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ABBV
AbbVie Inc. · Healthcare - Pharmaceuticals
$216.49
+1.28% this month
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MRK
Merck & Co., Inc. · Healthcare - Pharmaceuticals
$113.87
-0.32% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
ABBV
2
MRK
3
Comparison scoreboard
MRK LEADS 3/5AI Score
ABBV ✓52.0
MRK 51.6
1Y Return
ABBV +16.72%
MRK ✓+45.47%
Fwd P/E
ABBV 14.01
MRK ✓12.45
Target Up.
ABBV ✓+11.34%
MRK +8.98%
Op. Margin
ABBV 32.16%
MRK ✓38.60%
Metrics last refreshed: 6/20/2026
Quick take
ABBV vs MRK Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
ABBV (AbbVie) and MRK (Merck) are both large pharmaceutical companies with blockbuster franchises facing patent cliffs — AbbVie is successfully executing a post-Humira transition with Skyrizi and Rinvoq growing rapidly to replace Humira revenue, while Merck's Keytruda dominates oncology but faces its own patent cliff around 2028 with the pipeline challenge of building successors to the world's most successful cancer drug.
ABBV vs MRK is immunology franchise successfully navigating post-Humira transition (AbbVie's Skyrizi and Rinvoq immunology successors growing faster than Humira declined, demonstrating AbbVie's ability to regenerate franchise value after a massive patent expiry) versus oncology checkpoint inhibitor giant facing its own 2028 pipeline challenge (Merck's Keytruda dominance across 40+ cancer indications generating maximum revenue while Merck builds the post-Keytruda pipeline) — completed patent transition versus impending patent cliff.
Live analysis · updated 6/20/2026
MRK holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. MRK leads on both 1-year return (+45.47%) and forward P/E (12.45x vs 14.01x for ABBV), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. On fundamentals, ABBV is growing revenue faster (12.40%), while MRK maintains the higher operating margin (38.60%) — a classic growth-versus-profitability split. Analyst consensus implies similar upside for both: +11.34% for ABBV and +8.98% for MRK.
Normalized 1Y performance
ABBV
MRK
Recent returns
ABBV
MRK
Analyst price targets & sentiment
ABBV · 27 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (2.0/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$170.00
analyst mean$253.55
current price$216.49
+11.3% upside to analyst mean
MRK · 24 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (2.0/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$82.00
analyst high$138.00
analyst mean$129.74
current price$113.87
+9.0% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
ABBV may suit investors who:
- →Want a successful post-LOE pharmaceutical transition story — AbbVie has demonstrated it can grow revenue even after losing Humira exclusivity, with Skyrizi and Rinvoq exceeding expectations
- →Value AbbVie's high and growing dividend (AbbVie is a Dividend Aristocrat) as attractive income from a pharmaceutical company with durable immunology franchise revenue
- →Value the Allergan aesthetics business as providing a non-pharmaceutical revenue stream tied to consumer aesthetics spending that diversifies AbbVie beyond prescription drugs
MRK may suit investors who:
- →Want the global oncology immunotherapy leader — Merck's Keytruda is the most prescribed cancer treatment globally and continues gaining new indications and earlier lines of therapy, providing multi-year revenue growth runway before its 2028 LOE
- →Value Merck's Gardasil global HPV vaccination franchise as a durable preventive healthcare revenue stream alongside the oncology business
- →Are willing to accept the 2028 Keytruda patent cliff as a future risk while capturing Keytruda's current growth and believe Merck can build a sufficient post-Keytruda pipeline
Performance & AI score
| Metric | ABBV | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 52.0 | 51.6 |
| AI rank | #346 | #369 |
| Latest close | $216.49 | $113.87 |
| 1M return | +1.28% | -0.32% |
| 6M return | -3.49% | +14.81% |
| 1Y return | +16.72% | +45.47% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | ABBV | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.67K (+16.7%) started 2025-06-18 | $14.36K (+43.6%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $26.07K (+160.7%) started 2021-06-21 | $18.71K (+87.1%) started 2021-06-21 |
| 10Y ago | $83.39K (+733.9%) started 2016-06-20 | $37.38K (+273.8%) started 2016-06-20 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | ABBV | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $402.35B | $294.03B |
| Trailing P/E | 111.09 | 33.54 |
| Forward P/E | 14.01 | 12.45 |
| Price/Sales | 5.85 | 3.10 |
| EV/Revenue | 7.42 | 5.13 |
| Analyst target | $253.55 | $129.74 |
| Target upside | +11.34% | +8.98% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | ABBV | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 12.40% | 4.90% |
| Earnings growth | -46.20% | -19.30% |
| EPS growth | -46.20% | -19.30% |
| FCF margin | +33.13% | +21.36% |
| Operating margin | 32.16% | 38.60% |
| Profit margin | 5.79% | 13.59% |
| ROIC proxy | 6225.00% | 18.94% |
| Return on equity | 6225.00% | 18.94% |
| Dividend yield | 3.04% | 2.86% |
| Beta | 0.31 | 0.22 |
| Debt/equity | 4789.60 | 106.94 |
| Current ratio | 0.80 | 1.30 |
| Quick ratio | 0.52 | 0.70 |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
ABBV max drawdown19.23%
MRK max drawdown11.90%
ABBV max wkly drop8.49%
MRK max wkly drop7.12%
5Y risk snapshot
ABBV max drawdown21.92%
MRK max drawdown43.44%
ABBV max wkly drop17.30%
MRK max wkly drop13.42%
10Y risk snapshot
ABBV max drawdown45.09%
MRK max drawdown43.44%
ABBV max wkly drop19.39%
MRK max wkly drop13.71%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | ABBV | MRK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +16.71% | +43.61% |
