NKE vs. MRK
NKE (NIKE, Inc.) and MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) are both stocks. NKE operates in Footwear & Accessories (Consumer Cyclical), while MRK operates in Drug Manufacturers - General (Healthcare). Over the past 10 years, NKE returned -0.48%/yr vs 11.59%/yr for MRK. At a 0.23 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
NKE vs. MRK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NKE achieves a -28.37% return, which is significantly lower than MRK's 13.94% return. Over the past 10 years, NKE has underperformed MRK with an annualized return of -0.48%, while MRK has yielded a comparatively higher 11.59% annualized return.
NKE
- 1D
- -2.24%
- 1M
- 7.07%
- YTD
- -28.37%
- 6M
- -32.37%
- 1Y
- -26.49%
- 3Y*
- -23.49%
- 5Y*
- -18.04%
- 10Y*
- -0.48%
MRK
- 1D
- -1.42%
- 1M
- 4.94%
- YTD
- 13.94%
- 6M
- 20.60%
- 1Y
- 50.79%
- 3Y*
- 5.87%
- 5Y*
- 12.81%
- 10Y*
- 11.59%
NKE vs. MRK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NKE NIKE, Inc. | -28.37% | -13.83% | -29.11% | -6.01% | -29.04% | 18.70% | 40.97% | 38.09% | 19.87% | 24.70% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 13.94% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 22.27% | 39.95% | -1.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between NKE and MRK is 0.18, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 2, 1980 | 0.23 |
Fundamentals
NKE:
$66.51B
MRK:
$294.29B
NKE:
$1.52
MRK:
$3.58
NKE:
29.55
MRK:
33.21
NKE:
1.43
MRK:
4.52
NKE:
4.72
MRK:
6.41
NKE:
$46.52B
MRK:
$65.59B
NKE:
$18.99B
MRK:
$49.79B
NKE:
$3.33B
MRK:
$22.69B
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Return for Risk
NKE vs. MRK — Risk / Return Rank
NKE
MRK
NKE vs. MRK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for NIKE, Inc. (NKE) and Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| NKE | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.57 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -3.63 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.89 | 1.33 | -0.44 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.58 | 4.49 | -5.07 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.09 | 11.22 | -12.30 |
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Drawdowns
NKE vs. MRK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NKE drawdown since its inception was -75.19%, which is greater than MRK's maximum drawdown of -68.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NKE and MRK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NKE | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -75.19% | -68.61% | -6.58% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -46.18% | -11.37% | -34.81% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -64.21% | -43.44% | -20.77% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -74.64% | -43.44% | -31.20% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -74.64% | -43.44% | -31.20% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -72.55% | -5.03% | -67.52% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -20.93% | -18.83% | -2.10% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 24.38% | 4.54% | +19.84% |
Volatility
NKE vs. MRK - Volatility Comparison
NIKE, Inc. (NKE) has a higher volatility of 10.43% compared to Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) at 9.57%. This indicates that NKE's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MRK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NKE | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.43% | 9.57% | +0.86% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 29.43% | 18.04% | +11.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 38.48% | 27.18% | +11.30% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 35.91% | 23.66% | +12.25% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 32.29% | 22.96% | +9.33% |
Dividends
NKE vs. MRK - Dividend Comparison
NKE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.63%, more than MRK's 2.79% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 2.79% | 3.12% | 3.14% | 2.72% | 2.52% | 3.41% | 3.03% | 2.48% | 2.60% | 3.36% | 3.14% | 3.43% |
NKE NIKE, Inc. | 3.63% | 2.53% | 2.00% | 1.28% | 1.07% | 0.68% | 0.71% | 0.89% | 1.11% | 1.18% | 1.30% | 0.93% |
Financials
NKE vs. MRK - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between NIKE, Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc.. 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
NKE vs. MRK - Profitability Comparison
NKE - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, NIKE, Inc. reported a gross profit of 4.53B and revenue of 11.28B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 40.2%.
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%.
NKE - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, NIKE, Inc. reported an operating income of 553.00M and revenue of 11.28B, resulting in an operating margin of 4.9%.
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%.
NKE - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, NIKE, Inc. reported a net income of 520.00M and revenue of 11.28B, resulting in a net margin of 4.6%.
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%.
Frequently Asked Questions
NKE and MRK have a correlation of 0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NKE has higher volatility (10.43%) compared to MRK (9.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NKE dropped -75.19% vs MRK's -68.61%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.88 vs -0.69), 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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