Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs Merck (MRK)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Merck (MRK) has outperformed Abbott Laboratories (ABT) over the past year, gaining 63.0% versus a loss of 25.8%. Over five years, MRK leads with a +82.3% price change compared with -16.0% for ABT. Merck is the larger company by market cap ($352.29 billion vs $170.84 billion), about 2.1 times the size, while Abbott Laboratories is growing revenue faster (+5.7% vs +1.3%).
On valuation, Merck trades at a lower forward P/E (15.1x vs 16.3x for Abbott Laboratories). Abbott Laboratories offers the higher dividend yield (2.51% vs 2.33%). Merck converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 28.1% versus 14.7%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ABT | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $98.73 | $142.79 |
| Market cap | $170.84B | $352.29B |
| 1-day change | +0.58% | +0.60% |
| YTD return | -21.20% | +35.65% |
| 1-year return | -25.78% | +62.98% |
| 5-year return | -15.97% | +82.29% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 31.85 | 113.33 |
| Forward P/E | 16.28 | 15.08 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.10 | $1.26 |
| Dividend yield | 2.51% | 2.33% |
| Annual dividend | $2.48 | $3.32 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $44.33B | $65.01B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.67% | +1.31% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $6.52B | $18.25B |
| Gross margin | 56.42% | 74.80% |
| Operating margin | 18.17% | — |
| Net margin | 14.72% | 28.08% |
| 52-week high | $135.13 | $156.92 |
| 52-week low | $81.97 | $82.01 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -26.94% | -9.00% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +22.27% | +9.45% |
| Average volume | 9.56M | 9.77M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.73B | 2.47B |
| Employees | 122,000 | 73,000 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations | Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Merck is about 2.1 times larger than Abbott Laboratories by market value ($352.29B vs $170.84B).
- MRK has outperformed ABT by 88.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Merck trades at a higher earnings multiple (113.3x vs 31.8x trailing P/E).
- Merck is more profitable, keeping 28.1 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 14.7 cents for Abbott Laboratories.
About Abbott Laboratories
ABT stock →Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 122,000 employees
About Merck
MRK stock →Merck & Co., Inc. operates as a healthcare company worldwide.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 73,000 employees
ABT vs MRK FAQ
Which is bigger, Abbott Laboratories or Merck?
Merck (MRK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $352.29B compared with $170.84B for Abbott Laboratories (ABT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ABT or MRK?
MRK returned +62.98% over the past 12 months, compared with -25.78% for ABT (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ABT or MRK?
ABT has the lower trailing P/E at 31.8, versus 113.3 for MRK. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Abbott Laboratories or Merck?
Abbott Laboratories has the higher yield at 2.51%, compared with 2.33% for Merck.
Are Abbott Laboratories and Merck in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.