Merck & Co Inc PE Ratio
Data as of August 04, 2026
PE Ratio (TTM)
35.99
Stock Price
$127.77
EPS (TTM)
$3.55
Forward PE
19.50
How It's Calculated
35.99 = $127.77 ÷ $3.55
What This Means
Merck & Co Inc's PE ratio of 36.0 is above average, suggesting investors expect strong future earnings growth.
About Merck & Co Inc
Merck & Co Inc (MRK) operates in the Pharmaceuticals sector, specifically in Pharmaceuticals. With a market capitalization of about $321.57B, it ranks as a mega-cap stock — one of the largest publicly traded companies.
Shares recently traded near $127.77, within a 52-week range of $77.53 to $135.05 (-5.4% from the high, +64.8% from the low). Beta of 0.21 indicates relatively lower volatility versus the market.
Trailing profit margin is about 13.6%, signaling a solid profit margin for its industry.
Understanding This Metric
The PE ratio is one of the most widely cited valuation multiples. For Merck & Co Inc, it reflects how much investors pay today for each dollar of trailing earnings. High-growth Pharmaceuticals names often carry elevated PE ratios when the market prices in faster future profits, while mature companies with stable cash flows may trade at lower multiples even in the same sector.
Sector Comparison
Among Pharmaceuticals names on our S&P 100 coverage, Merck & Co Inc's PE ratio of 35.99 can be compared with peers such as LLY (42.80), JNJ (29.37), PFE (19.03). Sector context helps interpretation, but each company's growth profile and balance sheet differ — use multiple metrics before drawing conclusions. View all Pharmaceuticals stocks.
Key Takeaways
- MRK is grouped in the Pharmaceuticals sector for peer comparisons.
- Recent beta of 0.21 suggests lower-than-market price sensitivity.
- Trailing profit margin of 13.6% provides context for how much earnings support the headline multiple.
Related Tools & Guides
Explore calculators and guides connected to this metric, or view all metrics for MRK.
Learn the full workflow
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2.73
Sector
Pharmaceuticals
Other MRK Metrics
Frequently Asked Questions
What does MRK's PE ratio mean?
The PE ratio shows how much investors pay per dollar of trailing earnings for Merck & Co Inc. A trailing PE of 35.99 means the market is pricing the stock at 35.99 times last twelve months' EPS — useful for comparing valuation across time and versus Pharmaceuticals peers, not as a buy/sell signal on its own.
Is 35.99 high or low vs sector peers?
Among Pharmaceuticals names in our S&P 100 coverage, peers such as PFE (19.03), BMY (22.31), JNJ (29.37) offer context. MRK's PE of 35.99 should be read with growth, margins, and balance-sheet risk — high PE can mean strong growth expectations; low PE can mean value or weaker outlook.
How often is this PE updated?
StockCalc refreshes MRK metrics on U.S. trading days; this page shows data as of August 04, 2026. PE moves with price daily and with EPS when companies report earnings.
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