Is MCK or VRTX cheaper?

On trailing earnings, MCK is cheaper: MCK trades at a 19.51 P/E and VRTX at 26.79.

Which has grown faster, MCK or VRTX?

Over the past five years, VRTX grew revenue faster — MCK at a 11.11% CAGR versus VRTX at 13.82%.

Does MCK or VRTX pay a bigger dividend?

MCK pays a dividend (0.44% yield) while VRTX does not currently pay one.

Is MCK or VRTX more profitable?

VRTX runs the higher net margin — MCK at 1.18% versus VRTX at 35.40%.

Which has been the better investment, MCK or VRTX?

Over the past 10-year, VRTX delivered the higher annualized total return — MCK at 16.38% versus VRTX at 17.94%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

McKesson Corporation (MCK) vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX)

MCK leads on 10 of 15 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of McKesson Corporation and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 19, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

$114.63B

$451.63Healthcare

Total return — MCK vs VRTX

growth of $100 · last 30y

MCK +3003.1%VRTX +2861.5%MCK compounded faster

MCK VRTX

MCK vs VRTX: by the numbers

•VRTX is the larger company ($114.63B vs $87.88B market cap).
•MCK trades at the lower earnings multiple (19.51 vs 26.79 P/E).
•VRTX converts more revenue to profit (35.40% vs 1.18% net margin).
•VRTX grew revenue faster over the past five years (13.82% vs 11.11% CAGR).
•MCK pays a dividend (0.44% yield) while VRTX does not currently pay one.

Which is better, MCK or VRTX?

Metric tally: MCK 10 · VRTX 5

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueMCK(lower P/E)

GrowthVRTX(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

QualityMCK(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	MCK	VRTX
P/E ratio	19.51●	26.79
Forward P/E	14.90●	20.89
P/S ratio	0.23●	9.45
P/B ratio	—	5.98
PEG ratio	0.46●	3.28
EV / EBITDA	13.79●	20.82
FCF yield	6.44%●	3.21%

Profitability

Metric	MCK	VRTX
Gross margin	3.61%	86.28%●
Operating margin	1.58%	38.97%●
Net margin	1.18%	35.40%●
ROE	-219.24%	22.41%●
ROIC	31.48%●	18.12%

Dividends

Metric	MCK	VRTX
Dividend yield	0.44%	—
Payout ratio	8.51%	—

Growth (annualized)

Metric	MCK	VRTX
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	11.11%	13.82%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	40.71%●	8.17%
FCF CAGR (5Y)	8.76%●	4.01%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	33.07%●	19.18%

Frequently asked

Which is better, MCK or VRTX?: It depends on your goal. value: MCK (lower P/E); growth: VRTX (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); quality: MCK (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, MCK leads 10 to 5.
Is MCK or VRTX cheaper?: On trailing earnings, MCK is cheaper: MCK trades at a 19.51 P/E and VRTX at 26.79.
Which has grown faster, MCK or VRTX?: Over the past five years, VRTX grew revenue faster — MCK at a 11.11% CAGR versus VRTX at 13.82%.
Does MCK or VRTX pay a bigger dividend?: MCK pays a dividend (0.44% yield) while VRTX does not currently pay one.
Is MCK or VRTX more profitable?: VRTX runs the higher net margin — MCK at 1.18% versus VRTX at 35.40%.
Which has been the better investment, MCK or VRTX?: Over the past 10-year, VRTX delivered the higher annualized total return — MCK at 16.38% versus VRTX at 17.94%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full MCK analysis Full VRTX analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

McKesson P/E ratio Vertex Pharmaceuticals P/E ratio McKesson dividend yield Vertex Pharmaceuticals dividend yield McKesson ROE Vertex Pharmaceuticals ROE McKesson operating margin Vertex Pharmaceuticals operating margin McKesson revenue growth Vertex Pharmaceuticals revenue growth McKesson free cash flow Vertex Pharmaceuticals free cash flow

McKesson & Vertex Pharmaceuticals appear in these rankings

Highest ROIC Stocks Highest Operating Margin Stocks Highest FCF Yield Stocks Best 10-Year Total Return 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 19, 2026.