MRK vs. LMT
MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) and LMT (Lockheed Martin Corporation) are both stocks. MRK operates in Drug Manufacturers - General (Healthcare), while LMT operates in Aerospace & Defense (Industrials). Over the past 10 years, MRK returned 11.69%/yr vs 11.04%/yr for LMT. At a 0.26 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
MRK vs. LMT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MRK achieves a 15.60% return, which is significantly higher than LMT's 9.57% return. Over the past 10 years, MRK has outperformed LMT with an annualized return of 11.69%, while LMT has yielded a comparatively lower 11.04% annualized return.
MRK
- 1D
- 0.44%
- 1M
- 6.37%
- YTD
- 15.60%
- 6M
- 23.07%
- 1Y
- 61.27%
- 3Y*
- 6.37%
- 5Y*
- 13.79%
- 10Y*
- 11.69%
LMT
- 1D
- 0.91%
- 1M
- 2.51%
- YTD
- 9.57%
- 6M
- 17.20%
- 1Y
- 12.52%
- 3Y*
- 7.37%
- 5Y*
- 8.75%
- 10Y*
- 11.04%
MRK vs. LMT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 15.60% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 22.27% | 39.95% | -1.49% |
LMT Lockheed Martin Corporation | 9.57% | 2.47% | 10.02% | -4.31% | 40.48% | 3.15% | -6.49% | 52.55% | -16.35% | 31.77% |
Correlation
The correlation between MRK and LMT is 0.16, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.25 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 16, 1978 | 0.26 |
Fundamentals
MRK:
$298.59B
LMT:
$121.04B
MRK:
$3.58
LMT:
$20.61
MRK:
33.70
LMT:
25.41
MRK:
4.59
LMT:
1.62
MRK:
6.51
LMT:
16.16
MRK:
$65.59B
LMT:
$75.12B
MRK:
$49.79B
LMT:
$7.37B
MRK:
$22.69B
LMT:
$8.09B
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Return for Risk
MRK vs. LMT — Risk / Return Rank
MRK
LMT
MRK vs. LMT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) and Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT). 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 | LMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.79 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.45 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.11 | +0.28 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 5.42 | 0.50 | +4.92 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.58 | 1.21 | +12.38 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| MRK | LMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.26 | 0.47 | +1.79 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.38 | +0.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 | 0.47 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.48 | 0.38 | +0.11 |
Drawdowns
MRK vs. LMT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MRK drawdown since its inception was -68.61%, smaller than the maximum LMT drawdown of -79.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MRK and LMT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MRK | LMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -68.61% | -79.29% | +10.68% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.37% | -25.15% | +13.78% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -43.44% | -31.79% | -11.65% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -43.44% | -31.79% | -11.65% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.44% | -36.67% | -6.77% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.64% | -22.09% | +18.45% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.84% | -26.84% | +8.00% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.52% | 10.41% | -5.89% |
Volatility
MRK vs. LMT - Volatility Comparison
Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a higher volatility of 9.45% compared to Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) at 5.27%. This indicates that MRK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than LMT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MRK | LMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.45% | 5.27% | +4.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.16% | 19.58% | -1.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.28% | 26.59% | +0.69% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.71% | 22.87% | +0.84% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.96% | 23.71% | -0.75% |
Dividends
MRK vs. LMT - Dividend Comparison
MRK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.75%, more than LMT's 2.61% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LMT Lockheed Martin Corporation | 2.61% | 2.76% | 2.62% | 2.68% | 2.34% | 2.98% | 2.76% | 2.31% | 3.13% | 2.32% | 2.71% | 2.83% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 2.75% | 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. LMT - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Merck & Co., Inc. and Lockheed Martin Corporation. 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. LMT - 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%.
LMT - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Lockheed Martin Corporation reported a gross profit of 2.08B and revenue of 18.02B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 11.5%.
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%.
LMT - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Lockheed Martin Corporation reported an operating income of 2.06B and revenue of 18.02B, resulting in an operating margin of 11.5%.
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%.
LMT - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Lockheed Martin Corporation reported a net income of 1.49B and revenue of 18.02B, resulting in a net margin of 8.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions
MRK and LMT have a correlation of 0.16, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MRK has higher volatility (9.45%) compared to LMT (5.27%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MRK dropped -68.61% vs LMT's -79.29%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.26 vs 0.47), 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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