Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs Merck (MRK)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Merck (MRK) has outperformed Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) over the past year, gaining 64.8% versus a gain of 35.2%. Over five years, MRK leads with a +81.8% price change compared with +59.0% for JNJ. Johnson & Johnson is the larger company by market cap ($618.09 billion vs $351.28 billion), about 1.8 times the size.
On valuation, Merck trades at a lower forward P/E (15.2x vs 21.2x for Johnson & Johnson). Merck offers the higher dividend yield (2.33% vs 2.04%). Johnson & Johnson converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 28.5% versus 28.1%.
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 | JNJ | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $256.48 | $142.38 |
| Market cap | $618.09B | $351.28B |
| 1-day change | -0.76% | -0.29% |
| YTD return | +23.93% | +35.27% |
| 1-year return | +35.21% | +64.79% |
| 5-year return | +59.01% | +81.77% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 29.72 | 113.00 |
| Forward P/E | 21.19 | 15.19 |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.63 | $1.26 |
| Dividend yield | 2.04% | 2.33% |
| Annual dividend | $5.24 | $3.32 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $94.19B | $65.01B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.05% | +1.31% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $26.80B | $18.25B |
| Gross margin | 67.88% | 74.80% |
| Net margin | 28.46% | 28.08% |
| 52-week high | $281.07 | $156.92 |
| 52-week low | $184.66 | $82.01 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.75% | -9.27% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +9.03% | +9.76% |
| Average volume | 7.01M | 9.79M |
| Shares outstanding | 2.41B | 2.47B |
| Employees | 138,200 | 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
- MRK has outperformed JNJ by 29.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Merck trades at a higher earnings multiple (113.0x vs 29.7x trailing P/E).
About Johnson & Johnson
JNJ stock →Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and sale of a range of products in the healthcare field worldwide. It operates in two segments, Innovative Medicine and MedTech.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 138,200 employees
About Merck
MRK stock →Merck & Co., Inc. operates as a healthcare company worldwide.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 73,000 employees
JNJ vs MRK FAQ
Which is bigger, Johnson & Johnson or Merck?
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is larger, with a market capitalization of $618.09B compared with $351.28B for Merck (MRK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, JNJ or MRK?
MRK returned +64.79% over the past 12 months, compared with +35.21% for JNJ (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, JNJ or MRK?
JNJ has the lower trailing P/E at 29.7, 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, Johnson & Johnson or Merck?
Merck has the higher yield at 2.33%, compared with 2.04% for Johnson & Johnson.
Are Johnson & Johnson and Merck in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.