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JNJ vs MRK
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs. Merck & Co. (MRK) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) holds a significantly larger market capitalization of around $548 billion compared to Merck & Co. (MRK)'s $272 billion, reflecting its diversified operations.
- JNJ has delivered stronger year-to-date performance at approximately 10.7%, outpacing MRK's 5.3% amid recent market volatility.
- Both stocks experienced pullbacks in recent weeks, with MRK declining more sharply by about 8% over the past month versus JNJ's 6-7% drop.
- JNJ reported robust Q1 2026 results with sales up 9.9% to $24.1 billion and raised full-year guidance, boosting sentiment.
- MRK awaits Q1 earnings, with analysts noting potential from its oncology portfolio despite recent share weakness.
- JNJ's diversification into MedTech provides stability, while MRK offers higher dividend yield at around 3.1%.
Introduction
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Merck & Co. (MRK) represent two pillars of the pharmaceutical industry, often compared for their defensive qualities and dividend reliability. This stock comparison analyzes their recent market performance, business drivers, and positioning in the healthcare sector. Long-term investors seeking stability amid volatility, as well as traders eyeing relative momentum and AI-driven signals, will find value in understanding their contrasts—such as diversification versus oncology focus—in today's evolving market environment.
JNJ Overview and Recent Performance
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), a global healthcare leader, operates through Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments, producing pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health products. In recent market activity, JNJ shares traded around $228, within a 52-week range of $146 to $252, supported by a market cap exceeding $548 billion. The stock has shown resilience with year-to-date gains near 11% and one-year returns over 50%, though it faced a 6-7% pullback in recent weeks amid broader sector pressures. Q1 2026 results highlighted 9.9% sales growth to $24.1 billion, driven by MedTech strength and oncology drugs, prompting raised full-year guidance. Sentiment has been influenced by pipeline advancements, including heart portfolio expansions, and a low beta (0.33) indicating lower volatility (beta measures stock sensitivity to market moves).
MRK Overview and Recent Performance
Merck & Co. (MRK), a research-driven pharmaceutical giant, focuses on innovative therapies in oncology, vaccines, and animal health, with Keytruda as a blockbuster driver. Shares recently hovered near $110, in a 52-week range of $73 to $125, with a $272 billion market cap. Performance includes modest YTD gains of about 5% and 37% over one year, but steeper recent declines of 7-8% weekly and monthly, reflecting profit-taking and anticipation of Q1 earnings. Key influences include strong return on equity (ROE, a profitability measure relative to shareholders' equity) at 37% and a forward dividend yield of 3.1%, alongside partnerships raising cholesterol awareness. A beta of 0.28 underscores its defensive profile, though oncology reliance introduces patent risks.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
In business models, JNJ offers broader diversification across pharma, MedTech, and devices, mitigating single-product risks, while MRK emphasizes high-margin oncology and vaccines. Growth drivers differ: JNJ benefits from MedTech recovery and pipeline catalysts, versus MRK's Keytruda dominance amid patent cliffs. Recent momentum favors JNJ post-earnings, with MRK lagging due to pullbacks. Risk factors include litigation for JNJ and revenue concentration for MRK. Both exhibit low betas and sector exposure to healthcare, but JNJ's higher PE ratio (26.4, price-to-earnings) signals growth premium over MRK's 15.1.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models currently lean toward JNJ for its trend consistency, post-Q1 earnings momentum, diversified stability, and relative outperformance in recent market activity. Factors like raised guidance and MedTech gains position it favorably against MRK's sharper pullback and earnings anticipation. However, MRK could rebound on strong oncology results, highlighting probabilistic edges rather than guarantees.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
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 JNJ is a Buy and MRK is a StrongBuy.
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).
JNJ’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileMRK’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- JNJ’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- MRK’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 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.
JNJ’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MRK’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- JNJ’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
- MRK’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
JNJ (@Pharmaceuticals: Major) experienced а +3.48% price change this week, while MRK (@Pharmaceuticals: Major) price change was -1.44% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Pharmaceuticals: Major industry was +1.21%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +6.56%, and the average quarterly price growth was +4.69%.
Reported Earning Dates
JNJ is expected to report earnings on Jul 15, 2026.
MRK is expected to report earnings on Aug 04, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Pharmaceuticals: Major (+1.21% 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.
| JNJ | MRK | JNJ / MRK | |
| Capitalization | 580B | 294B | 197% |
| EBITDA | 33.7B | 19.4B | 174% |
| Gain YTD | 17.682 | 13.939 | 127% |
| P/E Ratio | 27.91 | 33.54 | 83% |
| Revenue | 96.4B | 65.8B | 147% |
| Total Cash | 22.1B | 5.7B | 388% |
| Total Debt | 55B | 49.1B | 112% |
JNJ | MRK | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 22 | 13 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 13 Undervalued | 10 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 10 | 49 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 36 | 47 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 45 | 21 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 18 | 5 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 55 | 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 (10) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is in the same range as JNJ (13). This means that MRK’s stock grew similarly to JNJ’s over the last 12 months.
JNJ's Profit vs Risk Rating (10) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is somewhat better than the same rating for MRK (49). This means that JNJ’s stock grew somewhat faster than MRK’s over the last 12 months.
JNJ's SMR Rating (36) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is in the same range as MRK (47). This means that JNJ’s stock grew similarly to MRK’s over the last 12 months.
MRK's Price Growth Rating (21) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is in the same range as JNJ (45). This means that MRK’s stock grew similarly to JNJ’s over the last 12 months.
MRK's P/E Growth Rating (5) in the Pharmaceuticals Major industry is in the same range as JNJ (18). This means that MRK’s stock grew similarly to JNJ’s over the last 12 months.
| JNJ | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 29% | 1 day ago 54% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 43% | 1 day ago 55% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 42% | 1 day ago 54% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 33% | 1 day ago 59% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 43% | 1 day ago 49% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 46% | 1 day ago 53% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 44% | 9 days ago 53% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 12 days ago 42% | 13 days ago 51% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | N/A | 1 day ago 57% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 45% | 1 day ago 64% |
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JNJ and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, JNJ has been loosely correlated with PFE. These tickers have moved in lockstep 59% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if JNJ jumps, then PFE could also see price increases.
MRK and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MRK has been loosely correlated with PFE. These tickers have moved in lockstep 55% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if MRK jumps, then PFE could also see price increases.