GSK vs Merck & Co

GSK and Merck & Co are two pharmaceutical giants that have been competing in the healthcare industry for decades. GSK, also known as GlaxoSmithKline, is a British multinational company with a strong presence in vaccines, medications, and consumer healthcare products. Merck & Co, on the other hand, is an American pharmaceutical company renowned for its innovative research and development of cutting-edge medications. Both companies have experienced fluctuations in their stock prices over the years, making them important contenders in the stock market. This article will compare and analyze the performance of GSK vs Merck & Co stocks to provide valuable insights for investors.

GSK or Merck & Co?

When comparing GSK and Merck & Co, different investors may prioritize various metrics based on their investment strategies and goals. So, ask yourself what type of investor you are. This will guide you in determining which metrics are most important for your investment decision between GSK and Merck & Co.

Dividend Investors:

Dividend investors look for stable and growing income streams, using dividend metrics to assess potential investments. A company's dividend yield essentially measures the size of its dividend relative to the total market value of the company. GSK has a dividend yield of 2.96%, while Merck & Co has a dividend yield of 2.76%. Beyond the yield itself, considering the growth and sustainability of these dividends is also crucial. GSK reports a 5-year dividend growth of -4.37% year and a payout ratio of 58.39%. On the other hand, Merck & Co reports a 5-year dividend growth of 8.26% year and a payout ratio of 55.64%.

Value Investors:

Value investors focus on financial metrics to determine a stock's intrinsic value compared to its market value. The Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio links stock price to a company's earnings per share, with GSK P/E ratio at 30.17 and Merck & Co's P/E ratio at 20.57. Another crucial valuation metric is the Price-to-Book (P/B) Ratio, which compares stock price with book value per share. GSK P/B ratio is 8.46 while Merck & Co's P/B ratio is 6.48.

Growth Investors:

Growth investors prioritize metrics indicative of a company's expansion potential. Focusing on top-line growth, GSK has seen a 5-year revenue growth of -0.52%, while Merck & Co's is 0.45%. Return on Equity (ROE) measures how effectively a company uses equity investment to generate earnings, with GSK's ROE at 29.50% and Merck & Co's ROE at 33.75%.

Retail Investors:

Retail investors often consider stock affordability and company familiarity. For example, day low prices are $38.82 for GSK and $109.89 for Merck & Co. Over the past year, GSK's prices ranged from $33.67 to $45.93, with a yearly change of 36.41%. Merck & Co's prices fluctuated between $99.14 and $134.63, with a yearly change of 35.80%. Brand recognition also plays a role, as familiarity with a company can influence investment decisions.