| CAGR | +16.74% | +43.69% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.57 | 1.31 | |
| Max drawdown | 19.23% | 11.90% | |
| Max daily drop | 5.20% | 4.44% | |
| Max wkly drop | 8.49% | 7.12% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +120.43% | +66.14% |
| CAGR | +17.16% | +10.70% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.61 | 0.36 | |
| Max drawdown | 21.92% | 43.44% | |
| Max daily drop | 12.57% | 9.86% | |
| Max wkly drop | 17.30% | 13.42% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +426.67% | +176.77% |
| CAGR | +18.09% | +10.72% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.60 | 0.36 | |
| Max drawdown | 45.09% | 43.44% | |
| Max daily drop | 16.25% | 9.86% | |
| Max wkly drop | 19.39% | 13.71% |
Business comparison
| Category | ABBV | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Company | AbbVie Inc. | Merck & Co., Inc. |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Drug Manufacturers - General | Drug Manufacturers - General |
| Core business | AbbVie is a global biopharmaceutical company specializing in immunology and oncology — with its commercial franchise anchored by Humira (adalimumab, anti-TNF biologic for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, IBD) and successors Skyrizi (risankizumab, IL-23 inhibitor for psoriasis, Crohn's, UC) and Rinvoq (upadacitinib, JAK inhibitor for RA, psoriasis, Crohn's). AbbVie acquired Allergan in 2020, adding Botox aesthetics, Juvederm, and Vraylar to its portfolio. | Merck is a global pharmaceutical leader with its commercial franchise dominated by Keytruda (pembrolizumab, PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor for 40+ cancer indications), Gardasil/Gardasil 9 (HPV vaccines, the global standard for cervical cancer prevention), Januvia/Janumet (sitagliptin, type 2 diabetes), and a growing oncology and vaccines pipeline. Merck's animal health division is a major veterinary medicine business. |
| Investor focus | Investors track AbbVie's revenue recovery as Humira loses exclusivity (biosimilar competition reducing Humira's U.S. revenue), the Skyrizi and Rinvoq growth trajectory replacing and exceeding Humira's peak revenue, Allergan aesthetics segment performance, and the oncology and neuroscience pipeline. | Investors track Keytruda's quarterly revenue growth across cancer indications, the pending Keytruda LOE (U.S. patent expiry around 2028) and pipeline candidates to succeed Keytruda, Gardasil volumes particularly in China (a large growth market), and oncology pipeline readouts that could address the post-Keytruda revenue challenge. |
ABBV strengths
- →Skyrizi and Rinvoq are growing faster than Humira declined — AbbVie's newer immunology drugs are capturing market share in rheumatology, dermatology, and gastroenterology; combined, Skyrizi and Rinvoq are on track to generate more revenue than Humira at its peak
- →Allergan aesthetics provides diversification with injectables growth — Botox Cosmetic and Juvederm (dermal fillers) serve the premium medical aesthetics market; aesthetic procedures are semi-elective but grow with aging demographic trends and increasing consumer acceptance of cosmetic treatments
- →Broad immunology franchise across RA, IBD, and dermatology — AbbVie's drugs serve patients with chronic immune conditions who typically remain on biologic therapy for years or decades, creating durable recurring revenue
MRK strengths
- →Keytruda dominates oncology immunotherapy — pembrolizumab is approved for 40+ cancer type/line combinations and is the most prescribed immunotherapy globally; Keytruda's breadth across lung, melanoma, head and neck, bladder, kidney, MSI-H solid tumors, and many others creates unmatched oncology scope
- →Gardasil global HPV vaccination leadership — Gardasil 9 is the standard HPV vaccine preventing cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, and other HPV-related cancers; global vaccination programs provide long-term vaccine revenue with emerging market expansion potential
- →Oncology pipeline building toward post-Keytruda future — Merck has multiple next-generation oncology assets (Winrevair for pulmonary hypertension, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies) and subcutaneous Keytruda formulations extending the franchise
Risks to watch — ABBV
- →Humira biosimilar competition reducing revenue significantly — the introduction of Humira biosimilars (Hadlima, Hyrimoz, Cyltezo and others) in 2023 has dramatically reduced Humira's U.S. revenue as payers shift to lower-cost biosimilars; while expected, the transition is a multi-billion dollar revenue headwind
- →Skyrizi and Rinvoq safety profile monitoring — JAK inhibitors (Rinvoq) carry FDA safety warnings about cardiovascular events, malignancies, and thrombosis; label restrictions and post-marketing safety data could affect Rinvoq's market penetration
- →Allergan aesthetics cyclicality — cosmetic Botox and filler purchases are discretionary; consumer spending slowdowns affect aesthetic injection volumes more than prescription pharmaceuticals
Risks to watch — MRK
- →Keytruda LOE around 2028 is a significant financial event — Keytruda generates ~$25 billion annually; biosimilar competition after 2028 LOE could dramatically reduce this revenue; Merck must develop pipeline assets to offset this cliff
- →Gardasil China volume dependence — China became a major Gardasil growth market; if Chinese health authorities reduce national vaccination programs or preferential access changes, Gardasil China volumes could decline materially
- →Competition from Bristol-Myers Squibb's Opdivo and emerging checkpoint inhibitor combinations — while Keytruda leads in most settings, competitive data from combination regimens could chip away at specific Keytruda indications
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