UNH vs. MRK
UNH (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated) and MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Healthcare sector — UNH in Healthcare Plans, MRK in Drug Manufacturers - General. Over the past 10 years, UNH returned 13.14%/yr vs 11.69%/yr for MRK. At a 0.28 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
UNH vs. MRK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, UNH achieves a 21.95% return, which is significantly higher than MRK's 15.60% return. Over the past 10 years, UNH has outperformed MRK with an annualized return of 13.14%, while MRK has yielded a comparatively lower 11.69% annualized return.
UNH
- 1D
- 0.76%
- 1M
- 8.76%
- YTD
- 21.95%
- 6M
- 22.48%
- 1Y
- 38.84%
- 3Y*
- -4.57%
- 5Y*
- 1.42%
- 10Y*
- 13.14%
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%
UNH vs. MRK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UNH UnitedHealth Group Incorporated | 21.95% | -33.14% | -2.41% | 0.80% | 6.94% | 45.20% | 21.25% | 20.00% | 14.52% | 39.83% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 15.60% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 22.27% | 39.95% | -1.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between UNH and MRK is 0.24, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.24 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.32 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 27, 1990 | 0.28 |
The correlation between UNH and MRK shifts across timeframes, from 0.19 (3 years) to 0.32 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
UNH:
$363.52B
MRK:
$298.59B
UNH:
$13.23
MRK:
$3.58
UNH:
30.20
MRK:
33.70
UNH:
0.81
MRK:
4.59
UNH:
3.50
MRK:
6.51
UNH:
$449.71B
MRK:
$65.59B
UNH:
$84.55B
MRK:
$49.79B
UNH:
$22.99B
MRK:
$22.69B
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Return for Risk
UNH vs. MRK — Risk / Return Rank
UNH
MRK
UNH vs. MRK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) 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.
| UNH | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.29 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.79 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.39 | -0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.35 | 5.42 | -4.07 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.95 | 13.58 | -10.63 |
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
| UNH | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 | 2.26 | -1.29 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.04 | 0.58 | -0.54 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.44 | 0.51 | -0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.64 | 0.48 | +0.15 |
Drawdowns
UNH vs. MRK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum UNH drawdown since its inception was -74.37%, which is greater than MRK's maximum drawdown of -68.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UNH and MRK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| UNH | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -74.37% | -68.61% | -5.76% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -28.96% | -11.37% | -17.59% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -61.39% | -43.44% | -17.95% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -61.39% | -43.44% | -17.95% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -61.39% | -43.44% | -17.95% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -33.78% | -3.64% | -30.14% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.76% | -18.84% | +4.08% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 13.19% | 4.52% | +8.67% |
Volatility
UNH vs. MRK - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is 8.18%, while Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a volatility of 9.45%. This indicates that UNH experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky 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
| UNH | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.18% | 9.45% | -1.27% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 30.89% | 18.16% | +12.73% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 40.16% | 27.28% | +12.88% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 31.86% | 23.71% | +8.15% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 30.18% | 22.96% | +7.22% |
Dividends
UNH vs. MRK - Dividend Comparison
UNH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.21%, less than MRK's 2.75% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
UNH UnitedHealth Group Incorporated | 2.21% | 2.64% | 1.62% | 1.38% | 1.21% | 1.12% | 1.38% | 1.41% | 1.38% | 1.30% | 1.48% | 1.59% |
Financials
UNH vs. MRK - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between UnitedHealth Group Incorporated 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
UNH vs. MRK - Profitability Comparison
UNH - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated reported a gross profit of 25.41B and revenue of 111.72B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 22.7%.
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%.
UNH - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated reported an operating income of 8.99B and revenue of 111.72B, resulting in an operating margin of 8.1%.
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%.
UNH - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated reported a net income of 6.28B and revenue of 111.72B, resulting in a net margin of 5.6%.
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
UNH and MRK have a correlation of 0.24, 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 UNH (8.18%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UNH dropped -74.37% vs MRK's -68.61%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.26 vs 0.97), 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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