Analysis of Profitability Ratios
Quarterly Data
Profitability ratios measure the company ability to generate profitable sales from its resources (assets).
Profitability Ratios (Summary)
Merck & Co. Inc., profitability ratios (quarterly data)
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31).
The profitability profile exhibits a pattern of high core efficiency punctuated by periods of extreme volatility in operational and bottom-line performance. While gross margins demonstrated a consistent upward trajectory for the majority of the period, operating and net margins experienced significant cyclical fluctuations, characterized by deep troughs in late 2023 and the first half of 2026.
- Gross Profit Margin
- A sustained period of expansion is observed, with the margin rising from 70.72% in March 2022 to a peak of 77.18% by September 2025. This long-term growth suggests strong pricing power and effective management of direct costs. A moderate contraction occurs in the final three quarters of the period, settling at 72.97% by June 2026.
- Operating and Net Profit Margins
- These metrics exhibit significant instability compared to gross profitability. A severe contraction occurred throughout 2023, with the net profit margin reaching a nadir of 0.61% in December 2023 and the operating margin falling to 3.92%. A robust recovery followed, with net margins peaking at 29.63% in September 2025. However, a secondary sharp decline is evident in 2026, with the net profit margin dropping to 4.77% by June 2026, despite the gross margin remaining relatively high.
- Return on Equity (ROE)
- ROE mirrors the volatility of the net profit margin. After starting at 34.68% in March 2022, it collapsed to 0.97% in December 2023. Performance rebounded strongly in 2024 and 2025, reaching a high of 36.96% in December 2024. A significant downward trend is noted in 2026, with ROE falling to 7.57% by June 2026.
- Return on Assets (ROA)
- ROA follows the same cyclical pattern as ROE and net margins. The metric declined from 13.29% in March 2022 to a low of 0.34% in December 2023. It recovered to peak at 15.14% in March 2024 and remained generally strong through 2025, before falling sharply to 2.44% by June 2026.
The divergence between the stable gross profit margin and the volatile operating and net margins suggests that the periodic declines in profitability are driven by operating expenses, non-operating charges, or one-time extraordinary items rather than a failure in core product pricing or production costs.
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Return on Sales
Return on Investment
Gross Profit Margin
Merck & Co. Inc., gross profit margin calculation (quarterly data)
| Jun 30, 2026 | Mar 31, 2026 | Dec 31, 2025 | Sep 30, 2025 | Jun 30, 2025 | Mar 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 | Jun 30, 2024 | Mar 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 12,212) | 12,091) | 10,849) | 13,421) | 12,249) | 12,110) | 11,796) | 12,577) | 12,367) | 12,235) | 10,719) | 11,698) | 11,011) | 10,561) | 9,949) | 11,025) | 10,377) | 10,521) | ||||||
| Sales | 16,607) | 16,286) | 16,400) | 17,276) | 15,806) | 15,529) | 15,624) | 16,657) | 16,112) | 15,775) | 14,631) | 15,962) | 15,035) | 14,487) | 13,830) | 14,959) | 14,593) | 15,901) | ||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit margin1 | 72.97% | 73.91% | 74.80% | 77.18% | 76.60% | 76.42% | 76.32% | 75.82% | 75.25% | 74.37% | 73.17% | 72.86% | 72.96% | 72.43% | 70.63% | 70.49% | 70.41% | 70.72% | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AbbVie Inc. | 71.48% | 70.68% | 70.24% | 69.74% | 70.93% | 70.69% | 69.99% | 67.21% | 62.75% | 62.28% | 62.42% | 65.76% | 68.91% | 69.43% | 70.00% | 69.62% | 70.48% | 69.53% | ||||||
| Amgen Inc. | 67.97% | 66.72% | 65.75% | 64.71% | 62.99% | 61.48% | 59.85% | 58.71% | 61.56% | 64.76% | 68.60% | 72.35% | 72.87% | 73.65% | 74.17% | 73.99% | 74.00% | 73.30% | ||||||
