MRK vs. GE
MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) and GE (General Electric Company) are both stocks. MRK operates in Drug Manufacturers - General (Healthcare), while GE operates in Specialty Industrial Machinery (Industrials). Over the past 10 years, MRK returned 11.61%/yr vs 9.67%/yr for GE. At a 0.34 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
MRK vs. GE - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MRK achieves a 14.39% return, which is significantly higher than GE's 4.70% return. Over the past 10 years, MRK has outperformed GE with an annualized return of 11.61%, while GE has yielded a comparatively lower 9.67% annualized return.
MRK
- 1D
- -1.05%
- 1M
- 7.31%
- YTD
- 14.39%
- 6M
- 22.75%
- 1Y
- 56.85%
- 3Y*
- 5.78%
- 5Y*
- 13.57%
- 10Y*
- 11.61%
GE
- 1D
- -1.82%
- 1M
- 8.38%
- YTD
- 4.70%
- 6M
- 12.43%
- 1Y
- 26.65%
- 3Y*
- 56.82%
- 5Y*
- 36.95%
- 10Y*
- 9.67%
MRK vs. GE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 14.39% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 22.27% | 39.95% | -1.49% |
GE General Electric Company | 4.70% | 85.73% | 64.83% | 95.71% | -10.92% | 9.69% | -2.73% | 54.00% | -55.39% | -42.92% |
Correlation
The correlation between MRK and GE is 0.12, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 16, 1978 | 0.34 |
Over the past year, the correlation between MRK and GE has dropped to 0.12 - well below their long-term average of 0.34, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
Fundamentals
MRK:
$295.45B
GE:
$337.88B
MRK:
$3.58
GE:
$8.15
MRK:
33.34
GE:
39.51
MRK:
0.03
GE:
0.01
MRK:
4.54
GE:
7.08
MRK:
6.44
GE:
18.71
MRK:
$65.59B
GE:
$48.35B
MRK:
$49.79B
GE:
$16.84B
MRK:
$22.69B
GE:
$11.01B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
MRK vs. GE — Risk / Return Rank
MRK
GE
MRK vs. GE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) and General Electric Company (GE). 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 | GE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.24 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.73 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.17 | +0.20 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 5.03 | 1.28 | +3.74 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.59 | 3.45 | +9.14 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| MRK | GE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.10 | 0.85 | +1.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 1.20 | -0.62 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 | 0.27 | +0.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.48 | 0.32 | +0.17 |
Drawdowns
MRK vs. GE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MRK drawdown since its inception was -68.61%, smaller than the maximum GE drawdown of -85.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MRK and GE.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| MRK | GE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -68.61% | -85.53% | +16.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.37% | -20.85% | +9.48% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -43.44% | -21.36% | -22.08% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -43.44% | -44.94% | +1.50% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.44% | -81.18% | +37.74% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.65% | -6.72% | +2.07% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.84% | -25.79% | +6.95% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.53% | 7.78% | -3.25% |
Volatility
MRK vs. GE - Volatility Comparison
Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) and General Electric Company (GE) have volatilities of 9.44% and 9.71%, 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.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| MRK | GE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.44% | 9.71% | -0.27% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.14% | 26.76% | -8.62% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.30% | 31.41% | -4.11% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.71% | 31.02% | -7.31% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.96% | 36.33% | -13.37% |
Dividends
MRK vs. GE - Dividend Comparison
MRK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.78%, more than GE's 0.48% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GE General Electric Company | 0.48% | 0.47% | 0.67% | 0.25% | 0.38% | 0.34% | 0.37% | 4.12% | 4.89% | 4.81% | 2.94% | 2.95% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 2.78% | 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. GE - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Merck & Co., Inc. and General Electric 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. GE - 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%.
GE - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, General Electric Company reported a gross profit of 3.85B and revenue of 12.39B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 31.0%.
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%.
GE - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, General Electric Company reported an operating income of 1.70B and revenue of 12.39B, resulting in an operating margin of 13.7%.
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%.
GE - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, General Electric Company reported a net income of 1.94B and revenue of 12.39B, resulting in a net margin of 15.6%.
Frequently Asked Questions
MRK and GE have a correlation of 0.12, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GE has higher volatility (9.71%) compared to MRK (9.44%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MRK dropped -68.61% vs GE's -85.53%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.10 vs 0.85), 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.
Find the right allocation for MRK and GE
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer