Merck & Company Inc (MRK) vs UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH)

A side-by-side look at how these two compare on valuation, profitability and shareholder returns.

Merck & Company vs UnitedHealth Group Incorporated at a glance

Both companies operate in the Health Care sector, so these figures are broadly like-for-like.

MetricMRKUNH
Market cap$366.72B$356.01B
Price$148.35$392.95
P/E ratio (TTM)14.1824.76
P/B ratio (MRQ)4.923.17
P/S ratio (TTM)3.980.67
Revenue growth (1Y)1.31%11.81%
Return on equity (TTM)34.70%12.81%
Return on invested capital (TTM)22.71%9.58%
Gross margin (TTM)82.44%22.49%
Net margin (TTM)13.59%3.14%
Dividend yield (TTM)2.29%2.36%

How they differ

Merck & Company is the larger company at $366.72B versus $356.01B, making them close in size.

On trailing earnings, Merck & Company is the cheaper of the two at 14.18 against 24.76 for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated.

On sales, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is the cheaper of the two at 0.67 against 3.98 for Merck & Company.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated leads on revenue growth over the past year, 11.81% against 1.31%.

Merck & Company leads on return on invested capital, 22.71% against 9.58%.

Merck & Company leads on gross margin, 82.44% against 22.49%.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated offers the higher yield at 2.36% against 2.29%.

Go deeper

Ratios describe the past. Whether either is worth owning depends on what you pay today.

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