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 70.16% | 70.46% | 71.08% | 69.50% | 70.29% | 70.47% | 71.08% | 74.91% | 75.38% | 75.71% | 76.24% | 76.54% | 77.01% | 77.68% | 78.04% | 78.82% | 79.13% | 79.62% | ||||||
| Danaher Corp. | 58.51% | 58.94% | 59.11% | 59.53% | 59.66% | 59.74% | 59.50% | 59.37% | 59.27% | 58.39% | 58.74% | 58.77% | 59.17% | 60.22% | 60.21% | 60.65% | 60.77% | 60.77% | ||||||
| Eli Lilly & Co. | 83.40% | 82.83% | 83.04% | 83.03% | 82.64% | 81.70% | 81.31% | 80.91% | 80.75% | 80.16% | 79.25% | 78.67% | 77.77% | 77.67% | 76.77% | 75.61% | 75.98% | 74.40% | ||||||
| Gilead Sciences Inc. | 79.15% | 79.01% | 78.44% | 78.31% | 78.42% | 78.17% | 78.15% | 75.98% | 75.56% | 75.62% | 75.87% | 78.66% | 79.27% | 78.94% | 79.03% | 74.31% | 75.30% | 75.50% | ||||||
| Johnson & Johnson | 67.91% | 67.82% | 67.88% | 68.08% | 67.92% | 68.30% | 69.07% | 69.05% | 69.06% | 69.20% | 68.82% | 68.54% | 68.06% | 67.34% | 67.26% | 67.43% | 67.86% | 67.97% | ||||||
| Pfizer Inc. | 73.18% | 73.51% | 74.33% | 73.39% | 72.12% | 72.28% | 71.94% | 67.73% | 58.18% | 58.09% | 58.10% | 60.97% | 69.61% | 68.61% | 65.77% | 65.53% | 62.18% | 60.35% | ||||||
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 84.86% | 84.55% | 85.35% | 85.39% | 85.57% | 85.79% | 86.13% | 86.12% | 86.16% | 86.32% | 86.16% | 85.96% | 86.42% | 86.96% | 87.18% | 85.39% | 84.97% | 84.65% | ||||||
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 40.80% | 40.78% | 40.93% | 41.27% | 41.18% | 41.34% | 41.28% | 40.77% | 40.76% | 40.40% | 39.90% | 39.87% | 39.75% | 40.28% | 42.24% | 44.42% | 46.63% | 48.37% | ||||||
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 86.00% | 86.24% | 86.24% | 86.28% | 86.11% | 86.03% | 86.11% | 86.12% | 86.45% | 86.86% | 87.21% | 87.80% | 87.92% | 88.04% | 87.90% | 88.00% | 88.13% | 87.95% | ||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31).
1 Q2 2026 Calculation
Gross profit margin = 100
× (Gross profitQ2 2026
+ Gross profitQ1 2026
+ Gross profitQ4 2025
+ Gross profitQ3 2025)
÷ (SalesQ2 2026
+ SalesQ1 2026
+ SalesQ4 2025
+ SalesQ3 2025)
= 100 × (12,212 + 12,091 + 10,849 + 13,421)
÷ (16,607 + 16,286 + 16,400 + 17,276)
= 72.97%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The gross profit margin exhibits a distinct three-stage cycle over the analyzed period: an initial phase of stability, a prolonged period of expansion, and a subsequent moderate contraction. Overall, the company demonstrated a significant improvement in its ability to convert net sales into gross profit between 2023 and 2025 before experiencing a downward trend in the most recent quarters.
- Stability Period (March 2022 – December 2022)
- During the 2022 fiscal year, the gross profit margin remained remarkably consistent, fluctuating within a narrow range between 70.41% and 70.72%. Despite fluctuations in quarterly sales, which dipped to a low of 13.83 billion in December 2022, the margin stayed flat, suggesting a stable relationship between cost of goods sold and revenue during this timeframe.
- Margin Expansion Phase (March 2023 – September 2025)
- A sustained upward trajectory is observed beginning in March 2023, where the margin rose to 72.43%. This growth continued steadily through 2024, surpassing 75% by June 2024 and reaching a peak of 77.18% in September 2025. This phase is characterized by gross profit growth that outpaced sales growth, indicating enhanced operational efficiency, pricing power, or a favorable shift in the product mix toward higher-margin offerings.
- Recent Margin Contraction (December 2025 – June 2026)
- A reversal in profitability trends occurred starting in December 2025, with the gross profit margin dropping to 74.80%. This decline persisted through the first half of 2026, reaching 72.97% by June 30, 2026. This contraction is notably linked to a sharp decrease in gross profit during the December 2025 quarter, where gross profit fell to 10.85 billion despite relatively high sales of 16.40 billion, suggesting an increase in the cost of sales or a reduction in average selling prices.
