Which Dow Jones Stock Is Cheaper, Amgen or Merck?

Core Viewpoint - Amgen has outperformed Merck in 2025, with a year-to-date return of 21%, while Merck's shares have declined by 8% [1] Valuation Comparison - The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is a key metric for assessing stock valuation, with a lower P/E indicating a cheaper stock relative to earnings [2] - Amgen's projected P/E ratio for 2025 is 15, while Merck's is 10, making Merck appear cheaper [3] - Merck also offers a larger dividend yield of 3.4% compared to Amgen's 2.9% [3] Growth Potential - Amgen is experiencing stronger growth, with a 19% year-over-year revenue increase in 2024, significantly higher than Merck's 7% [5] - Amgen's portfolio includes multiple best-in-class products, and there is anticipation for its experimental obesity drug, MariTide, which is entering phase 3 trials [5] Challenges Facing Merck - Merck is facing challenges such as disappointing sales for its Gardasil vaccine and uncertainty regarding the loss of patent exclusivity for its Keytruda cancer drug, which are negatively impacting its stock price [6]