Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) 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 Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) over the past year, gaining 64.8% versus a gain of 33.8%. Over five years, MRK leads with a +81.8% price change compared with +2.1% for BMY. Merck is the larger company by market cap ($351.28 billion vs $121.70 billion), about 2.9 times the size.
On valuation, Bristol-Myers Squibb trades at a lower forward P/E (9.0x vs 15.1x for Merck). Bristol-Myers Squibb offers the higher dividend yield (4.21% vs 2.33%). Merck converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 28.1% versus 14.6%.
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 | BMY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $59.58 | $142.38 |
| Market cap | $121.70B | $351.28B |
| 1-day change | -0.20% | -0.29% |
| YTD return | +10.46% | +35.27% |
| 1-year return | +33.77% | +64.79% |
| 5-year return | +2.09% | +81.77% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.12 | 113.00 |
| Forward P/E | 9.02 | 15.13 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.54 | $1.26 |
| Dividend yield | 4.21% | 2.33% |
| Annual dividend | $2.51 | $3.32 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $48.19B | $65.01B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -0.22% | +1.31% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $7.05B | $18.25B |
| Gross margin | 71.08% | 74.80% |
| Net margin | 14.64% | 28.08% |
| 52-week high | $68.64 | $156.92 |
| 52-week low | $42.52 | $82.01 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.20% | -9.27% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +11.06% | +9.76% |
| Average volume | 11.22M | 9.77M |
| Shares outstanding | 2.04B | 2.47B |
| Employees | 32,500 | 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 2.9 times larger than Bristol-Myers Squibb by market value ($351.28B vs $121.70B).
- MRK has outperformed BMY by 31.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Merck trades at a higher earnings multiple (113.0x vs 13.1x trailing P/E).
- Bristol-Myers Squibb offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.21% vs 2.33%).
- Merck is more profitable, keeping 28.1 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 14.6 cents for Bristol-Myers Squibb.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
BMY stock →Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. The company offers products for oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular, and neuroscience indications.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 32,500 employees
About Merck
MRK stock →Merck & Co., Inc. operates as a healthcare company worldwide.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 73,000 employees
BMY vs MRK FAQ
Which is bigger, Bristol-Myers Squibb or Merck?
Merck (MRK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $351.28B compared with $121.70B for Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BMY or MRK?
MRK returned +64.79% over the past 12 months, compared with +33.77% for BMY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BMY or MRK?
BMY has the lower trailing P/E at 13.1, versus 113.0 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, Bristol-Myers Squibb or Merck?
Bristol-Myers Squibb has the higher yield at 4.21%, compared with 2.33% for Merck.
Are Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.