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Operating Profit Margin
Merck & Co. Inc., operating profit margin calculation (quarterly data)
| Jun 30, 2026 | Mar 31, 2026 | Dec 31, 2025 | Sep 30, 2025 | Jun 30, 2025 | Mar 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 | Jun 30, 2024 | Mar 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | (584) | (3,396) | 3,851) | 6,507) | 4,992) | 5,868) | 4,299) | 3,928) | 6,048) | 5,637) | (1,967) | 5,746) | (5,163) | 3,739) | 3,439) | 4,012) | 4,925) | 5,569) | ||||||
| Sales | 16,607) | 16,286) | 16,400) | 17,276) | 15,806) | 15,529) | 15,624) | 16,657) | 16,112) | 15,775) | 14,631) | 15,962) | 15,035) | 14,487) | 13,830) | 14,959) | 14,593) | 15,901) | ||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating profit margin1 | 9.58% | 18.18% | 32.64% | 33.73% | 30.00% | 31.51% | 31.03% | 21.60% | 24.75% | 6.93% | 3.92% | 13.08% | 10.34% | 27.85% | 30.27% | 30.66% | 33.04% | 28.85% | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AbbVie Inc. | 26.20% | 24.41% | 24.65% | 15.16% | 18.80% | 17.56% | 16.22% | 24.89% | 22.31% | 23.50% | 23.49% | 27.32% | 31.03% | 28.49% | 31.21% | 30.59% | 30.33% | 32.68% | ||||||
| Amgen Inc. | 31.51% | 29.77% | 25.83% | 25.14% | 24.45% | 22.71% | 22.66% | 19.97% | 20.96% | 24.72% | 29.35% | 34.55% | 37.50% | 36.07% | 38.57% | 39.31% | 38.04% | 32.78% | ||||||
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 23.83% | 20.55% | 20.75% | 18.86% | 16.70% | 15.24% | -15.50% | -14.05% | -14.39% | -14.30% | 16.18% | 16.96% | 17.29% | 18.13% | 17.96% | 19.04% | 18.19% | 16.79% | ||||||
| Danaher Corp. | 20.42% | 19.21% | 19.09% | 19.01% | 18.39% | 20.26% | 20.37% | 20.11% | 21.22% | 21.05% | 21.77% | 23.83% | 25.06% | 27.02% | 27.61% | 27.35% | 25.44% | 25.23% | ||||||
| Eli Lilly & Co. | 42.22% | 43.63% | 40.35% | 38.84% | 32.37% | 28.74% | 28.64% | 24.81% | 23.28% | 20.80% | 18.92% | 18.42% | 24.17% | 22.45% | 24.97% | 24.65% | 25.50% | 25.94% | ||||||
| Gilead Sciences Inc. | -8.37% | 35.46% | 34.66% | 36.75% | 28.03% | 28.77% | 5.81% | 2.92% | 9.26% | 5.79% | 28.24% | 30.37% | 31.18% | 33.03% | 27.17% | 22.39% | 25.78% | 26.56% | ||||||
| Johnson & Johnson | 26.47% | 26.39% | 26.85% | 25.44% | 23.67% | 23.59% | 23.42% | 24.42% | 25.31% | 25.04% | 24.90% | 25.55% | 25.61% | 25.21% | 24.63% | 23.89% | 23.47% | 23.76% | ||||||
| Pfizer Inc. | 21.70% | 22.96% | 22.76% | 21.85% | 23.23% | 19.29% | 19.51% | 9.56% | -4.19% | -2.08% | 2.15% | 14.36% | 28.13% | 34.44% | 34.83% | 33.59% | 30.37% | 26.12% | ||||||
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 24.74% | 24.32% | 24.95% | 25.89% | 27.02% | 27.20% | 28.10% | 28.69% | 28.95% | 29.40% | 30.85% | 32.23% | 34.20% | 35.79% | 38.93% | 45.45% | 48.19% | 55.08% | ||||||
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 17.58% | 17.46% | 17.38% | 17.16% | 17.13% | 17.23% | 17.11% | 16.93% | 17.01% | 16.38% | 16.00% | 15.81% | 15.42% | 16.29% | 18.69% | 20.54% | 22.51% | 23.83% | ||||||
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 37.95% | 38.31% | 34.77% | 34.06% | 34.36% | -6.69% | -2.11% | -2.54% | -3.37% | 41.16% | 38.83% | 40.16% | 41.72% | 43.93% | 48.23% | 47.72% | 48.85% | 36.93% | ||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31).
