MRK vs. JEPQ

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) is a stock, while JEPQ (JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF) is Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the Nasdaq-100 Index. Over the past 3 years, MRK returned 5.78%/yr vs 20.04%/yr for JEPQ. At a 0.05 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

MRK vs. JEPQ - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) and JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, MRK achieves a 14.39% return, which is significantly higher than JEPQ's 7.44% 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%

JEPQ

• 1D: 1.24%
• 1M: 0.97%
• YTD: 7.44%
• 6M: 7.26%
• 1Y: 25.85%
• 3Y*: 20.04%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

MRK vs. JEPQ - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
MRK Merck & Co., Inc.	14.39%	9.79%	-6.26%	1.01%	30.32%
JEPQ JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF	7.44%	15.18%	24.85%	36.28%	-11.16%

Correlation

The correlation between MRK and JEPQ is 0.03, 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	0.03
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.00
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 4, 2022	0.05

Return for Risk

MRK vs. JEPQ — Risk / Return Rank

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

MRK

MRK Risk / Return Rank: 90
MRK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
MRK Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
MRK Omega Ratio Rank: 86
MRK Calmar Ratio Rank: 92
MRK Martin Ratio Rank: 91

JEPQ

JEPQ Risk / Return Rank: 73
JEPQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 73
JEPQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 68
JEPQ Omega Ratio Rank: 79
JEPQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 65
JEPQ Martin Ratio Rank: 80

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 vs. JEPQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) and JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ). 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	JEPQ	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.10	2.13	-0.04
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.05	2.79	+0.26
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.36	1.42	-0.06
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	5.03	2.95	+2.08
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	12.59	14.33	-1.74
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 vs. JEPQ - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current MRK Sharpe Ratio is 2.10, which is comparable to the JEPQ Sharpe Ratio of 2.13. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of MRK and JEPQ, 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	JEPQ	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.10	2.13	-0.04
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.58	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.51	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.48	0.96	-0.48

Drawdowns

MRK vs. JEPQ - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum MRK drawdown since its inception was -68.61%, which is greater than JEPQ's maximum drawdown of -20.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MRK and JEPQ.

Drawdown Indicators

	MRK	JEPQ	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-68.61%	-20.07%	-48.54%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.37%	-8.82%	-2.55%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-43.44%	-20.07%	-23.37%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-43.44%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-43.44%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.65%	-2.02%	-2.63%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-18.84%	-3.42%	-15.42%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.53%	1.81%	+2.72%

Volatility

MRK vs. JEPQ - Volatility Comparison

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a higher volatility of 9.44% compared to JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ) at 3.65%. This indicates that MRK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than JEPQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	MRK	JEPQ	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	9.44%	3.65%	+5.79%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	18.14%	9.66%	+8.48%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	27.30%	12.19%	+15.11%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	23.71%	16.67%	+7.04%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	22.96%	16.67%	+6.29%

Dividends

MRK vs. JEPQ - Dividend Comparison

MRK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.78%, less than JEPQ's 10.26% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
JEPQ JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF	10.26%	10.53%	9.65%	10.03%	9.44%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
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%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both MRK and JEPQ in my portfolio?

MRK and JEPQ have a correlation of 0.03, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, MRK or JEPQ?

MRK has higher volatility (9.44%) compared to JEPQ (3.65%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MRK dropped -68.61% vs JEPQ's -20.07%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

JEPQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.13 vs 2.10), 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.