NVCR vs. MRK
NVCR (NovoCure Limited) and MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Healthcare sector — NVCR in Medical Instruments & Supplies, MRK in Drug Manufacturers - General. Over the past 10 years, NVCR returned 3.89%/yr vs 12.44%/yr for MRK. At a 0.17 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
NVCR vs. MRK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NVCR achieves a 16.40% return, which is significantly lower than MRK's 20.93% return. Over the past 10 years, NVCR has underperformed MRK with an annualized return of 3.89%, while MRK has yielded a comparatively higher 12.44% annualized return.
NVCR
- 1D
- 2.24%
- 1M
- -17.58%
- YTD
- 16.40%
- 6M
- 11.98%
- 1Y
- -13.13%
- 3Y*
- -28.69%
- 5Y*
- -41.58%
- 10Y*
- 3.89%
MRK
- 1D
- 4.02%
- 1M
- 5.54%
- YTD
- 20.93%
- 6M
- 19.58%
- 1Y
- 62.73%
- 3Y*
- 6.76%
- 5Y*
- 13.69%
- 10Y*
- 12.44%
NVCR vs. MRK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NVCR NovoCure Limited | 16.40% | -56.61% | 99.60% | -79.65% | -2.30% | -56.61% | 105.34% | 151.70% | 65.74% | 157.32% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 20.93% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 22.27% | 39.95% | -1.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between NVCR and MRK is 0.22, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.11 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 2, 2015 | 0.17 |
The correlation between NVCR and MRK shifts across timeframes, from 0.11 (5 years) to 0.22 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
NVCR:
$1.72B
MRK:
$310.11B
NVCR:
-$1.54
MRK:
$3.58
NVCR:
2.51
MRK:
4.77
NVCR:
5.19
MRK:
6.76
NVCR:
$674.41M
MRK:
$65.59B
NVCR:
$507.13M
MRK:
$49.79B
NVCR:
-$164.04M
MRK:
$22.69B
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Return for Risk
NVCR vs. MRK — Risk / Return Rank
NVCR
MRK
NVCR vs. MRK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for NovoCure Limited (NVCR) 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.
| NVCR | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.46 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -3.00 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.04 | 1.39 | -0.35 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.29 | 5.55 | -5.84 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.45 | 13.66 | -14.11 |
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Drawdowns
NVCR vs. MRK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NVCR drawdown since its inception was -95.55%, which is greater than MRK's maximum drawdown of -68.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NVCR and MRK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NVCR | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -95.55% | -68.61% | -26.94% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -45.67% | -11.37% | -34.30% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -76.32% | -43.44% | -32.88% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -95.52% | -43.44% | -52.08% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -95.55% | -43.44% | -52.11% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -93.33% | 0.00% | -93.33% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -52.36% | -18.83% | -33.53% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 29.44% | 4.61% | +24.83% |
Volatility
NVCR vs. MRK - Volatility Comparison
NovoCure Limited (NVCR) has a higher volatility of 29.54% compared to Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) at 9.07%. This indicates that NVCR'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
| NVCR | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 29.54% | 9.07% | +20.47% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 62.03% | 18.51% | +43.52% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 76.75% | 27.57% | +49.18% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 80.23% | 23.83% | +56.40% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 72.19% | 22.99% | +49.20% |
Dividends
NVCR vs. MRK - Dividend Comparison
NVCR has not paid dividends to shareholders, while MRK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.68%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 2.68% | 3.12% | 3.14% | 2.72% | 2.52% | 3.41% | 3.03% | 2.48% | 2.60% | 3.36% | 3.14% | 3.43% |
NVCR NovoCure Limited | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Financials
NVCR vs. MRK - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between NovoCure Limited 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
NVCR vs. MRK - Profitability Comparison
NVCR - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, NovoCure Limited reported a gross profit of 135.13M and revenue of 174.06M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 77.6%.
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%.
NVCR - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, NovoCure Limited reported an operating income of -67.42M and revenue of 174.06M, resulting in an operating margin of -38.7%.
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%.
NVCR - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, NovoCure Limited reported a net income of -71.14M and revenue of 174.06M, resulting in a net margin of -40.9%.
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
NVCR and MRK have a correlation of 0.22, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NVCR has higher volatility (29.54%) compared to MRK (9.07%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NVCR dropped -95.55% vs MRK's -68.61%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.29 vs -0.17), 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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