1 Q2 2026 Calculation
Operating profit margin = 100
× (Operating income (loss)Q2 2026
+ Operating income (loss)Q1 2026
+ Operating income (loss)Q4 2025
+ Operating income (loss)Q3 2025)
÷ (SalesQ2 2026
+ SalesQ1 2026
+ SalesQ4 2025
+ SalesQ3 2025)
= 100 × (-584 + -3,396 + 3,851 + 6,507)
÷ (16,607 + 16,286 + 16,400 + 17,276)
= 9.58%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The financial performance between March 2022 and June 2026 is characterized by significant volatility in operating efficiency despite a generally steady trajectory in sales revenue.
- Revenue Trends
- Sales demonstrated a gradual overall increase, rising from 15,901 million USD in March 2022 to a peak of 17,276 million USD in September 2025. Revenue remained relatively resilient throughout the period, consistently staying above 13,800 million USD.
- Operating Profit Margin Volatility
- The operating profit margin experienced extreme fluctuations. After maintaining a range between 28.85% and 33.04% during 2022, the margin declined sharply in 2023, reaching a period low of 3.92% in December 2023. This decline was driven by substantial operating losses, most notably in June 2023, when operating income fell to negative 5,163 million USD.
- Recovery and Peak Performance
- A recovery phase is evident throughout 2024 and 2025. The operating profit margin returned to historical norms, peaking at 33.73% in September 2025, which coincided with the highest recorded quarterly operating income of 6,507 million USD. During this window, the margin typically stabilized between 21% and 31%.
- Recent Margin Contraction
- A sharp downward trend occurred in the first half of 2026. The operating profit margin contracted from 32.64% in December 2025 to 18.18% in March 2026, further declining to 9.58% by June 2026. This deterioration is attributed to a return to negative operating income, specifically a loss of 3,396 million USD in March 2026.
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Net Profit Margin
Merck & Co. Inc., net profit margin calculation (quarterly data)
| Jun 30, 2026 | Mar 31, 2026 | Dec 31, 2025 | Sep 30, 2025 | Jun 30, 2025 | Mar 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 | Jun 30, 2024 | Mar 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc. | (1,335) | (4,240) | 2,963) | 5,785) | 4,427) | 5,079) | 3,743) | 3,157) | 5,455) | 4,762) | (1,226) | 4,745) | (5,975) | 2,821) | 3,017) | 3,248) | 3,944) | 4,310) | ||||||
| Sales | 16,607) | 16,286) | 16,400) | 17,276) | 15,806) | 15,529) | 15,624) | 16,657) | 16,112) | 15,775) | 14,631) | 15,962) | 15,035) | 14,487) | 13,830) | 14,959) | 14,593) | 15,901) | ||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net profit margin1 | 4.77% | 13.59% | 28.08% | 29.63% | 25.79% | 27.27% | 26.68% | 19.23% | 21.98% | 3.76% | 0.61% | 7.77% | 5.34% | 22.52% | 24.49% | 25.88% | 29.00% | 26.27% | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AbbVie Inc. | 9.80% | 5.79% | 6.91% | 4.00% | 6.45% | 7.31% | 7.59% | 9.22% | 9.71% | 11.02% | 8.95% | 11.81% | 15.50% | 13.37% | 20.39% | 23.19% | 22.04% | 22.00% | ||||||
| Amgen Inc. | 24.11% | 21.98% | 21.94% | 20.31% | 19.75% | 18.10% | 12.77% | 13.58% | 10.60% | 13.35% | 24.96% | 29.52% | 31.52% | 31.77% | 26.42% | 27.88% | 26.73% | 23.42% | ||||||
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 18.87% | 15.01% | 14.64% | 12.57% | 10.58% | 11.38% | -18.53% | -15.30% | -14.06% | -13.50% | 17.83% | 18.44% | 17.62% | 15.95% | 13.71% | 14.29% | 14.04% | 13.31% | ||||||
| Danaher Corp. | 15.95% | 14.89% | 14.71% | 14.43% | 14.21% | 15.81% | 16.33% | 16.39% | 17.83% | 18.54% | 19.94% | 22.89% | 22.80% | 23.32% | 22.91% | 21.65% | 20.61% | 21.32% | ||||||
