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ABBV vs MRK
ABBV vs MRK Stock Comparison: Earnings Recap After Recent Reports
Key Takeaways
- AbbVie reported Q4 2025 net revenues of $16.618 billion, up 10.0% year-over-year, with adjusted diluted EPS of $2.71.
- Merck posted Q4 2025 worldwide sales of $16.4 billion, up 5%, and non-GAAP EPS of $2.04.
- AbbVie's immunology portfolio, led by Skyrizi ($5.006 billion) and Rinvoq ($2.374 billion), drove strong growth despite Humira erosion.
- Merck's oncology segment, anchored by Keytruda, and animal health offset Gardasil declines in key markets.
- AbbVie guides 2026 adjusted EPS to $14.37-$14.57 with revenues around $67 billion; Merck eyes $65.5-$67.0 billion in sales and $5.00-$5.15 non-GAAP EPS, impacted by acquisition charges.
- Both firms demonstrate resilient growth platforms amid patent cliffs and pipeline investments.
Earnings Context and Why This Comparison Matters
AbbVie and Merck, two pharmaceutical leaders, compete in immunology, oncology, and neuroscience. Recent Q4 2025 earnings highlight their strategies for navigating blockbuster patent losses—Humira for AbbVie and Keytruda looming for Merck—through diversified portfolios and new launches. This comparison evaluates earnings execution, growth drivers, and forward guidance, offering insights for investors assessing stability in a sector facing biosimilar pressures and regulatory shifts.
AbbVie Focus
AbbVie released full-year and fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 4, 2026. Full-year net revenues reached $61.160 billion, up 8.6% reported, with GAAP diluted EPS of $2.36 and adjusted diluted EPS of $10.00, reflecting a $2.76 per share hit from acquired IPR&D. Q4 revenues hit $16.618 billion, up 10.0%, driven by immunology at $8.626 billion (Skyrizi $5.006 billion, up 32.5%; Rinvoq $2.374 billion, up 29.5%), offsetting Humira's $1.246 billion (down 25.9%). Neuroscience grew 17.9% to $2.961 billion, while oncology dipped 1.5%. Adjusted Q4 EPS was $2.71. For 2026, AbbVie targets adjusted diluted EPS of $14.37-$14.57 (excluding IPR&D) and revenues of approximately $67 billion, signaling 9.5% growth.
Merck Context
Merck announced Q4 and full-year 2025 results on February 3, 2026. Full-year sales totaled $65.0 billion, up 1% nominally, with non-GAAP EPS of $8.98 and GAAP EPS of $7.28. Q4 sales rose 5% to $16.4 billion (4% ex-FX), fueled by oncology and animal health ($1.5 billion, up 8%), despite Gardasil softness in China. Keytruda sustained leadership, with new launches like Winrevair and Capvaxive contributing. Non-GAAP Q4 EPS was $2.04, up 19%. 2026 guidance projects sales of $65.5-$67.0 billion (1-3% growth) and non-GAAP EPS of $5.00-$5.15, incorporating a $3.65 per share Cidara acquisition charge; excluding it, midpoint EPS nears $9.03.
Head-to-Head Earnings and Market Comparison
AbbVie outperformed on Q4 revenue growth (10% vs. Merck's 5%) and EPS beats, leveraging immunology momentum (Skyrizi/Rinvoq combined $27.87 billion full-year) against Humira's decline. Merck showed steadier full-year sales but faced vaccine headwinds; Keytruda resilience and animal health provide buffers ahead of 2028 LOE. Growth drivers favor AbbVie's immunology/neuroscience expansion, while Merck emphasizes oncology pipeline depth. Risks include IPR&D volatility for both and Merck's acquisition impacts. Sentiment tilts toward AbbVie's higher 2026 growth trajectory versus Merck's conservative outlook.
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Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron AI currently favors AbbVie over Merck, with 65% probability, citing superior earnings growth (10% Q4 revenue), immunology stability, and optimistic 2026 guidance (9.5% sales expansion) versus Merck's modest outlook impacted by charges. AbbVie's trend strength and diversified platform edge out Merck's oncology reliance.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is ABBV is a Hold and MRK is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ABBV’s FA Score shows that 4 FA rating(s) are green whileMRK’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- ABBV’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- MRK’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ABBV’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MRK’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ABBV’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- MRK’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
ABBV (@Pharmaceuticals: Major) experienced а +3.98% price change this week, while MRK (@Pharmaceuticals: Major) price change was +0.99% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Pharmaceuticals: Major industry was -0.41%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.56%, and the average quarterly price growth was +2.83%.
Reported Earning Dates
ABBV is expected to report earnings on Jul 24, 2026.
MRK is expected to report earnings on Aug 04, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Pharmaceuticals: Major (-0.41% weekly)The Major Pharmaceuticals industry includes companies that are involved in various processes of creating drugs to treat/prevent diseases. These companies engage in research, testing and manufacturing, as well as the distribution of pharmaceuticals into markets. Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer Inc. and Novartis are among the largest companies in this category.
| ABBV | MRK | ABBV / MRK | |
| Capitalization | 372B | 280B | 133% |
| EBITDA | 17.6B | 19.4B | 91% |
| Gain YTD | -6.242 | 8.541 | -73% |
| P/E Ratio | 103.32 | 31.95 | 323% |
| Revenue | 61.2B | 65.8B | 93% |
| Total Cash | N/A | 5.7B | - |
| Total Debt | 67.5B | 49.1B | 137% |
ABBV | MRK | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 12 | 7 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 25 Undervalued | 24 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 14 | 51 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 1 | 47 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 57 | 48 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 21 | 5 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | n/a | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
MRK's Valuation (24) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is in the same range as ABBV (25). This means that MRK’s stock grew similarly to ABBV’s over the last 12 months.
ABBV's Profit vs Risk Rating (14) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is somewhat better than the same rating for MRK (51). This means that ABBV’s stock grew somewhat faster than MRK’s over the last 12 months.
ABBV's SMR Rating (1) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is somewhat better than the same rating for MRK (47). This means that ABBV’s stock grew somewhat faster than MRK’s over the last 12 months.
MRK's Price Growth Rating (48) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is in the same range as ABBV (57). This means that MRK’s stock grew similarly to ABBV’s over the last 12 months.
MRK's P/E Growth Rating (5) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is in the same range as ABBV (21). This means that MRK’s stock grew similarly to ABBV’s over the last 12 months.
| ABBV | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 42% | 2 days ago 54% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 48% | 2 days ago 59% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 73% | 2 days ago 53% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 54% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 42% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 57% | 3 days ago 53% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 8 days ago 48% | 5 days ago 50% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 63% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 51% |
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ABBV and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ABBV has been loosely correlated with PFE. These tickers have moved in lockstep 57% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ABBV jumps, then PFE could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To ABBV | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABBV | 100% | +1.09% | ||
| PFE - ABBV | 57% Loosely correlated | -0.81% | ||
| BMY - ABBV | 55% Loosely correlated | +0.67% | ||
| AMGN - ABBV | 48% Loosely correlated | -0.07% | ||
| NVS - ABBV | 47% Loosely correlated | +0.01% | ||
| MRK - ABBV | 46% Loosely correlated | -0.04% | ||
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