Head-to-head · free
Abbott Laboratories vs Merck
ABT vs MRK — return on capital, cash generation, margins and balance sheet side by side.
ABT
1 / 10
measures where ABT leads
MRK
9 / 10
measures where MRK leads
A simple count of which company scores better on each measure — not a recommendation to buy or sell.
| Measure | ABT · FY2025 | MRK · FY2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $44.3B | $65.0B |
| Net income | $6.5B | $18.3B |
| Revenue growth (yearly, multi-year) | 0.7% | 7.5% |
| Free cash flow | $7.4B | $12.4B |
| Free cash flow margin | 16.7% | 19.0% |
| Net cash / (debt) | — | — |
| ROIC | 9.6% | 19.0% |
| Return on equity | 13.1% | 36.9% |
| Gross margin | 56.4% | 74.8% |
| Operating margin | 18.2% | 34.0% |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.39x | 1.29x |
Figures are as reported by each company; latest fiscal year shown.
Where Abbott Laboratories's cash went (FY2025)
- Capital spending
- $2.2B
- Buybacks
- —
- Dividends
- —
- Acquisitions
- —
- Net debt issued / (repaid)
- —
Where Merck's cash went (FY2025)
- Capital spending
- $4.1B
- Buybacks
- —
- Dividends
- —
- Acquisitions
- —
- Net debt issued / (repaid)
- —
Ask which business is stronger
"Which one reinvests at higher returns?" "Who carries more risk in its filings?" Get answers drawn straight from both companies' filings.
Compare them free