| Eli Lilly & Co. | 33.53% | 34.99% | 31.67% | 30.99% | 25.91% | 22.66% | 23.51% | 20.48% | 18.86% | 17.08% | 15.36% | 15.55% | 22.01% | 20.54% | 21.88% | 20.63% | 19.58% | 20.90% | ||||||
| Gilead Sciences Inc. | -10.86% | 31.51% | 29.43% | 28.41% | 21.98% | 20.87% | 1.68% | 0.45% | 3.82% | 1.78% | 21.03% | 21.60% | 20.18% | 20.87% | 17.02% | 12.44% | 15.22% | 16.60% | ||||||
| Johnson & Johnson | 21.48% | 21.83% | 28.46% | 27.26% | 25.00% | 24.41% | 15.84% | 16.74% | 43.91% | 44.92% | 41.28% | 39.58% | 14.52% | 13.77% | 18.90% | 19.95% | 19.21% | 20.90% | ||||||
| Pfizer Inc. | 6.80% | 11.83% | 12.42% | 15.65% | 16.84% | 12.62% | 12.62% | 7.04% | -4.62% | -0.55% | 3.56% | 15.13% | 27.38% | 31.19% | 31.27% | 29.81% | 28.94% | 27.01% | ||||||
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 27.86% | 29.65% | 31.41% | 32.13% | 31.37% | 31.94% | 31.07% | 33.61% | 32.04% | 29.45% | 30.14% | 30.47% | 33.93% | 33.81% | 35.64% | 39.17% | 39.97% | 48.06% | ||||||
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 15.04% | 15.15% | 15.05% | 15.02% | 15.23% | 15.18% | 14.77% | 14.48% | 14.69% | 14.20% | 13.99% | 13.68% | 13.14% | 13.75% | 15.47% | 15.92% | 17.37% | 18.49% | ||||||
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 35.00% | 35.51% | 32.94% | 31.35% | 31.86% | -8.91% | -4.86% | -4.52% | -4.74% | 39.46% | 36.68% | 35.94% | 35.40% | 35.40% | 37.20% | 37.62% | 38.26% | 30.84% | ||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31).
1 Q2 2026 Calculation
Net profit margin = 100
× (Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.Q2 2026
+ Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.Q1 2026
+ Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.Q4 2025
+ Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.Q3 2025)
÷ (SalesQ2 2026
+ SalesQ1 2026
+ SalesQ4 2025
+ SalesQ3 2025)
= 100 × (-1,335 + -4,240 + 2,963 + 5,785)
÷ (16,607 + 16,286 + 16,400 + 17,276)
= 4.77%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The analysis of net profit margins reveals a pattern of significant volatility characterized by periods of high stability interrupted by sharp, episodic declines. While sales have generally trended upward, moving from approximately 15.9 billion USD in early 2022 to a peak of 17.3 billion USD in late 2025, net income has experienced extreme fluctuations that have decoupled profitability from revenue growth.
- Baseline Stability (2022)
- During 2022, the net profit margin remained consistently high, fluctuating within a narrow range between 24.49% and 29.00%. This period indicates a strong correlation between sales and net income, reflecting stable operational efficiency.
- First Volatility Cycle (2023)
- A severe contraction in profitability occurred throughout 2023. Despite sales remaining stable or increasing, the net profit margin plummeted to 5.34% in June 2023 and reached a low of 0.61% by December 2023. This divergence suggests the impact of substantial non-operational losses or one-time charges that heavily offset revenue gains.
- Recovery and Optimization (2024–2025)
- Profitability recovered significantly starting in 2024, with margins returning to the 19% to 27% range. This recovery culminated in 2025, where the net profit margin peaked at 29.63% in September 2025, indicating a restoration of earnings power and efficient cost management relative to sales growth.
- Secondary Decline (2026)
- A second period of sharp deterioration is observed in the first half of 2026. Net profit margins dropped to 13.59% in March 2026 and further declined to 4.77% by June 2026. This downturn is driven by a return to negative net income, occurring despite sales remaining robust at 16.6 billion USD.
