MRK vs. NVO
Compare and contrast key facts about Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) and Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO).
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: MRK or NVO.
Correlation
The correlation between MRK and NVO is 0.32, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Performance
MRK vs. NVO - Performance Comparison
Loading data...
Key characteristics
MRK:
-1.51
NVO:
-1.18
MRK:
-2.07
NVO:
-1.71
MRK:
0.73
NVO:
0.78
MRK:
-0.93
NVO:
-0.82
MRK:
-1.74
NVO:
-1.51
MRK:
23.27%
NVO:
32.41%
MRK:
27.72%
NVO:
42.59%
MRK:
-68.62%
NVO:
-71.29%
MRK:
-42.42%
NVO:
-54.08%
Fundamentals
MRK:
$192.42B
NVO:
$288.38B
MRK:
$6.60
NVO:
$3.49
MRK:
11.13
NVO:
18.46
MRK:
0.70
NVO:
0.98
MRK:
3.01
NVO:
0.96
MRK:
3.98
NVO:
13.89
MRK:
$63.92B
NVO:
$303.14B
MRK:
$51.75B
NVO:
$255.65B
MRK:
$27.30B
NVO:
$154.08B
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MRK achieves a -24.16% return, which is significantly lower than NVO's -21.86% return. Over the past 10 years, MRK has underperformed NVO with an annualized return of 5.91%, while NVO has yielded a comparatively higher 11.03% annualized return.
MRK
-24.16%
-4.58%
-22.68%
-41.53%
2.76%
5.91%
NVO
-21.86%
2.57%
-36.18%
-49.90%
17.64%
11.03%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
MRK vs. NVO — Risk-Adjusted Performance Rank
MRK
NVO
MRK vs. NVO - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) and Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO). 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.
Loading data...
Dividends
MRK vs. NVO - Dividend Comparison
MRK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.22%, more than NVO's 2.44% yield.
| TTM | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 4.22% | 3.14% | 2.72% | 2.52% | 3.41% | 3.03% | 2.48% | 2.60% | 3.36% | 3.14% | 3.42% | 3.11% |
NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | 2.44% | 1.68% | 1.00% | 1.20% | 1.34% | 1.86% | 2.14% | 2.47% | 2.12% | 3.93% | 1.31% | 1.96% |
Drawdowns
MRK vs. NVO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MRK drawdown since its inception was -68.62%, roughly equal to the maximum NVO drawdown of -71.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MRK and NVO. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Loading data...
Volatility
MRK vs. NVO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) is 12.24%, while Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) has a volatility of 14.79%. This indicates that MRK experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NVO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading data...
Financials
MRK vs. NVO - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Merck & Co., Inc. and Novo Nordisk A/S. 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. NVO - Profitability Comparison
MRK - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on May 2025, Merck & Co., Inc. reported a gross profit of 12.11B and revenue of 15.53B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 78.0%.
NVO - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on May 2025, Novo Nordisk A/S reported a gross profit of 65.20B and revenue of 78.09B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 83.5%.
MRK - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on May 2025, Merck & Co., Inc. reported an operating income of 5.94B and revenue of 15.53B, resulting in an operating margin of 38.2%.
NVO - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on May 2025, Novo Nordisk A/S reported an operating income of 38.79B and revenue of 78.09B, resulting in an operating margin of 49.7%.
MRK - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on May 2025, Merck & Co., Inc. reported a net income of 5.08B and revenue of 15.53B, resulting in a net margin of 32.7%.
NVO - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on May 2025, Novo Nordisk A/S reported a net income of 29.03B and revenue of 78.09B, resulting in a net margin of 37.2%.