Compare Stocks › MRK vs WMT
Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) vs Walmart Inc. (WMT)
MRK
Merck & Co., Inc.
$114.20
VS
WMT
Walmart Inc.
$121.09
Rewards
MRK
- ★Gross margin of 77.2% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Dividend yield of 2.98% with a consistent or growing payout over the past 4 years.
- ★Management has timed buybacks well — 2 out of 3 years showed value-accretive repurchases.
WMT
- ★Walmart Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
- ★Walmart Inc. scores 88/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $14.77 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
Risks
MRK
- ⚠12 insider sales totaling $40.7M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
- ⚠Free cash flow has declined at a 5.6% CAGR over the past 4 years — a concerning trend.
WMT
- ⚠Gross margin of 24.9% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
- ⚠FCF yield of 1.5% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
- ⚠19 insider sales totaling $893.3M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →MRK
WMT
Valuation
$11.89B
Free Cash Flow
$14.92B
4.21%
FCF Yield
1.55%
15.71
Trailing P/E
44.52
11.68
Forward P/E
36.87
Quality & Moat
16.31%
ROIC
14.74%
34.66%
ROE
20.62%
77.21%
Gross Margin
24.93%
N/A
PEG Ratio
N/A
Balance Sheet Safety
0.96
Debt / Equity
0.64
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
1.24
Net Debt / EBITDA
1.31
2.98%
Dividend Yield
0.82%
MRK: 8Ties: 1WMT: 2
MRKWMT
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →MRK
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
WMT
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
$1 Retained Earnings Test
Learn more →MRK
$-1.72
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Market Cap Declined
Σ Retained
$12.28B
Δ Market Cap
$-21.09B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
WMT
$14.77
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$36.51B
Δ Market Cap
+$539.31B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
Learn more →MRK
78.1% Margin of Safety
Price is 78.1% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $114.20
Strongly undervalued
Fairly valued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $522.23
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
WMT
71.7% Overvalued
Price is 71.7% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $121.09
Strongly undervalued
Fairly valued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $70.54
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →MRK
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $114?
+5.8%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +11.7%
The market implies +5.8% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.
Standard FCF implies +11.7%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.
WMT
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $121?
+19.3%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +24.6%
The market implies +19.3% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.
Standard FCF implies a more demanding +24.6%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →MRK
68/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving margin stability would strengthen the moat.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
WMT
88/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Revenue Predictability is the standout factor.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →MRK
-2.31
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
WMT
-2.55
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Ownership Breakdown
Learn more →MRK
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 81.4%Retail & Other 18.6%
No. of Institutional Holders4,575
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
WMT
Insiders 45.0%Institutions 38.9%Retail & Other 16.1%
No. of Institutional Holders5,261
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
Insider Buying Activity
Learn more →MRK
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
THULIN INGE G
Director
$250,000
@ $88.28 · 2025-02-06
BAKER DOUGLAS M JR
Director
$1.33M
@ $88.50 · 2025-02-05
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
WMT
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →MRK
12
Sells (3M)
15
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $42.39M
GUINDO CHIRFI
Officer
$1.21M
@ $121.46 · 2026-02-12
LI DEAN Y
Officer
$1.20M
@ $117.52 · 2026-02-10
GUINDO CHIRFI
Officer
$1.18M
@ $118.41 · 2026-02-09
ZACHARY JENNIFER L
General Counsel
$14.49M
@ $119.15 · 2026-02-09
DELUCA RICHARD ROBERT JR.
Officer
$4.56M
@ $120.92 · 2026-02-06
OOSTHUIZEN JOHANNES JACOBUS
Officer
$1.83M
@ $121.87 · 2026-02-06
WILLIAMS DAVID MICHAEL
Chief Technology Officer
$609,525
@ $121.91 · 2026-02-06
GUINDO CHIRFI
Officer
$2.44M
@ $121.88 · 2026-02-05
DAVIS ROBERT M
Chief Executive Officer
$5.60M
@ $118.04 · 2026-02-04
SMART DALTON E. III
Officer
$765,920
@ $119.67 · 2026-02-04
LI DEAN Y
Officer
$1.79M
@ $118.77 · 2026-02-04
LITCHFIELD CAROLINE
Chief Financial Officer
$5.02M
@ $119.61 · 2026-02-04
DOWNING CRISTAL N.
Officer
$616,395
@ $87.00 · 2025-11-10
WILLIAMS DAVID MICHAEL
Chief Technology Officer
$720,040
@ $83.59 · 2025-11-03
SMART DALTON E. III
Officer
$352,723
@ $82.76 · 2025-04-25
OOSTHUIZEN JOHANNES JACOBUS
Officer
$714,745
@ $84.09 · 2025-02-19
WILLIAMS DAVID MICHAEL
Chief Technology Officer
$512,057
@ $85.34 · 2025-02-13
DOWNING CRISTAL N.