Overall, the profitability profile is marked by cyclical instability. The recurrence of sharp margin compression in 2023 and 2026, despite a general upward trend in sales, indicates that net income is susceptible to significant periodic shocks that outweigh organic revenue growth.
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Return on Equity (ROE)
Merck & Co. Inc., ROE calculation (quarterly data)
| Jun 30, 2026 | Mar 31, 2026 | Dec 31, 2025 | Sep 30, 2025 | Jun 30, 2025 | Mar 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 | Jun 30, 2024 | Mar 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc. | (1,335) | (4,240) | 2,963) | 5,785) | 4,427) | 5,079) | 3,743) | 3,157) | 5,455) | 4,762) | (1,226) | 4,745) | (5,975) | 2,821) | 3,017) | 3,248) | 3,944) | 4,310) | ||||||
| Total Merck & Co., Inc. stockholders’ equity | 41,933) | 45,878) | 52,606) | 51,850) | 48,993) | 48,335) | 46,313) | 44,502) | 43,582) | 40,364) | 37,581) | 41,246) | 38,693) | 46,834) | 45,991) | 44,458) | 43,243) | 40,883) | ||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROE1 | 7.57% | 19.48% | 34.70% | 36.71% | 33.49% | 36.07% | 36.96% | 27.30% | 31.52% | 5.71% | 0.97% | 11.17% | 8.04% | 27.82% | 31.57% | 34.32% | 38.34% | 34.68% | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROE, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AbbVie Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | 295.42% | 128.66% | 84.91% | 78.77% | 74.85% | 46.94% | 53.86% | 67.50% | 57.14% | 68.60% | 83.83% | 86.24% | 76.64% | ||||||
| Amgen Inc. | 74.80% | 84.87% | 89.06% | 72.82% | 89.11% | 95.59% | 69.59% | 56.20% | 52.83% | 74.93% | 107.78% | 98.82% | 117.67% | 148.04% | 178.97% | 187.11% | 271.85% | 624.78% | ||||||
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 41.59% | 36.25% | 38.19% | 32.55% | 28.96% | 31.16% | -54.78% | -42.34% | -38.44% | -37.28% | 27.27% | 28.57% | 24.91% | 22.97% | 20.37% | 20.44% | 20.30% | 19.79% | ||||||
| Danaher Corp. | 7.61% | 6.97% | 6.88% | 6.86% | 6.52% | 7.40% | 7.87% | 7.59% | 8.42% | 8.24% | 8.91% | 11.29% | 12.30% | 13.47% | 14.39% | 14.40% | 13.63% | 13.93% | ||||||
| Eli Lilly & Co. | 78.84% | 81.02% | 77.78% | 77.38% | 75.52% | 70.45% | 74.62% | 58.78% | 54.14% | 47.91% | 48.65% | 44.46% | 58.73% | 50.82% | 58.64% | 59.91% | 66.61% | 65.69% | ||||||
| Gilead Sciences Inc. | -27.39% | 39.19% | 37.48% | 37.65% | 32.08% | 31.13% | 2.48% | 0.69% | 5.77% | 2.77% | 24.81% | 26.33% | 25.92% | 26.59% | 21.62% | 15.82% | 20.44% | 22.66% | ||||||
| Johnson & Johnson | 24.76% | 25.92% | 32.87% | 31.69% | 28.88% | 27.92% | 19.68% | 20.93% | 53.14% | 54.95% | 51.11% | 48.61% | 17.37% | 17.95% | 23.36% | 25.68% | 24.05% | 26.54% | ||||||
| Pfizer Inc. | 5.09% | 8.31% | 8.99% | 10.59% | 12.12% | 8.73% | 9.11% | 4.61% | -2.96% | -0.33% | 2.38% | 10.81% | 21.68% | 28.77% | 32.79% | 32.14% | 33.61% | 30.29% | ||||||
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 13.65% | 14.08% | 14.41% | 14.79% | 14.89% | 15.31% | 15.03% | 15.87% | 15.32% | 14.29% | 15.22% | 16.03% | 17.90% | 17.80% | 19.14% | 25.05% | 27.49% | 39.84% | ||||||
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 13.23% | 13.19% | 12.55% | 12.88% | 13.03% | 13.19% | 12.78% | 12.52% | 13.12% | 13.26% | 12.83% | 13.11% | 13.08% | 14.26% | 15.80% | 16.15% | 17.59% | 18.56% | ||||||
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 21.76% | 22.41% | 21.18% | 21.22% | 21.18% | -5.99% | -3.26% | -3.07% | -3.32% | 21.67% | 20.59% | 21.01% | 21.75% | 22.59% | 23.88% | 25.12% | 26.77% | 22.47% | ||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31).
