What does the company do?
Merck & Co., Inc. (Merck) is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a range of products to improve human and animal health. The Company’s operations are principally managed on a products basis and consist of two business segments. The Pharmaceutical segment includes human health pharmaceutical products marketed either directly or through joint ventures. These products consist of therapeutic and preventive agents, sold by prescription, for the treatment of human disorders. The Vaccines and Infectious Diseases segment includes human health vaccine products marketed either directly or through a joint venture. These products consist of preventative pediatric, adolescent and adult vaccines, primarily administered at physician offices. Infectious disease products consist of therapeutic agents for the treatment of infection sold primarily to drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals and government agencies.
How much does the company sell and earn?
Investors need to know how much stuff or services a company sells, and how much of that total it keeps as income (or profit) to grow its business or return to shareholders. The more of each, the better. In general, look for companies that sell and earn more than peers.
- Merck one-year sales: 23.37 Bil.
Difference from the average for the Drug Manufacturers - Major group: -44.16% - Merck one-year income: 8.03 Bil.
Difference from the average for the Drug Manufacturers - Major group: 7.68%| Sales & Income (past 12 months) | Company | Industry |
|---|
| Sales | 23.37 Bil | 41.85 Bil | | Income | 8.03 Bil | 7.46 Bil |
How fast is the company growing?
- Merck one-year sales growth: -2.70%.
- Merck one-year income growth: 3.80%.
Difference from the average for the Drug Manufacturers - Major group: -1.50 pct. pts.| Sales & Income Growth (past 12 months) | Company | Industry |
|---|
| Sales Growth | -2.70% | 1.40% | | Income Growth | 3.80% | 5.30% |
How profitable is the company?
Investors prefer companies that increase profit margins -- the percentage of sales that they keep -- every year. This is accomplished either by lowering expenses or raising prices. Look for companies that consistently find ways to squeeze more profits out of sales than their peers.
- Merck one-year net profit margin: 34.8%
Difference from the company's 5-year average net profit margin: 12.3 pct. pts.
Difference from the average for the Drug Manufacturers - Major group: 16.2 pct. pts.
| Net profit margins (%) |
|---|
| Company | 34.8% | | Company 5-Yr Avg. | 22.5% | | Industry | 18.7% |
How is the company's financial health?
The debt/equity ratio shows how much a firm has borrowed as a percentage of its stock equity. The lower, the better.
- Merck debt/equity ratio: 0.40.
Difference from the average for the Drug Manufacturers - Major group: -82.38%.
| | Company | Industry |
|---|
| Debt/equity ratio | 0.40 | 2.27 |
|
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