MRK vs NKE Stock Comparison: Price, Growth & Valuation (2026)
Use MEXC Stock Compare for a detailed MRK vs NKE analysis. Compare MRK and NKE across price performance, growth, valuation, profitability and risk, based on market data and the latest reported financials.
MRK vs NKE Stock Comparison Summary
MRK reported year-over-year revenue growth of 4.6%, compared with 0.2% for NKE. Their P/E ratios are 115.7x and 17.1x, dividend yields are 2.26% and 4.54%, and 30-day volatility levels are 40.1% and 28.2%, respectively. These metrics highlight key differences in growth, valuation, dividend income and market risk. Overall NKE leads across more of the selected comparison metrics.
Risk Disclaimer: MEXC Stock Compare provides information and comparisons on actual U.S.-listed stocks for reference only. Data may be delayed or inaccurate, does not constitute investment advice, and past performance does not guarantee future results.
MRK vs NKE Stock Return Comparison (1W)
Compare the cumulative total returns of Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) and Nike, Inc. (NKE) over the selected 1W period. Data as of 2026-09-25 12:00:00.
MRK vs NKE Key Equity Metrics Comparison Summary
Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a market capitalization of $366.95B and operates in the Health Care sector, with its main business classified under Pharmaceuticals. Its latest quarterly revenue changed +4.6% year over year.
Nike, Inc. (NKE) has a market capitalization of $42.98B and operates in the Consumer Discretionary sector, with its main business classified under Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods. Its latest quarterly revenue changed +0.2% year over year.
MRK vs NKE Key Stock Indicators
| Comparison Metric | MRK | NKE | Comparison results |
Stock Price & Returns Latest delayed stock price with 1-day, 1-month and year-to-date returns. | $148.731D: +0.5%1M: +0.3%1Y: +89.4% | $35.751D: -0.5%1M: -9.7%1Y: -48.4% | MRKWin |
Market Capitalization Total market value of the company's outstanding shares. | $366.95B | $42.98B | MRKWin |
Sector & Industry The company's market sector and primary industry classification. | Health Care / Pharmaceuticals | Consumer Discretionary / Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods | -- |
| Based on delayed market data, MRK is trading at $148.73, compared with $35.75 for NKE. Their market capitalizations are $366.95B and $42.98B, respectively. MRK operates in the Health Care sector, while NKE belongs to Consumer Discretionary. | |||
| MRK vs NKE Growth & Profitability | |||
Revenue Growth (YoY) Year-over-year change in revenue. | +4.6% | +0.2% | MRKWin |
EPS Growth (YoY) Year-over-year change in earnings per share. | -80.7% | -3.2% | NKEWin |
ROIC Return generated from invested capital. | 5.8% | 19.7% | NKEWin |
Gross Margin / Operating Margin Profitability before and after operating expenses. | 73.0% / 9.6% | 42.9% / 8.2% | MRKWin |
| On growth, MRK posted revenue growth of +4.6% and TTM EPS growth of -80.7%. NKE, by comparison, posted revenue growth of +0.2% and TTM EPS growth of -3.2%.On profitability, MRK recorded a gross margin of 73.0%, an operating margin of 9.6%, and ROIC of 5.8%. For NKE, the corresponding figures were 42.9%, 8.2%, and 19.7%.Overall, the indicators do not show a clear overall leader between the two companies. | |||
| MRK vs NKE Valuation & Balance Sheet | |||
Free Cash Flow Yield Free cash flow as a percentage of market capitalization. | 4.4% | 4.1% | MRKWin |
Net Debt / EBITDA Net debt relative to EBITDA; a negative value indicates net cash. | 2.5x | 0.1x | NKEWin |
Dividend Yield / Payout Ratio Dividend returns relative to share price and the share of earnings paid as dividends. | 2.26% / 260.6% | 4.54% / 77.3% | NKEWin |
| MRK offers a higher free cash flow yield, indicating a less demanding valuation. NKE has the stronger balance sheet, while NKE provides the higher dividend yield. Overall, the two stocks differ mainly in valuation, financial strength and dividend income. | |||
| MRK vs NKE Returns & Risk | |||
Total Return (Dividend-Adjusted) Cumulative return over 1, 5 and 10 years, including dividends. | 1Y: +89.4%5Y: +102.8%10Y: +139.4% | 1Y: -48.4%5Y: -75.9%10Y: -34.3% | MRKWin |
30-Day Realized Volatility Annualized volatility based on the past 30 days of daily returns. | 40.1% | 28.2% | NKEWin |
Beta (5Y vs S&P 500) Sensitivity to market movements; above 1 indicates greater market volatility. | 0.28 | 1.07 | MRKWin |
| MRK has delivered stronger long-term returns, but the risk indicators show mixed results. | |||
MRK vs NKE Valuation & Dividend Metrics
Review MRK compared with NKE across valuation, cash flow and dividend metrics, including P/E, forward P/E, free cash flow yield and dividend yield. These figures are provided for reference only and do not represent a fair-value estimate, price target or investment recommendation.
| Metric | MRK | NKE | Comparison results |
|---|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $366.95B | $42.98B | MRKWin |
P/E (TTM) | 115.7x | 17.1x | NKEWin |
P/S | 5.5x | 1.1x | NKEWin |
EV/EBITDA | 30.2x | 11.8x | NKEWin |
Dividend Yield | 2.26% | 4.54% | NKEWin |
MRK vs NKE Profitability Over Time
Compare MRK and NKE across gross margin and operating margin trends over time to understand how each company's profitability has changed. Based on reported financial data only; not a forecast or investment advice.
| TTM | 3Y Avg | 5Y Avg | 10Y Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRK | 74.8% | 74.8% | 73.4% | 70.4% |
| NKE | 42.8% | 43.4% | 44.1% | 44.3% |
Technical & Fundamental Stock Analysis
RSI (14, daily)
MRK 57.03 • NKE 34.94
Measures short-term price momentum and helps identify possible overbought or oversold conditions.
