TAK vs AZN vs MRK Stock Comparison

Takeda Pharmaceutical, Astrazeneca and Merck Prices as of Nov 4, 2026 Peers: Industry group
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AZN Astrazeneca Plc
$189.15 +20.8% 1M +15.3% 1Y
Market cap
$293.18B
P/E
26.6x
Revenue (TTM)
$59.37B
Div. yield
1.26%
Pharmaceuticals Healthcare
7 wins
MRK Merck & Co., Inc.
$150.37 +7.8% 1M +79.3% 1Y
Market cap
$370.99B
P/E
117.1x
Revenue (TTM)
$66.57B
Div. yield
2.26%
Pharmaceuticals Healthcare
4 wins

Head to Head

12 decided of 12

Astrazeneca leads on 7 of the 12 questions below (Astrazeneca 7, Merck 4, Takeda Pharmaceutical 1). Which ones matter depends on what you are buying for; a cheap multiple and slow growth often come together.

QuestionTAKAZNMRKLeader
Larger companyMarket capitalisation $67.05B $293.18B $370.99B MRK
Cheaper on earningsLower P/E, profitable companies only 210.2x 26.6x 117.1x AZN
Cheaper on forward earningsLower price / next fiscal year consensus EPS 52.7x 18.9x 60.6x AZN
Faster revenue growthRevenue growth, trailing twelve months -35.4% +7.8% +4.6% AZN
More profitableNet margin, trailing twelve months 1.1% 18.6% 4.8% AZN
Better return on capitalReturn on invested capital 0.0% 24.1% 3.6% AZN
Less leveragedLower net debt / EBITDA 4.8x -0.9x 3.6x AZN
Higher dividend yieldTrailing dividend yield 1.47% 1.26% 2.26% MRK
Better 1-year returnPrice return, last 12 months +55.4% +15.3% +79.3% MRK
Better 5-year returnAnnualised price return, 5 years +8.1%/yr +8.4%/yr +13.0%/yr MRK
Less volatileAnnualised volatility, 1 year 21.4% 28.5% 29.9% TAK
Higher overall scoreMean of the five percentile scores vs peers 60/100 74/100 61/100 AZN

Percentile Scorecard

TAKAZNMRK

Each axis is the mean percentile of its metrics against the company's industry group. 100 is the best in the group, 50 the middle.

Scores by Axis

AxisTAKAZNMRK
Valuation 96 #27 of 634 85 #95 of 634 80 #130 of 634
Growth 12 #533 of 607 60 #246 of 607 37 #386 of 607
Profitability 86 #79 of 557 94 #37 of 557 91 #53 of 557
Financial Health 33 #436 of 654 66 #222 of 654 21 #520 of 654
Shareholder Returns 72 #111 of 400 67 #131 of 400 79 #83 of 400
Overall 60 74 61
  • TAK ranked among 671 companies in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
  • AZN ranked among 671 companies in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
  • MRK ranked among 671 companies in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology

Price Performance

Price return, split-adjusted, before dividends. Click a name to hide or show it.

Returns

PeriodTAKAZNMRKSPY
1 month +18.2%+20.8%+7.8% -1.0%
3 months +25.9%+17.1%+17.2% -0.4%
6 months +26.0%+2.3%+32.4% +4.5%
Year to date +35.2%+2.9%+42.9% +12.4%
1 year +55.4%+15.3%+79.3% +13.6%
3 years +50.4%+47.9%+45.5% +76.4%
3 years, per year +14.6%+13.9%+13.3% +20.8%
5 years +47.9%+49.9%+84.3% +63.7%
5 years, per year +8.1%+8.4%+13.0% +10.4%
10 years -4.8%+241.9%+155.6% +267.7%
10 years, per year -0.5%+13.1%+9.8% +13.9%

Risk

MeasureTAKAZNMRKSPY
Volatility, 1Y 21.4%28.5%29.9% 12.8%
Downside volatility, 1Y 19.1%27.2%24.3% 12.7%
Beta vs S&P 500, 1Y 0.050.150.13 1.00
Return / volatility, 1Y 2.590.542.66 1.06
Max drawdown, 5Y -26.4%-27.9%-44.7% -25.4%
From 52-week high 0.0%-9.7%-3.9% -1.6%
52-week high $21.07$209.48$156.45 $779.14
52-week low $13.56$155.60$83.86 $631.97

Valuation History

Weekly multiples on trailing twelve-month fundamentals. Negative or extreme readings (a loss year, a collapsed denominator) are left out so the chart stays readable.

