Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Factsheet

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Stock Analysis

Analysis from 10-Q filed 2025-11-05. Data as of Q4 2025.

Overall Grade: F (Concerning)

Grade F (Concerning). ROIC 21.7%. FCF margin 19.0%. D/E 0.9x. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Metric Value Context
ROIC 21.7% Above industry average
FCF Margin 19.0% Strong cash generation
Debt/Equity 0.9x Moderate leverage

ROIC 21.7% — Top 25% of sector peers. FCF margin 19.0% — Top 5%.

Explore Merck & Co., Inc.: Earnings History | Filings | ROIC Analysis

Programmatic access: Available via MCP at mcp.metricduck.com. Tools for MRK: get_company_overview, get_filing_index (lens: debt_stress, management_outlook, risk_trajectory), get_filing_changes, get_metric_history, compare_companies, screen_filing_signals.


Profitability: Merck & Co., Inc. earns 21.7% ROIC, Top 25% in Healthcare

ROIC TTM 21.7%, sector median -2.6%, Top 25%. DuPont: NOPAT margin 29.5% × asset turnover 0.5x. Gross margin 74.8%. Operating margin 34.0%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Metric MRK Rating Context
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) 21.7% Excellent Above sector median of -2.6%
Return on Equity (ROE) 36.8% Excellent Efficient use of shareholder equity
Gross Margin 74.8% Excellent Strong pricing power
Operating Margin 34.0% Excellent Efficient operations

Cash Flow: Merck & Co., Inc. generates $12.4B FCF at 19.0% margin, positive NaN/8 quarters

FCF TTM $12.4B. FCF margin 19.0%, Top 5%. OCF/Net income 0.9x. Positive FCF in NaN/8 trailing quarters. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Metric MRK Rating Context
Free Cash Flow Margin 19.0% Good Excellent cash conversion
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $12.4B Good Positive cash generation
OCF/Net Income 0.9x Good Potential accrual concerns
FCF Consistency (8Q) N/A Warning Variable cash flow

Balance Sheet: Merck & Co., Inc. at 0.9x leverage

Debt/Equity 0.9x. Total debt $49.3B, cash & investments $14.7B. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Metric MRK Rating Context
Debt to Equity 0.9x Adequate Moderate leverage
Net Cash Position $-34.6B Warning Net debt position

Valuation: Merck & Co., Inc. trades at 14.4x earnings

P/E 14.4x. EV/Sales 4.5x. FCF yield 4.7%. Dividend yield 3.1%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Metric MRK Rating Context
P/E Ratio 14.4x Adequate Reasonable valuation
EV/Sales 4.5x Good Growth premium priced in
FCF Yield 4.7% Good Lower cash yield
Dividend Yield 3.1% Adequate Meaningful income

Capital Allocation: Merck & Co., Inc. returns 5.0% shareholder yield

Total shareholder yield 5.0% (div 3.1% + buyback 1.9%). Capital returned $13.3B TTM. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Metric MRK Rating Context
Total Shareholder Yield 5.0% Good Dividend + buyback yield combined
Buyback Yield 1.9% Adequate Minimal buyback activity
Total Capital Returned (TTM) $13.3B Good Dividends + buybacks returned to shareholders

Sector Rankings

Metric Value Percentile vs Median
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) 21.7% Top 25% -
Free Cash Flow Margin 19.0% Top 5% -
Gross Margin 74.8% Top 50% 1.2x above
Operating Margin 34.0% Top 25% 12.7x above
Return on Equity (ROE) 36.8% Top 25% -
P/E Ratio 14.4x N/A -

Financial Scorecard

Metric MRK Rating Sector Context
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) 21.7% Excellent Top 25% of sector (median: -2.6%)
Free Cash Flow Margin 19.0% Good Top 5% of sector (median: 0.0%)
Gross Margin 74.8% Excellent Top 50% of sector (median: 63.8%)
Debt to Equity Ratio 93.8% Adequate Elevated but manageable
P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings) 14.4x Adequate Attractively valued
Free Cash Flow Yield 4.7% Adequate Moderate yield

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Merck & Co., Inc.'s Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)?

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a trailing twelve-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 21.7%. Sector median -2.6%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Q: What is Merck & Co., Inc.'s Free Cash Flow Margin?

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a free cash flow margin of 19.0%, generating $12.4 billion in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Q: What is Merck & Co., Inc.'s P/E ratio and how does it compare to peers?

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) trades at a P/E ratio of 14.4x, which is above the sector median of N/A. EV/Sales 4.5x. FCF yield 4.7%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Q: Does Merck & Co., Inc. pay a dividend?

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) currently pays a dividend yield of 3.1%. Total shareholder yield (dividend + buybacks) 5.0%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Q: How much debt does Merck & Co., Inc. have?

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.9x with total debt of $49.3 billion. Net debt $34.6 billion. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Q: What is Merck & Co., Inc.'s revenue and earnings growth?

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) grew revenue by 1.3% year-over-year. EPS +8.3% YoY. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Q: Is Merck & Co., Inc. buying back stock?

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) repurchased $5.1 billion of stock over the trailing twelve months. This represents a buyback yield of 1.9%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.

Q: How does Merck & Co., Inc. compare to competitors in Healthcare?

Compared to other companies in Healthcare, Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) shows: ROIC 21.7%, sector median -2.6% (Top 25%). FCF margin 19.0%, sector median 0.0% (Top 5%). Gross margin 74.8%, 11.0pp above sector median. These rankings are based on MetricDuck's analysis of all Healthcare companies with available SEC filings.

Q: What warning signs should I watch for with Merck & Co., Inc.?

Quantitative warning flags for Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK): 1) ROIC declining -5.7% over 8 quarters. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-05.


Data Source: Data sourced from 10-Q filed 2025-11-05. TTM metrics as of Q4 2025.

Methodology: Financial metrics calculated from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings using standardized formulas. Sector comparisons use peer group based on SIC code.

Scope: This analysis covers SEC filing fundamentals — profitability, cash flow, balance sheet, and valuation metrics. For analyst estimates and price targets, consult sell-side research.

This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.