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 28, 2012 | 0.03 |
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Return for Risk
MRK vs. BTC-USD — Risk / Return Rank
MRK
BTC-USD
MRK vs. BTC-USD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) and Bitcoin (BTC-USD). 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 | BTC-USD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.80 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +4.07 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 0.87 | +0.46 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.49 | -0.77 | +5.26 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.22 | -1.33 | +12.55 |
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Drawdowns
MRK vs. BTC-USD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MRK drawdown since its inception was -68.61%, smaller than the maximum BTC-USD drawdown of -85.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MRK and BTC-USD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MRK | BTC-USD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -68.61% | -85.30% | +16.69% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.37% | -51.21% | +39.84% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -43.44% | -51.21% | +7.77% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -43.44% | -76.67% | +33.23% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.44% | -83.80% | +40.36% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.03% | -48.27% | +43.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.83% | -42.36% | +23.53% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.54% | 35.16% | -30.62% |
Volatility
MRK vs. BTC-USD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) is 9.57%, while Bitcoin (BTC-USD) has a volatility of 11.97%. This indicates that MRK experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BTC-USD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MRK | BTC-USD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.57% | 11.97% | -2.40% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.04% | 34.64% | -16.60% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.18% | 35.59% | -8.41% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.66% | 44.57% | -20.91% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.96% | 56.61% | -33.65% |
Frequently Asked Questions
MRK and BTC-USD have a correlation of 0.06, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BTC-USD has higher volatility (11.97%) compared to MRK (9.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MRK dropped -68.61% vs BTC-USD's -85.30%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.88 vs -0.92), 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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