MRK vs NVS
Comparison between Merck & Co Inc (MRK, Company) and Novartis AG (NVS, Company).
Both MRK and NVS are from the Healthcare sector.
5-Year PerformanceNVS has outperformed MRK, delivering a return of +14.9% compared to +11.7%
MRK vs NVS - Performance Comparison
Key Characteristics
Financial metrics and valuation ratios
MRK vs NVS - Historical Returns
Returns include dividend reinvestment.
MRK vs NVS - Annual Returns (1999 - 2026)
Returns include dividend reinvestment.
| Year | MRK | NVS |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +5.40% | +8.64% |
| 2025 | +10.13% | +47.15% |
| 2024 | -9.75% | -0.05% |
| 2023 | +0.82% | +14.25% |
| 2022 | +48.94% | +7.57% |
| 2021 | +2.80% | -3.56% |
| 2020 | -8.31% | +3.07% |
| 2019 | +23.59% | +16.26% |
| 2018 | +40.12% | +5.03% |
| 2017 | -3.57% | +19.42% |
| 2016 | +15.80% | -11.84% |
| 2015 | -4.54% | -4.25% |
| 2014 | +18.27% | +21.64% |
| 2013 | +25.58% | +30.51% |
| 2012 | +11.35% | +13.71% |
| 2011 | +9.54% | +0.66% |
| 2010 | +1.56% | +16.07% |
| 2009 | +24.28% | +14.72% |
| 2008 | -44.64% | -6.02% |
| 2007 | +36.05% | -4.79% |
| 2006 | +38.56% | +9.20% |
| 2005 | +6.97% | +6.25% |
| 2004 | -29.07% | +12.02% |
| 2003 | -13.85% | +26.10% |
| 2002 | -2.84% | +3.81% |
| 2001 | -35.51% | -17.60% |
| 2000 | +40.86% | +27.78% |
| 1999 | -15.23% | -0.50% |
MRK vs NVS Drawdown Comparison
The maximum drawdown for MRK was -68.70%, occurring on Mar 9, 2009. Recovery took 3297 trading sessions.
The maximum drawdown for NVS was -41.93%, occurring on Mar 3, 2009. Recovery took 536 trading sessions.
The current MRK drawdown is -11.16%. The current NVS drawdown is -10.74%.
| Rank | MRK | NVS |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | -68.70% Dec 28, 2000 - Feb 10, 2014 | -41.93% Aug 4, 2008 - Sep 20, 2010 |
| #2 | -43.45% Jun 24, 2024 - May 14, 2025 | -33.89% Jul 20, 2015 - Mar 15, 2019 |
| #3 | -32.31% Nov 5, 1999 - Oct 20, 2000 | -26.03% Feb 12, 2020 - Jan 15, 2021 |
| #4 | -27.28% Jan 2, 2020 - Oct 4, 2021 | -25.86% Jan 3, 2001 - Dec 3, 2003 |
| #5 | -21.30% Jan 16, 2015 - Aug 5, 2016 | -25.15% Dec 3, 1999 - Jun 30, 2000 |
| #6 | -20.17% Nov 4, 2021 - May 11, 2022 | -21.57% Mar 29, 2019 - Feb 5, 2020 |
| #7 | -18.23% Sep 15, 2017 - Jul 30, 2018 | -20.65% Nov 7, 2006 - Jul 22, 2008 |
| #8 | -14.23% May 8, 2023 - Jan 4, 2024 | -20.42% Apr 11, 2022 - Mar 27, 2023 |
| #9 | -12.14% Apr 1, 2019 - Jun 12, 2019 | -19.95% Aug 30, 2024 - Jun 2, 2025 |
| #10 | -12.03% Sep 5, 2014 - Dec 2, 2014 | -19.95% May 31, 2011 - Oct 1, 2012 |
| #11 | -10.36% Jan 6, 2023 - Apr 13, 2023 | -16.23% Aug 17, 2021 - Apr 7, 2022 |
| #12 | -10.28% Jul 15, 2022 - Oct 18, 2022 | -12.76% Jan 25, 2021 - Aug 17, 2021 |
| #13 | -10.19% May 24, 2022 - Jun 27, 2022 | -12.63% Feb 27, 2026 - Apr 29, 2026 |
| #14 | -9.68% Nov 30, 2018 - Feb 13, 2019 | -12.23% Jul 20, 2023 - Jan 4, 2024 |
| #15 | -8.69% Nov 10, 2016 - Feb 6, 2017 | -11.81% Feb 11, 2004 - Sep 1, 2004 |
Correlation
Correlation between MRK and NVS is 0.91 which considered as a very strong positive correlation - the stocks move almost identically together.
Dividend Comparison (1999 - 2026)
MRK vs NVS dividend yield comparison.
| Year | MRK | NVS |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0.76% | 3.27% |
| 2025 | 3.12% | 2.90% |
| 2024 | 3.14% | 3.84% |
| 2023 | 2.72% | 3.44% |
| 2022 | 2.52% | 3.70% |
| 2021 | 3.41% | 3.86% |
| 2020 | 3.03% | 3.22% |
| 2019 | 2.48% | 3.03% |
| 2018 | 2.60% | 3.47% |
| 2017 | 3.36% | 3.24% |
| 2016 | 3.14% | 3.73% |
| 2015 | 3.43% | 3.10% |
| 2014 | 3.12% | 2.98% |
| 2013 | 3.46% | 3.02% |
| 2012 | 4.13% | 3.92% |
| 2011 | 4.14% | 4.13% |
| 2010 | 4.22% | 3.31% |
| 2009 | 4.16% | 3.15% |
| 2008 | 5.00% | 3.09% |
| 2007 | 2.62% | 2.02% |
| 2006 | 3.49% | 1.53% |
| 2005 | 4.78% | 1.68% |
| 2004 | 4.67% | 1.55% |
| 2003 | 9.39% | 1.54% |
| 2002 | 2.51% | 1.24% |
| 2001 | 2.35% | 1.15% |
| 2000 | 1.35% | 3.33% |
| 1999 | 0.43% | 0.00% |
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