Is ISRG or MRK cheaper?

On trailing earnings, MRK is cheaper: ISRG trades at a 50.49 P/E and MRK at 32.37.

Which has grown faster, ISRG or MRK?

Over the past five years, ISRG grew revenue faster — ISRG at a 18.39% CAGR versus MRK at 8.60%.

Does ISRG or MRK pay a bigger dividend?

MRK pays a dividend (3.63% yield) while ISRG does not currently pay one.

Is ISRG or MRK more profitable?

ISRG runs the higher net margin — ISRG at 28.15% versus MRK at 13.62%.

Which has been the better investment, ISRG or MRK?

Over the past 10-year, ISRG delivered the higher annualized total return — ISRG at 19.24% versus MRK at 11.31%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK)

MRK leads on 11 of 15 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 15, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

ISRG

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

Total return — ISRG vs MRK

growth of $100 · last 26y

ISRG +20419.7%MRK +69.7%ISRG compounded faster

Log scale — wide-divergence pair

ISRG MRK

ISRG vs MRK: by the numbers

•MRK is the larger company ($283.78B vs $147.53B market cap).
•MRK trades at the lower earnings multiple (32.37 vs 50.49 P/E).
•ISRG converts more revenue to profit (28.15% vs 13.62% net margin).
•ISRG grew revenue faster over the past five years (18.39% vs 8.60% CAGR).
•MRK pays a dividend (3.63% yield) while ISRG does not currently pay one.

Which is better, ISRG or MRK?

Metric tally: ISRG 4 · MRK 11

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueMRK(lower P/E)

GrowthISRG(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

QualityMRK(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	ISRG	MRK
P/E ratio	50.49	32.37●
Forward P/E	35.38	11.92●
P/S ratio	14.16	4.33●
P/B ratio	8.58	6.19●
PEG ratio	3.17	1.81●
EV / EBITDA	35.89	18.99●
FCF yield	1.89%	4.97%●

Profitability

Metric	ISRG	MRK
Gross margin	66.29%	75.91%●
Operating margin	30.45%●	27.59%
Net margin	28.15%●	13.62%
ROE	17.05%	19.48%●
ROIC	13.71%	18.27%●

Dividends

Metric	ISRG	MRK
Dividend yield	—	3.63%
Payout ratio	—	57.12%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	ISRG	MRK
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	18.39%●	8.60%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	21.51%	21.21%
FCF CAGR (5Y)	16.61%●	15.69%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	7.45%	12.14%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, ISRG or MRK?: It depends on your goal. value: MRK (lower P/E); growth: ISRG (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); quality: MRK (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, MRK leads 11 to 4.
Is ISRG or MRK cheaper?: On trailing earnings, MRK is cheaper: ISRG trades at a 50.49 P/E and MRK at 32.37.
Which has grown faster, ISRG or MRK?: Over the past five years, ISRG grew revenue faster — ISRG at a 18.39% CAGR versus MRK at 8.60%.
Does ISRG or MRK pay a bigger dividend?: MRK pays a dividend (3.63% yield) while ISRG does not currently pay one.
Is ISRG or MRK more profitable?: ISRG runs the higher net margin — ISRG at 28.15% versus MRK at 13.62%.
Which has been the better investment, ISRG or MRK?: Over the past 10-year, ISRG delivered the higher annualized total return — ISRG at 19.24% versus MRK at 11.31%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full ISRG analysis Full MRK analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Intuitive Surgical P/E ratio Merck & P/E ratio Intuitive Surgical dividend yield Merck & dividend yield Intuitive Surgical ROE Merck & ROE Intuitive Surgical operating margin Merck & operating margin Intuitive Surgical revenue growth Merck & revenue growth Intuitive Surgical free cash flow Merck & free cash flow

Intuitive Surgical & Merck & appear in these rankings

Highest Dividend Yield Stocks Fastest Revenue Growth Stocks Highest ROIC Stocks Highest Operating Margin Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 15, 2026.