1 Q2 2026 Calculation
ROE = 100
× (Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.Q2 2026
+ Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.Q1 2026
+ Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.Q4 2025
+ Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.Q3 2025)
÷ Total Merck & Co., Inc. stockholders’ equity
= 100 × (-1,335 + -4,240 + 2,963 + 5,785)
÷ 41,933 = 7.57%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The return on equity (ROE) exhibits significant volatility over the analyzed period, characterized by cycles of high profitability interrupted by sharp contractions. The performance is closely linked to fluctuations in net income, which experienced several quarters of negative values, thereby disrupting the overall trajectory of equity returns.
- ROE Volatility and Net Income Correlation
- A direct correlation is observed between quarterly net income and ROE fluctuations. Peak ROE levels were recorded in June 2022 (38.34%) and December 2024 (36.96%). Conversely, substantial declines occurred in June 2023 (8.04%) and December 2023 (0.97%), coinciding with net losses of US$ 5,975 million and US$ 1,226 million, respectively. A similar downward trend emerged in the first half of 2026, where ROE fell to 7.57% following consecutive quarters of negative net income.
- Equity Base Trends
- Stockholders' equity demonstrated a general upward trend for the majority of the period, increasing from US$ 40,883 million in March 2022 to a peak of US$ 52,606 million in December 2025. However, this growth reversed in the first half of 2026, with equity declining to US$ 41,933 million by June 30, 2026, reflecting the erosion of the capital base due to reported net losses.
- Analysis of Performance Cycles
- The results reveal three distinct operational phases. The first phase, throughout 2022, was characterized by high and relatively stable ROE. The second phase, in 2023, was marked by extreme instability and sharp troughs. The third phase, spanning 2024 and 2025, represented a recovery period where ROE remained consistently above 30% for seven consecutive quarters. This period of stability concluded in early 2026, signaling a return to high volatility.
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Return on Assets (ROA)
Merck & Co. Inc., ROA calculation (quarterly data)
| Jun 30, 2026 | Mar 31, 2026 | Dec 31, 2025 | Sep 30, 2025 | Jun 30, 2025 | Mar 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 | Jun 30, 2024 | Mar 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc. | (1,335) | (4,240) | 2,963) | 5,785) | 4,427) | 5,079) | 3,743) | 3,157) | 5,455) | 4,762) | (1,226) | 4,745) | (5,975) | 2,821) | 3,017) | 3,248) | 3,944) | 4,310) | ||||||
| Total assets | 129,802) | 128,685) | 136,866) | 129,546) | 117,523) | 115,122) | 117,106) | 117,532) | 112,630) | 105,849) | 106,675) | 106,727) | 104,469) | 107,796) | 109,160) | 107,081) | 107,095) | 106,668) | ||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROA1 | 2.44% | 6.94% | 13.34% | 14.69% | 13.96% | 15.14% | 14.62% | 10.34% | 12.20% | 2.18% | 0.34% | 4.32% | 2.98% | 12.09% | 13.30% | 14.25% | 15.48% | 13.29% | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROA, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AbbVie Inc. | 4.67% | 2.66% | 3.15% | 1.78% | 2.74% | 3.08% | 3.17% | 3.57% | 3.76% | 4.03% | 3.61% | 4.78% | 6.42% | 5.64% | 8.53% | 9.49% | 8.83% | 8.71% | ||||||
| Amgen Inc. | 9.14% | 8.43% | 8.51% | 7.77% | 7.53% | 6.64% | 4.45% | 4.65% | 3.44% | 4.05% | 6.91% | 8.36% | 8.84% | 8.92% | 10.06% | 10.73% | 11.09% | 9.67% | ||||||
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 10.59% | 8.41% | 7.83% | 6.23% | 5.33% | 5.86% | -9.66% | -7.75% | -6.91% | -6.21% | 8.43% | 9.08% | 8.52% | 7.75% | 6.53% | 6.80% | 6.59% | 6.07% | ||||||
