Merck vs Pfizer
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KIRA’s take AI analyst
I put Merck and Pfizer side by side, using each one’s latest annual report. Here is what stands out:
- Merck is the larger business, with $65.0B of revenue in fiscal 2025 against $62.6B for Pfizer.
- Merck grew revenue faster (1.3%, against −1.7%).
- Merck turned more of its sales into free cash flow (19.0% FCF margin, against 14.5%).
- Merck earned a higher return on the capital invested in it (24.8%, against 7.3%).
- Investors pay more for each dollar of Merck’s earnings: a P/E of 111.6x against 39.2x for Pfizer.
Who comes out ahead
Of the 10 measures where higher (or lower) is clearly better, how many each company leads.
Merck
MRK
9/10
Revenue growth5-year growthGross marginNet marginFCF marginReturn on capitalReturn on equityNet debt / EBITDAShare count change
Pfizer
PFE
1/10
Piotroski F-score
Side by side
Best in the row
| Latest fiscal year | MRK FY25 | PFE FY25 |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ||
| Market cap | $347.3B | $169.8B |
| Revenue | $65.0B | $62.6B |
| Free cash flow | $12.4B | $9.1B |
| Net income | $18.3B | $7.8B |
| Growth | ||
| Revenue growth | 1.3% | −1.7% |
| 5-year growth | 9.4% | 8.5% |
| Share count change | −1.3% | 0.2% |
| Profitability | ||
| Gross margin | 74.8% | 74.3% |
| Operating margin | — | — |
| Net margin | 28.1% | 12.4% |
| FCF margin | 19.0% | 14.5% |
| Return on capital | 24.8% | 7.3% |
| Return on equity | 36.9% | 8.9% |
| Balance sheet | ||
| Net debt | $34.5B | $54.3B |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.2x | 3.2x |
| Dividends and buybacks | $13.3B | $9.8B |
| Valuation & quality | ||
| P/E | 111.6x | 39.2x |
| Piotroski F-score | 4 | 6 |
Ten years
Revenue
Operating margin
Free cash flow
Return on capital
Each company's latest fiscal year; fiscal years end in different months. The best value in each row is highlighted where higher (or lower) is clearly better. Not investment advice.