MRK vs. XAUUSD=X
MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) is a stock, while XAUUSD=X (Gold Spot Price US Dollar) is a currency. Over the past 10 years, MRK returned 11.61%/yr vs 13.00%/yr for XAUUSD=X. At a 0.02 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
MRK vs. XAUUSD=X - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MRK achieves a 14.39% return, which is significantly higher than XAUUSD=X's -0.01% return. Over the past 10 years, MRK has underperformed XAUUSD=X with an annualized return of 11.61%, while XAUUSD=X has yielded a comparatively higher 13.00% 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%
XAUUSD=X
- 1D
- 0.23%
- 1M
- -8.35%
- YTD
- -0.01%
- 6M
- 3.14%
- 1Y
- 30.53%
- 3Y*
- 30.15%
- 5Y*
- 18.02%
- 10Y*
- 13.00%
MRK vs. XAUUSD=X - 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% |
XAUUSD=X Gold Spot Price US Dollar | -0.01% | 64.75% | 27.24% | 13.14% | -0.25% | -3.50% | 24.55% | 18.77% | -1.71% | 13.14% |
Correlation
The correlation between MRK and XAUUSD=X is 0.08, 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 | 0.08 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 2, 2007 | 0.02 |
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Return for Risk
MRK vs. XAUUSD=X — Risk / Return Rank
MRK
XAUUSD=X
MRK vs. XAUUSD=X - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) and Gold Spot Price US Dollar (XAUUSD=X). 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 | XAUUSD=X | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.05 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.62 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.21 | +0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 5.03 | 1.18 | +3.85 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.59 | 2.95 | +9.64 |
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 | XAUUSD=X | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.10 | 1.05 | +1.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.97 | -0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 | 0.80 | -0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.48 | 0.58 | -0.10 |
Drawdowns
MRK vs. XAUUSD=X - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MRK drawdown since its inception was -68.61%, which is greater than XAUUSD=X's maximum drawdown of -44.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MRK and XAUUSD=X.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MRK | XAUUSD=X | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -68.61% | -44.69% | -23.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.37% | -20.42% | +9.05% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -43.44% | -20.42% | -23.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -43.44% | -20.81% | -22.63% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.44% | -21.35% | -22.09% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.65% | -20.24% | +15.59% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.84% | -16.43% | -2.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.53% | 8.95% | -4.42% |
Volatility
MRK vs. XAUUSD=X - Volatility Comparison
Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a higher volatility of 9.44% compared to Gold Spot Price US Dollar (XAUUSD=X) at 5.62%. This indicates that MRK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XAUUSD=X based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MRK | XAUUSD=X | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.44% | 5.62% | +3.82% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.14% | 21.62% | -3.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.30% | 22.86% | +4.44% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.71% | 16.58% | +7.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.96% | 15.10% | +7.86% |
Frequently Asked Questions
MRK and XAUUSD=X have a correlation of 0.08, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MRK has higher volatility (9.44%) compared to XAUUSD=X (5.62%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MRK dropped -68.61% vs XAUUSD=X's -44.69%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.10 vs 1.05), 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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