MRK (Merck & Co Inc) vs S&P 500 Comparison

MRK

S&P 500

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MRK

S&P 500

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MRK

S&P 500

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Compare the stock's returns with its benchmark index and competitors. Gain insights into its relative performance over time.

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S&P 500

MRK

LLY

DPH

NOVO B

JNJ

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Merck & Co Inc
Glance View

Economic Moat

Wide

Market Cap

252.8B USD

Industry

Pharmaceuticals

Nestled in the heart of the pharmaceutical industry, Merck & Co., Inc. stands as a titan of innovation and healthcare. Established in 1891, the company has grown and evolved, driven by a mission to discover, develop, and provide innovative products and services that save and improve lives around the world. At the core of Merck’s operations is its commitment to research and development (R&D), which serves as the lifeblood of its product pipeline. With billions poured annually into R&D, Merck seeks to uncover new medical breakthroughs that address unmet medical needs across diverse therapeutic areas, such as oncology, vaccines, infectious diseases, and diabetes. This relentless pursuit of scientific advancement is not only a testament to Merck’s commitment to health but also a critical factor in maintaining its competitive edge in a crowded market. Merck's business model is elegantly straightforward yet highly structured. Primarily, the company's revenue streams are powered by the sales of prescription medications and vaccines that emerge from their exhaustive research efforts. Products like Keytruda, a cancer immunotherapy, and Gardasil, a vaccine for human papillomavirus, are standout performers, championing Merck's ability to penetrate high-value markets and secure regulatory approvals across the globe. Beyond the development and sale of pharmaceuticals, Merck generates additional revenue through collaborations and partnerships with other companies, leveraging co-development and marketing agreements to extend its reach. Underpinning Merck's financial model is its rigorous approach to cost management and strategic acquisitions, which bolster its robust product line-up and keep the engines of growth humming. This strategic orchestration ensures that while Merck fulfills its corporate mission, it also aligns with shareholder interests, reflecting a harmonious balance that has supported its storied legacy.

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MRK Intrinsic Value

What is Intrinsic Value?

Economic Moat is a concept popularized by Warren Buffett to describe a company's durable competitive advantage. It represents the 'moat' that protects a company from competitors and helps it sustain profitability over the long term. Our analysis of the past 10 years showed that companies with a wide economic moat significantly outperformed the market, delivering +645% returns compared to +189% for the S&P 500.

Our research into Economic Moat performance spans the past 10 years and focuses on companies with a wide economic moat. For this analysis, we calculated the average stock price returns of these companies, comparing them to the performance of the S&P 500 index over the same period.

The results were compelling: wide moat stocks achieved a remarkable +645% average return, compared to +188% for the broader market. This difference highlights the long-term benefits of investing in businesses that can maintain their market position and pricing power over time.

Note: This research does not account for survivorship bias. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Determining whether a company has an economic moat requires both a deep dive into financial metrics and a qualitative assessment of its competitive position. Our analysts conduct a rigorous evaluation that focuses on identifying structural advantages that enable a company to sustain profitability and defend its market share over the long term.

The process begins with an analysis of a company’s historical financial performance. We assess how consistently the company has generated returns above its cost of capital and whether those returns have been stable or improving. However, financial performance alone doesn’t reveal the full picture. To understand the sources of these advantages, we evaluate five key drivers of economic moats:

Network Effect: We analyze whether the value of a company’s product or service grows as its user base expands. Platforms like payment systems or marketplaces benefit from this self-reinforcing.

Switching Costs: We assess whether customers face significant costs or disruptions when switching to a competitor’s product or service. High switching costs create customer stickiness and provide pricing power.

Intangible Assets: Strong brands, patents, and regulatory licenses can protect a company’s market position by creating barriers for competitors or enabling premium pricing. For example, a well-recognized consumer brand may command higher customer loyalty and margins.

Efficient scale: Occurs when a market is optimally served by one or a few players, making it unprofitable for new entrants to compete. This typically happens in industries with high fixed costs or geographic constraints, such as utilities or pipelines.

Cost Advantage: Companies with structural cost advantages can produce goods or services at a lower cost than their competitors, enabling them to offer competitive pricing or maintain higher margins. These advantages often arise from economies of scale, superior supply chain management, or proprietary technology. Firms like Walmart leverage their massive scale to negotiate better terms with suppliers, allowing them to undercut competitors on price.

By examining these factors in combination with a company’s financial performance and market positioning, we classify each company into one of three categories:

This rigorous evaluation ensures that our moat ratings are both comprehensive and reliable, giving investors the tools they need to make well-informed, long-term decisions.

JP	N	Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co Ltd TSE:4541	Add
US		Eli Lilly and Co NYSE:LLY	Add
UK		Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC LSE:DPH	Add
DK		Novo Nordisk A/S CSE:NOVO B	Add
US		Johnson & Johnson NYSE:JNJ	Add
CH		Roche Holding AG SIX:ROG	Add
UK		AstraZeneca PLC LSE:AZN	Add
CH		Novartis AG SIX:NOVN	Add
US		Pfizer Inc NYSE:PFE	Add
IE	E	Endo International PLC LSE:0Y5F	Add

JP	N	Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co Ltd TSE:4541	Select
US		Eli Lilly and Co NYSE:LLY	Select
UK		Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC LSE:DPH	Select
DK		Novo Nordisk A/S CSE:NOVO B	Select
US		Johnson & Johnson NYSE:JNJ	Select
CH		Roche Holding AG SIX:ROG	Select
UK		AstraZeneca PLC LSE:AZN	Select
CH		Novartis AG SIX:NOVN	Select
US		Pfizer Inc NYSE:PFE	Select
IE	E	Endo International PLC LSE:0Y5F	Select

JP	N	Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co Ltd TSE:4541	Add
US		Eli Lilly and Co NYSE:LLY	Add
UK		Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC LSE:DPH	Add
DK		Novo Nordisk A/S CSE:NOVO B	Add
US		Johnson & Johnson NYSE:JNJ	Add
CH		Roche Holding AG SIX:ROG	Add
UK		AstraZeneca PLC LSE:AZN	Add
CH		Novartis AG SIX:NOVN	Add
US		Pfizer Inc NYSE:PFE	Add
IE	E	Endo International PLC LSE:0Y5F	Add

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MRK

vs

S&P 500

Stocks Performance
MRK vs S&P 500

Performance Gap
MRK vs S&P 500

Performance By Year
MRK vs S&P 500

Competitors Performance
Merck & Co Inc vs Peers

Merck & Co Inc
Glance View

Company

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MRK vs S&P 500

Stocks Performance MRK vs S&P 500

Performance Gap MRK vs S&P 500

Performance By Year MRK vs S&P 500

Competitors Performance Merck & Co Inc vs Peers

Merck & Co Inc Glance View

Company

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Stocks

MRK

vs

S&P 500

Stocks Performance
MRK vs S&P 500

Performance Gap
MRK vs S&P 500

Performance By Year
MRK vs S&P 500

Competitors Performance
Merck & Co Inc vs Peers

Merck & Co Inc
Glance View