MultipleTAKAZNMRK
P/E now vs peer median 210.2xmedian 18.0x 26.6xmedian 18.0x 117.1xmedian 18.0x
P/S now vs peer median 2.2xmedian 9.1x 4.9xmedian 9.1x 5.6xmedian 9.1x
EV/EBITDA now vs peer median 17.1xmedian 16.2x 12.9xmedian 16.2x 31.9xmedian 16.2x
P/FCF now vs peer median 14.7xmedian 21.7x 27.6xmedian 21.7x 23.1xmedian 21.7x
P/B now vs peer median 1.4xmedian 2.2x 5.7xmedian 2.2x 8.8xmedian 2.2x
PEG now vs peer median -3.62median 0.38 1.15median 0.38 73.68median 0.38

Financial History

Reported figures by fiscal period, placed on the calendar year (or quarter) each period ended in, so companies with different fiscal years line up.

Trailing twelve monthsTAKAZNMRK
Revenue $30.00B $59.37B $66.57B
Gross profit $19.76B $51.12B $48.57B
Operating income $1.13B $14.78B $6.38B
Net income $244.16M $11.03B $3.17B
Free cash flow $4.55B $10.63B $16.06B
R&D $4.51B $15.30B $30.45B
EPS (diluted) $0.10 $7.06 $1.28
Cash & equivalents $2.66B $7.94B $6.85B
Total debt $31.49B -$11.96B $53.91B
Shares (diluted) 3.15B 1.56B 2.47B
Enterprise value $45.27B $267.16B $325.42B

All Metrics

58 metrics · best in bold

Bold marks the best reading: the lowest positive value for multiples, leverage and payout, the highest for everything else. The bar under each value is its percentile against that company's own peers. Hover a value for its rank and the peer median.

Valuation

12 metrics
MetricTAKAZNMRK
P/E 210.2x 26.6x 117.1x
P/FCF 14.7x 27.6x 23.1x
P/Operating cash flow 11.9x 22.2x 18.6x
P/S 2.2x 4.9x 5.6x
P/B 1.4x 5.7x 8.8x
P/Tangible book 2.5x 21.5x 21.8x
EV/EBITDA 17.1x 12.9x 31.9x
EV/EBIT 82.4x 18.5x 65.5x
EV/Revenue 3.1x 4.6x 6.3x
EV/FCF 20.5x 25.7x 26.0x
EV/Operating cash flow 16.6x 20.7x 20.9x
PEG (3Y EPS CAGR) -3.62 1.15 73.68

Growth

14 metrics
MetricTAKAZNMRK
Revenue growth (1Y) -35.4% 7.8% 4.6%
Revenue CAGR (3Y) -13.1% 10.3% 4.5%
Gross profit growth (1Y) -36.3% 6.7% -0.3%
Gross profit CAGR (3Y) -13.3% 12.3% 4.5%
Operating income growth (1Y) -76.7% 15.4% -66.6%
Operating income CAGR (3Y) -43.6% 22.4% 1.9%
Net income growth (1Y) -6.2% 17.3% -80.7%
Net income CAGR (3Y) -44.1% 23.2% 0.5%
EPS growth (1Y) -86.9% 17.5% -80.3%
EPS CAGR (3Y) -58.1% 23.2% 1.6%
Operating cash flow growth (1Y) -30.2% -12.6% 7.7%
Operating cash flow CAGR (3Y) -6.9% – 9.8%
Free cash flow growth (1Y) -31.3% -22.8% 9.1%
Free cash flow CAGR (3Y) -8.4% – 14.0%

Profitability

14 metrics
MetricTAKAZNMRK
Gross margin 65.9% 86.1% 73.0%
EBITDA margin 18.2% 35.7% 19.7%
Operating margin 3.8% 24.9% 9.6%
Pretax margin 0.3% 22.4% 8.9%
Net margin 1.1% 18.6% 4.8%
FCF margin 15.2% 17.9% 24.1%
Operating cash flow margin 18.7% 22.3% 30.0%
Return on equity 0.7% 21.6% 7.2%
Return on assets 0.3% 9.4% 2.5%
Return on invested capital 0.0% 24.1% 3.6%
Return on capital employed 1.2% 9.9% 6.3%
Asset turnover 0.3x 0.5x 0.5x
Cash conversion (OCF / net income) 23.0x 1.2x 6.3x
Stock comp / revenue 1.6% – 1.3%

Financial Health

11 metrics
MetricTAKAZNMRK
Debt / assets 32.5% -10.0% 41.5%
Debt / equity 0.7x -0.2x 1.3x
Net debt / EBITDA 4.8x -0.9x 3.6x
Debt / FCF 6.9x -1.1x 3.4x
Liabilities / assets 51.4% 56.8% 67.7%
Equity / assets 48.6% 43.2% 32.3%
Interest coverage 0.6x 16.1x –
Current ratio 3.1x -1.0x 1.3x
Quick ratio 1.8x -0.8x 0.7x
Cash ratio 0.9x -0.3x 0.3x
Altman Z-score 1.39 4.28 3.97

Shareholder Returns

7 metrics
MetricTAKAZNMRK
Dividend yield 1.5% 1.3% 2.3%
Net buyback yield 1.0% 0.0% 1.1%
Shareholder yield 2.4% 1.2% 3.3%
Payout ratio (earnings) – – 261.8%
Payout ratio (FCF) – – 51.7%
Dividend growth (1Y) – – 3.3%
Dividend CAGR (3Y) – – 4.7%

Analyst Estimates

Solid lines are reported fiscal-year results; dashed lines are the consensus for the years ahead. Hover a year for the analysts' high and low, and how each result compared with its estimate.

