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A vs MRK

A
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
NEUTRAL
Price
$135.05
Market Cap
$38.29B
Sector
Healthcare
AI Confidence
78%
MRK
Merck & Co., Inc.
NEUTRAL
Price
$121.25
Market Cap
$299.79B
Sector
Healthcare
AI Confidence
90%

Valuation

P/E Ratio
A
30.28
MRK
16.66
Forward P/E
A
20.63
MRK
12.42
P/B Ratio
A
5.67
MRK
5.7
P/S Ratio
A
5.51
MRK
4.61
EV/EBITDA
A
20.47
MRK
11.46

Profitability

Gross Margin
A
52.43%
MRK
77.21%
Operating Margin
A
26.38%
MRK
32.77%
Profit Margin
A
18.75%
MRK
28.08%
ROE
A
20.62%
MRK
36.88%
ROA
A
8.48%
MRK
12.04%

Growth

Revenue Growth
A
9.4%
MRK
5.0%
Earnings Growth
A
24.5%
MRK
-19.3%

Financial Health

Debt/Equity
A
0.53
MRK
0.96
Current Ratio
A
1.96
MRK
1.54
Quick Ratio
A
1.44
MRK
0.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield
A
0.74%
MRK
2.83%
Payout Ratio
A
21.71%
MRK
45.05%

AI Verdict

A NEUTRAL

Agilent Technologies exhibits strong fundamental health with a Piotroski F-Score of 8/9, indicating robust accounting strength, and solid profitability metrics including an ROE of 20.62% and operating margin of 26.38%. The company is growing revenue and earnings at double-digit rates, supported by consistent earnings beat rates and strong cash flow generation, though key financial data like Altman Z-Score and cash/debt figures are missing. However, the stock trades at a premium valuation (P/E of 30.28 vs sector average of 215 but with much lower growth than peers), and insider selling activity raises caution. While analysts are bullish with a $169.67 target price, the technical trend is bearish and recent price performance has been weak over the past year despite a short-term rebound.

Strengths
Exceptional Piotroski F-Score of 8/9 indicates high-quality financial statements and strong operational efficiency
High profitability with ROE above 20%, operating margin near 26.4%, and gross margin over 52%
Solid earnings growth momentum: YoY EPS growth of 24.5% and Q/Q growth of 23.6%
Risks
Missing Altman Z-Score prevents full assessment of bankruptcy risk; potential red flag
Premium valuation: P/E of 30.28 exceeds forward P/E of 20.63 and may not fully reflect slowing growth
Bearish technical trend (0/100) and negative 1Y price return (-10.7%) suggest weak market sentiment
MRK NEUTRAL

MRK shows neutral fundamentals based on deterministic rules. Financial strength is weak (F-Score 3/9). Mixed signals with both opportunities and risks present.

Strengths
Strong profitability (28.1% margin)
Strong ROE of 36.9%
Risks
Premium vs Graham Number ($59.01)
Weak financial trend (Piotroski F-Score: 3/9)

Compare Another Pair

A vs MRK: Head-to-Head Comparison

This page compares Agilent Technologies, Inc. (A) and Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) across key fundamental metrics including valuation ratios, profitability margins, growth rates, financial health indicators, and dividend metrics. Each metric highlights the better-performing stock so you can quickly identify relative strengths and weaknesses.

Our AI engine independently analyzes each company's financials, competitive position, and market conditions to produce a verdict (Bullish, Neutral, or Bearish) along with key strengths and risks. Use this comparison alongside your own research to make informed investment decisions.

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