50/200-DMA Position
MRK 50D Above / 200D Above • NKE 50D Below / 200D Below
Shows whether the stock is trading above or below its medium- and long-term trend lines.
R&D % of Revenue
MRK 45.7% • NKE 0.0%
Shows how much of revenue is invested in research and development.
Share Count Trend (3Y)
MRK Decreased • NKE Decreased
Shows whether the company's share count has increased or decreased over the past three years.
Company Profiles
Merck & Co., Inc.
Pharmaceuticals
Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. In cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform, led by Keytruda, is a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business aimed at preventing pediatric diseases, as well as Gardasil for human papillomavirus. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, 53% of the company's 2025 sales were generated from US human health (pharmaceuticals and vaccines).
Nike, Inc.
Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods
Nike is the largest athletic footwear and apparel brand in the world. Footwear generates about two-thirds of its sales. Key performance footwear categories include basketball, running, and football (soccer). Its brands include Nike, Jordan (premium athletic footwear and clothing), NikeSkims (women's athleisure), and Converse (casual footwear). Nike sells products worldwide through company-owned stores, franchised stores (including about 5,500 in China), and third-party retailers. The firm also operates e-commerce platforms in more than 40 countries. Nearly all its production is outsourced to contract manufacturers in more than 30 countries. Nike was founded in 1964 and is based in Beaverton, Oregon.
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Everything You Need to Know About MRK vs NKE Stocks
What is MEXC Stock Compare?
MEXC Stock Compare is a side-by-side US stock comparison tool. It helps users compare two companies across stock price performance, market cap, valuation, growth, profitability, balance-sheet strength, dividends and risk. The results are provided for research purposes only and do not constitute investment advice.
Which metrics should I use to evaluate a company's growth?
Start with revenue growth to see how quickly the business is expanding, then review EPS growth to determine whether that growth is translating into higher earnings per share. Gross margin, operating margin and ROIC help assess the quality of that growth by showing profitability and capital efficiency. A company with fast revenue growth but declining margins may be expanding without improving its earnings quality.
How do MRK and NKE compare in growth and profitability?
In the latest reported period, MRK recorded revenue growth of +4.6% and TTM EPS growth of -80.7%, compared with +0.2% and -3.2% for NKE. The indicators do not show a clear overall leader between the two companies. This comparison is based on reported financial metrics and does not predict future performance.
What is the difference between P/E (TTM) and Forward P/E?
P/E (TTM) compares the current share price with actual earnings reported over the past 12 months. Forward P/E uses estimated earnings for the next 12 months, so it reflects market expectations but depends on forecasts that may change. Both ratios should be considered alongside growth, profitability and industry peers.
How do the risk profiles of MRK and NKE compare?
MRK has a 30-day realized volatility of 40.1% and a five-year Beta of 0.28, compared with 28.2% and 1.07 for NKE. The risk indicators show mixed results. These indicators describe historical price movements and market sensitivity, but they do not cover every source of investment risk.
What do dividend yield and payout ratio indicate?
Dividend yield shows the annual dividend relative to the current share price, while the payout ratio shows how much of a company's earnings is distributed as dividends. A higher yield may provide more income, but it can also rise because the share price has fallen. Dividend sustainability should therefore be considered together with earnings, cash flow and the payout ratio.
How should I compare a high-growth stock with a lower-valued stock?
A high-growth stock may trade at a higher valuation if investors expect its revenue and earnings to continue expanding. A lower-valued stock may offer a more conservative entry point, but the lower valuation could also reflect slower growth or higher business risk. Growth, valuation, profitability, cash flow and risk should therefore be considered together.
Which is the better stock, MRK or NKE?
There is no single answer for every investor. Growth-focused investors may place greater weight on revenue growth, EPS growth and ROIC, while income-focused investors may prioritize dividend yield and payout sustainability. Investors with lower risk tolerance may focus more on volatility, Beta and balance-sheet strength. MEXC Stock Compare presents the relevant metrics but does not provide a buy or sell recommendation.
Can I trade MRK and NKE as RealStocks on MEXC?
Eligible users can trade MRK and NKE as real US stocks through MEXC RealStocks if both stocks are currently supported. Users must first open and verify a RealStocks account with MEXC's partner licensed broker. RealStocks represents ownership of actual shares rather than tokenized stock exposure. Availability may vary by stock and region, so users should check the corresponding RealStocks trading page before placing an order.
Disclaimer
The stock prices, financial metrics, comparison results and related information displayed on this page are sourced from third-party providers and are provided for informational and educational purposes only. Data may be delayed, incomplete or inaccurate, and MEXC does not guarantee its accuracy, completeness or timeliness. The comparisons and automated summaries do not constitute financial, investment, legal or tax advice, nor a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security or financial product. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Users should independently verify the information and assess their own objectives, financial circumstances and risk tolerance before making any decision. Where MEXC stock futures or other derivative products are referenced, such products do not represent ownership of the underlying shares and may involve leverage and a substantial risk of loss. Product availability is subject to applicable laws and regional restrictions.