| Danaher Corp. | 4.33% | 4.42% | 4.33% | 4.38% | 4.18% | 4.76% | 5.03% | 4.83% | 5.35% | 5.28% | 5.64% | 6.74% | 7.49% | 8.15% | 8.55% | 8.35% | 7.76% | 7.74% | ||||||
| Eli Lilly & Co. | 18.77% | 21.68% | 18.35% | 16.02% | 13.67% | 12.42% | 13.45% | 11.07% | 10.22% | 9.60% | 8.19% | 8.61% | 11.85% | 10.70% | 12.62% | 12.71% | 12.09% | 13.06% | ||||||
| Gilead Sciences Inc. | -6.56% | 16.38% | 14.42% | 13.86% | 11.33% | 10.57% | 0.81% | 0.23% | 1.97% | 0.86% | 9.12% | 9.42% | 8.80% | 9.02% | 7.27% | 5.33% | 6.58% | 7.16% | ||||||
| Johnson & Johnson | 10.46% | 10.47% | 13.46% | 13.03% | 11.72% | 11.26% | 7.81% | 8.24% | 20.99% | 22.37% | 20.98% | 20.85% | 6.81% | 6.49% | 9.57% | 10.94% | 10.33% | 11.12% | ||||||
| Pfizer Inc. | 2.15% | 3.61% | 3.73% | 4.71% | 5.22% | 3.79% | 3.76% | 1.94% | -1.20% | -0.14% | 0.94% | 4.87% | 9.75% | 14.85% | 15.91% | 15.32% | 15.01% | 13.58% | ||||||
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 10.37% | 10.82% | 11.11% | 11.40% | 11.67% | 11.98% | 11.69% | 12.43% | 11.98% | 11.22% | 11.95% | 12.41% | 14.02% | 13.91% | 14.85% | 19.40% | 20.90% | 30.11% | ||||||
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 6.16% | 6.05% | 6.08% | 6.38% | 6.50% | 6.58% | 6.51% | 6.11% | 6.32% | 6.21% | 6.07% | 6.12% | 6.08% | 6.36% | 7.15% | 7.77% | 8.21% | 8.20% | ||||||
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 16.06% | 16.38% | 15.42% | 14.78% | 15.13% | -4.32% | -2.38% | -2.16% | -2.43% | 16.81% | 15.92% | 15.97% | 16.54% | 17.18% | 18.30% | 19.59% | 20.50% | 17.19% | ||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31).
1 Q2 2026 Calculation
ROA = 100
× (Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.Q2 2026
+ Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.Q1 2026
+ Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.Q4 2025
+ Net income (loss) attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.Q3 2025)
÷ Total assets
= 100 × (-1,335 + -4,240 + 2,963 + 5,785)
÷ 129,802 = 2.44%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The return on assets (ROA) exhibits significant volatility over the analyzed period from March 2022 to June 2026. This instability is primarily driven by substantial fluctuations in quarterly net income, contrasting with a general upward trend in the total asset base.
- Profitability Volatility and Downturns
- The ROA experienced two distinct periods of sharp decline. The first occurred throughout 2023, where the ratio plummeted from 12.09% in March to a low of 0.34% by December, coinciding with significant net losses in June and December of that year. A second downturn is observed in the first half of 2026, where ROA fell from 13.34% in December 2025 to 2.44% by June 2026, reflecting consecutive quarters of negative net income.
- Recovery and Performance Peaks
- A strong recovery phase was evident between March 2024 and December 2025. After a low of 2.18% in March 2024, the ROA surged to 15.14% by December 2024. Performance remained robust through much of 2025, with the ratio consistently staying above 13%, peaking at 14.69% in September 2025. This indicates a period of high efficiency in utilizing assets to generate profit before the 2026 decline.
- Asset Base Expansion
- Total assets demonstrated a general growth trajectory, increasing from 106,668 million USD in March 2022 to 129,802 million USD by June 2026. Despite this expansion of the balance sheet, the ROA did not scale proportionally, suggesting that the increase in assets did not provide a stabilized or linear increase in profitability.
- Correlation Between Net Income and ROA
- There is a direct and tight correlation between the fluctuations in net income and the ROA. The periods of lowest ROA correspond exactly with quarters of negative net income (June 2023, December 2023, March 2026, and June 2026), while the peaks in ROA align with quarters where net income exceeded 4,000 million USD.
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