Officer
$209,551
@ $88.76 · 2025-02-06
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
WMT
19
Sells (3M)
75
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $4.07B
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$167,328
@ $126.29 · 2026-03-16
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$344.73M
@ $124.02 · 2026-03-11
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$136.45M
@ $128.14 · 2026-03-04
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$2.56M
@ $127.79 · 2026-03-02
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$220.13M
@ $127.74 · 2026-02-27
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Director
$2.46M
@ $126.71 · 2026-02-26
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$159.84M
@ $125.93 · 2026-02-25
WATKINS LATRIECE
Officer
$1.21M
@ $121.46 · 2026-02-20
NICHOLAS CHRISTOPHER JAMES
Officer
$4.16M
@ $122.00 · 2026-02-20
FURNER JOHN R
Chief Executive Officer
$1.69M
@ $129.10 · 2026-02-19
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$167,179
@ $133.21 · 2026-02-17
MORRIS DONNA
Officer
$9.43M
@ $123.79 · 2026-02-03
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$2.45M
@ $122.27 · 2026-02-02
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.31M
@ $119.17 · 2026-01-22
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.57M
@ $119.99 · 2026-01-15
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,560
@ $120.00 · 2026-01-15
DANKER DANIEL
Officer
$524,629
@ $120.19 · 2026-01-14
MORRIS DONNA
Officer
$1.13M
@ $120.19 · 2026-01-14
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.17M
@ $111.83 · 2025-12-26
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$460,840
@ $115.21 · 2025-12-19
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$99.64M
@ $114.26 · 2025-12-19
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.51M
@ $114.91 · 2025-12-18
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$30.10M
@ $115.31 · 2025-12-16
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,725
@ $117.00 · 2025-12-15
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$244,706
@ $111.23 · 2025-12-01
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.13M
@ $109.57 · 2025-11-28
CHOJNOWSKI DAVID
Officer
$746,550
@ $106.65 · 2025-11-25
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$439.27M
@ $105.96 · 2025-11-21
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.37M
@ $104.75 · 2025-11-20
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$406,520
@ $101.63 · 2025-11-19
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$167,205
@ $102.58 · 2025-11-17
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$222,602
@ $101.18 · 2025-11-03
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.08M
@ $107.18 · 2025-10-23
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$431,000
@ $107.75 · 2025-10-20
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.41M
@ $107.78 · 2025-10-16
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,563
@ $107.46 · 2025-10-15
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$222,933
@ $101.33 · 2025-10-01
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.00M
@ $103.21 · 2025-09-25
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$415,320
@ $103.83 · 2025-09-19
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.36M
@ $103.74 · 2025-09-18
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$247.15M
@ $103.45 · 2025-09-16
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,973
@ $103.71 · 2025-09-15
KUMAR SURESH
Chief Technology Officer
$3.10M
@ $103.47 · 2025-09-12
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$214,221
@ $97.37 · 2025-09-02
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$244.67M
@ $96.42 · 2025-08-29
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.86M
@ $95.97 · 2025-08-28
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$151.91M
@ $96.67 · 2025-08-26
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.29M
@ $98.55 · 2025-08-21
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$403,840
@ $100.96 · 2025-08-19
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,124
@ $100.38 · 2025-08-15
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$216,258
@ $98.30 · 2025-08-01
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.86M
@ $95.58 · 2025-07-24
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$380,560
@ $95.14 · 2025-07-21
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.25M
@ $95.14 · 2025-07-17
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,726
@ $95.60 · 2025-07-15
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$216,565
@ $98.44 · 2025-07-01
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$36.92M
@ $97.52 · 2025-06-27
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.89M
@ $97.19 · 2025-06-26
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$329.64M
@ $98.21 · 2025-06-25
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$380,960
@ $95.24 · 2025-06-20
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.26M
@ $95.85 · 2025-06-20
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,795
@ $94.77 · 2025-06-16
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$100.43M
@ $98.85 · 2025-06-02
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$217,800
@ $99.00 · 2025-06-02
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$467.81M
@ $97.30 · 2025-05-29
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$248.94M
@ $96.41 · 2025-05-23
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.82M
@ $96.58 · 2025-05-22
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$3.10M
@ $96.97 · 2025-05-21
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$740.91M
@ $97.95 · 2025-05-20
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,721
@ $93.77 · 2025-05-15
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$214,223
@ $97.37 · 2025-05-01
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.74M
@ $94.19 · 2025-04-24
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$374,000
@ $93.50 · 2025-04-21
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,883
@ $94.82 · 2025-04-15
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$195,043
@ $88.66 · 2025-04-01
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.
🎭 Mr. Market's Mood
Learn more →MRK
😐Neutral(54/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
WMT
😐Neutral(56/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
⚖️ Buffett Signal
Learn more →MRK
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (54)
WMT
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (56)