ConsensusTAKAZNMRK
Forward P/E 52.7xFY2026 18.9xFY2026 60.6xFY2026
EPS, next fiscal year $0.40FY2026 $10.00FY2026 $2.48FY2026
EPS growth, next FY +5.3%FY2026 +9.2%FY2026 -72.4%FY2026
EPS growth, the year after +62.5% +6.1% +257.3%
Revenue, next fiscal year $28.27BFY2026 $59.02BFY2026 $69.45BFY2026
Revenue growth, next FY -0.8%FY2026 +0.5%FY2026 +6.8%FY2026
Revenue growth, the year after +11.9% +8.0% -3.8%

Institutional Ownership

13F filings, quarter ended Jun 30, 2026
HoldersTAKAZNMRK
Held by institutions 65.5% 52.1% 79.9%
Institutions holding 380 1,498 3,803
Change in shares held, QoQ +6.2% +7.8% +2.6%
Institutions buying 214 809 1,844
Institutions selling 98 469 1,468
Buyers to sellers 2.18 1.72 1.26

Return Correlation

Daily returns, last 12 months

1.00 means two stocks move in lockstep, 0 that they move independently. Pairs below about 0.5 diversify each other.

TAKAZNMRK
TAK 1.00 0.55 0.42
AZN 0.55 1.00 0.51
MRK 0.42 0.51 1.00

Add a Peer

Largest companies in the same industry

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is bigger, TAK, AZN and MRK?

Merck (MRK) is the largest by market capitalisation: Takeda Pharmaceutical (TAK) $67.05B, Astrazeneca (AZN) $293.18B, Merck (MRK) $370.99B.

Which stock is cheaper, TAK, AZN and MRK?

Astrazeneca (AZN) trades on the lowest price-to-earnings ratio (Takeda Pharmaceutical (TAK) 210.2x, Astrazeneca (AZN) 26.6x, Merck (MRK) 117.1x). On next year's consensus earnings, Astrazeneca (AZN) is cheapest (Takeda Pharmaceutical (TAK) 52.7x, Astrazeneca (AZN) 18.9x, Merck (MRK) 60.6x). A lower multiple can reflect slower expected growth, so read it next to the growth figures.

Which company is growing faster?

Astrazeneca (AZN) grew revenue fastest over the trailing twelve months: Takeda Pharmaceutical (TAK) -35.4%, Astrazeneca (AZN) +7.8%, Merck (MRK) +4.6%.

Which company is more profitable?

Astrazeneca (AZN) has the highest net margin (Takeda Pharmaceutical (TAK) 1.1%, Astrazeneca (AZN) 18.6%, Merck (MRK) 4.8%). On return on invested capital, Astrazeneca (AZN) leads (Takeda Pharmaceutical (TAK) 0.0%, Astrazeneca (AZN) 24.1%, Merck (MRK) 3.6%).

Which stock has performed better?

Over the past year Merck (MRK) returned the most: Takeda Pharmaceutical (TAK) +55.4%, Astrazeneca (AZN) +15.3%, Merck (MRK) +79.3%. Over five years, Merck (MRK) compounded fastest (Takeda Pharmaceutical (TAK) +8.1%/yr, Astrazeneca (AZN) +8.4%/yr, Merck (MRK) +13.0%/yr). Returns are price only, before dividends.

Which pays a higher dividend?

Merck (MRK) has the highest dividend yield: Takeda Pharmaceutical (TAK) 1.47%, Astrazeneca (AZN) 1.26%, Merck (MRK) 2.26%.

Which stock is riskier?

By one-year price volatility, Takeda Pharmaceutical (TAK) has been the steadiest (Takeda Pharmaceutical (TAK) 21.4%, Astrazeneca (AZN) 28.5%, Merck (MRK) 29.9%). Volatility measures how widely the price swings, not the risk of the business.

Which is the better stock, TAK, AZN and MRK?

There is no single answer; it depends on what you are buying for. On the 12 head-to-head measures on this page, Astrazeneca (AZN) leads on 7. Business Quant does not give investment advice; use the comparison as a starting point for your own research.

Data from SEC filings, exchange prices and consensus estimates, via Business Quant. Percentile scores compare each company with its own peer group, so two companies' scores are each relative to different peers unless you rank against the whole market. Price returns exclude dividends. Nothing on this page is investment advice.