JNJ vs MRK

Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co., both Healthcare

Johnson & Johnson is the larger company at $550B against $281B. On trailing earnings JNJ is the cheaper of the two at a P/E of 31.3 against 121.6, a gap that is only a bargain if the two are growing at similar rates. Over the past year MRK returned +99% against +62% for JNJ. Ryufin's sector-relative Smart Score puts JNJ ahead, 9/10 against 8/10.

Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co.compared on valuation, return and Ryufin’s Smart Score
FigureJNJMRK
Last close$270$153
Market cap$550B$281B
Trailing P/Elower is cheaper for the same earnings, not automatically better31.3121.6
Dividend yield1.9%2.1%
1-year return+62%+99%
5-year return+81%+133%
Ryufin Smart Scoresector-relative, 1–109/108/10

Figures from SEC filings and end-of-day closes. Highlighting marks the higher or lower number, which is not the same as the better investment, a low P/E can be a warning and a high one can be deserved.

Johnson & Johnson

Revenue of $25B in Q2 2026, net income $5.5B. Its largest reported line is DARZALEX, 19% of the disclosed total.

Merck & Co.

Revenue of $17B in Q2 2026, net income null. Its largest reported line is Keytruda, 49% of the disclosed total.

Open these two in the interactive comparison to add more names, change the period or read the correlation.