Merck & Co Inc P/B Ratio
Data as of September 29, 2026
P/B Ratio
6.99
Stock Price
$148.69
Book Value/Share
$21.26
Sector
Pharmaceuticals
How It's Calculated
6.99 = $148.69 ÷ $21.26
What This Means
Merck & Co Inc's P/B ratio of 6.99 is above 6. Asset-light business models and unrecognized intangible assets can make book value a limited denominator; the multiple alone does not determine fair value.
About Merck & Co Inc
Merck & Co Inc (MRK) operates in the Pharmaceuticals sector, specifically in Pharmaceuticals. With a market capitalization of about $366.61B, it ranks as a mega-cap stock — one of the largest publicly traded companies.
Shares recently traded near $148.69, within a 52-week range of $77.58 to $156.92 (-5.2% from the high, +91.7% from the low). Beta of 0.14 indicates relatively lower volatility versus the market.
Trailing profit margin is about 4.8%, signaling modest profitability that investors should weigh against growth plans.
Understanding This Metric
The price-to-book ratio compares market price to net asset value per share. For Merck & Co Inc, P/B is especially useful when earnings are volatile or temporarily depressed. In Pharmaceuticals, asset-heavy business models often anchor closer to book value, while asset-light models may trade far above book.
Sector Comparison
Among Pharmaceuticals names on our S&P 100 coverage, Merck & Co Inc's P/B ratio of 6.99 can be compared with peers such as LLY (42.19), JNJ (8.03), PFE (1.89). 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 0.14 suggests lower-than-market price sensitivity.
- Trailing profit margin of 4.8% provides context for how much earnings support the headline multiple.
Related Tools & Guides
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does MRK's price-to-book ratio indicate?
P/B compares share price to book value per share. Merck & Co Inc's P/B of 6.99 reflects how the market prices net assets — especially relevant for asset-heavy Pharmaceuticals business models.
Is 6.99 above or below book value?
A P/B above 1.0 (6.99) means the market values MRK above accounting book value — often due to brands, growth, or intangible assets.
How does P/B compare within Pharmaceuticals?
Peer P/B levels in Pharmaceuticals (e.g. LLY (42.19), JNJ (8.03), BMY (6.96)) provide context; asset-light vs asset-heavy models differ materially.
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