Merck & Co., Inc. vs Pfizer Inc., two Drug Manufacturers stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
Both pharma balance sheets carry real debt, 1.07 debt to equity at Merck and 0.71 at Pfizer, with current ratios near 1.3. The resemblance ends there: Merck earns 19.5% on equity to Pfizer's 8.3%, on net margins of 13.6% and 11.8%. Priced at 35.9 times earnings against 19.1, Merck carries the expectations and Pfizer carries the doubts, along with a 6.9% dividend to Merck's 2.6%. In this sector the yield is usually where the skepticism shows first.
Comparison updated 2026-07-19.
| Metric | MRK | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130.21 | $25.03 |
| Market cap | $321.9B | $143.4B |
| Sector | Drug Manufacturers | Drug Manufacturers |
| Stage | Mature | Mature |
| Implied growth (priced in) | +11.4% | -2.9% |
| P/E | 36.7 | 19.1 |
| P/B | 7.01 | 1.59 |
| P/S | 4.89 | 2.27 |
| EV/EBITDA | 629.4 | 31.3 |
| Revenue growth | +2.9% | +2.1% |
| Net margin | 13.6% | 11.8% |
| Return on equity | 19.4% | 8.3% |
| Return on assets | 6.9% | 3.6% |
| FCF yield | 4.4% | 6.6% |
| Dividend yield | 2.5% | 6.9% |
| Debt / equity | 1.07 | 0.71 |
| Current ratio | 1.30 | 1.25 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 7.31 | 1.88 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 6 / 9 | 6 / 9 |
Each week boothcheck ranks the stocks whose prices are betting on the most. Read the most stretched bets archive →
boothcheck is also on Android. Get the app on Google Play →
The stronger value is highlighted per metric where one is strictly better on that single number; it is not an overall verdict on either company. For informational and research purposes only. Not investment advice. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. boothcheck is not a registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results.