LLY vs MRK

• LLYBuy more39%

  Eli Lilly's report on Oct 29 beat profit forecasts by 39%, and its sales grew 46% over the past year.

• MRKBuy more17%

  Merck's report on Oct 29 beat profit forecasts by 17%, and it pays a 2.3% dividend that it has raised for 15 years in a row.

Percent return

• LLY+46.30%
• MRK+66.58%

1M6MYTD1Y5YMax

Nov 11, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026

Where they differ

LLY leads on 4 of 6

LLYMRK

• Company size: LLY $1.08T, MRK $322B.
  $1.08TbiggerCompany size$322B
• Sales growth, 1 yr: LLY +46%, MRK +4.9%. LLY is ahead.
  +46%Sales growth, 1 yr+4.9%
• Price for $1 of next year's profit: LLY $29, MRK $17. MRK is ahead.
  $29Price for $1 of next year's profitcheaper$17
• Profit per $1 of sales: LLY 51¢, MRK 15¢. LLY is ahead.
  51¢Profit per $1 of sales15¢
• Cash minus debt: LLY −$43.9B, MRK −$46.8B. LLY is ahead.
  −$43.9BCash minus debt−$46.8B
• Price change, 1 yr: LLY +46%, MRK +67%. MRK is ahead. S&P 500 +12%.
  +46%Price change, 1 yr+67%
• How much the price swings: LLY 32%, MRK 33%. LLY is ahead.
  32%steadierHow much the price swings33%

Measure	LLYEli Lilly	MRKMerck
Price and returns
Price	$1,437.76	$147.12
Today	Best in this row: +0.38%	−0.63%
1 month	Best in this row: +21.88%	+1.09%
3 months	Best in this row: +18.50%	+13.47%
This year	+34.39%	Best in this row: +42.71%
1 year	+46.30%	Best in this row: +66.58%
5 years	Best in this row: +472.68%	+104.12%
From 52-week high	0.0%	−5.4%
How much it swings (90 days)	Best in this row: 32%	33%
Valuation
Market value	$1.08T	$322B
Price vs last year's earnings	42.9×	Best in this row: 36.7×
Price vs next year's expected earnings	28.9×	Best in this row: 17.4×
Price vs earnings, adjusted for growth	Best in this row: 0.95×	2.22×
Price to sales	13.9×	Best in this row: 5.4×
Price vs cash it brings in	61.3×	Best in this row: 22.5×
Company value vs operating profit	26.9×	Best in this row: 13.8×
Price vs earnings, against its own past (0 = cheapest)	Best in this row: 96	100
Growth
Revenue growth, 1 year	Best in this row: +45.5%	+4.9%
Revenue growth a year, last 3 years	Best in this row: +31.7%	+3.1%
Earnings per share growth, last year	Best in this row: +130.0%	−48.3%
Earnings per share growth expected next year	+41.5%	Best in this row: +221.1%
Profitability
Kept from sales after making the product	Best in this row: 83.6%	76.9%
Kept as operating profit	Best in this row: 51.3%	15.1%
Kept as final profit	Best in this row: 31.9%	3.6%
Kept as spare cash	22.7%	–
Profit on shareholders' money	Best in this row: 86.0%	5.1%
Profit on all money put in	Best in this row: 42.7%	5.9%
Balance sheet
Net cash (cash minus debt)	Best in this row: −$43.9B	−$46.8B
Debt for each $1 of shareholders' money	1.23×	Best in this row: 1.20×
Short-term assets per $1 of bills due	Best in this row: 1.39×	1.35×
Dividend yield	0.51%	Best in this row: 2.32%
Share of profit paid as dividends	Best in this row: 22%	344%
Our readPro
Our call	Buy more	Buy more
Why	Eli Lilly's report on Oct 29 beat profit forecasts by 39%, and its sales grew 46% over the past year.	Merck's report on Oct 29 beat profit forecasts by 17%, and it pays a 2.3% dividend that it has raised for 15 years in a row.
Where the price sits	in the full report	in the full report
Our overall score (out of 100)	Best in this row: 77	53
Our value score	41	Best in this row: 58
Our growth score	Best in this row: 97	30
Our quality score	Best in this row: 87	80
Our price trend score	Best in this row: 71	61
Earnings and analysts
Analyst consensus	Buy	Buy
To average analyst target	+5.1%	Best in this row: +10.2%
Average analyst target	$1,511.30	$162.14
Analysts rating it a buy	Best in this row: 84%	68%
Buy ratings added, 3 months	Best in this row: +2	−1
Analysts covering	24	22

LLY: faster sales growth

Our pick of these: Eli Lilly

Buy more67/100

Sales growth +45.5% vs +4.9%

LLY +45.5%, MRK +4.9%.

LLY+45.5%

MRK+4.9%

Forward P/E per point of sales growth 0.63 vs 3.56

LLY 0.63, MRK 3.56.

LLY0.63

MRK3.56

Keeps 51.3% of sales as operating profit, vs 15.1%

LLY 51.3%, MRK 15.1%.

LLY51.3%

MRK15.1%

Where it loses: MRK has more analyst upside, +10.2% vs +5.1%

• 2ndMRKBuy more33/100Would need faster sales growth, +4.9% vs +45.5%

Prices as of yesterday, 3:59 PM ET. A view, not advice.