ABBV vs MRK Stock Comparison
ABBV currently leads MRK in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 56 vs 45. The clearest difference is momentum.
What is the main difference between ABBV and MRK?
ABBV leads the current stock comparison as AbbVie Inc., with the clearest separation coming from momentum and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
AbbVie Inc. vs Merck & Co., Inc.
ABBV leads
ABBV leads by 11 AIQ points, primarily on Momentum and Quality.
Fragile: 3 of 6 evidence groups support ABBV, and its current signal state is conflicted.
AbbVie Inc.
Merck & Co., Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors ABBV over MRK, 56 versus 45 as of Oct 21, 2026. ABBV's advantage is driven primarily by stronger momentum and quality. ABBV also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor ABBV today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. ABBV lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 11 points over 30 sessions.
Compare AbbVie Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare ABBV and MRK against another ticker
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AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Momentum84 vs 66ABBV +18
- Quality60 vs 47ABBV +13
- Value36 vs 27ABBV +9
- Risk Resilience44 vs 44Even
3 of 6 evidence groups favor ABBV. ABBV’s edge is concentrated in momentum and quality.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
Largest factor move: Momentum +1, not enough on its own to move the overall score.
New signals
- Keltner Channel Breakout — bullish, volatility, short horizon
Largest factor move: Momentum +25
New signals
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
- MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
ABBV's lead narrowed by 6 AIQ points in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — ABBV and MRK both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
ABBV (AbbVie Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by momentum and quality.
MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.): the counter-case, on fundamentals — but at materially higher volatility, 29.9% against 20.9%.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
ABBVABBV on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
MRKMRK on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
ABBVABBV on the peer-relative Value factor, by 9 points.
Momentum
ABBVABBV on the Momentum factor, by 18 points.
Lower downside
ABBVABBV carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility.
Analyst upside
EvenAnalyst targets are level or not covered for both names.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | ABBV | MRK | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +0.9% | +1.3% | Level |
| Target dispersion | +29.6% | +49.4% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 14 | 18 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | ABBV | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 6.81% | 5.75% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $4.720 | $2.480 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $6.560 | $3.280 |
| Years increased | 5 | 5 |
| No cut in window | Yes | Yes |
| Cohort rank | #196 | #221 |
ABBV grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 6.81% a year against MRK's 5.75%. Neither company reduced its regular dividend in any year of the window.
Yield and payout ratio shown elsewhere on this page are current values, not part of the study window.
Split-adjusted regular dividends per share, 2020–2025, excluding special dividends. Research as of Sep 19, 2026.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor ABBV. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | ABBV | 56 vs 45 |
| Fundamentals | MRKon balance | revenue growth 13.3% vs 2%; EPS growth 4.2% vs 68.6%; TTM ROE -136.5% vs 6.6%; gross margin 71.5% vs 75.4%; operating margin 29.3% vs 16.7% — MRK takes 3 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | ABBV | Value 36 vs 27 |
| Technicals | ABBV | Price vs 50-day 7.9% vs 2.8%; vs 200-day 21.9% vs 18.4% |
| Risk Resilience | Even | Risk Resilience 44 vs 44 |
| Analyst expectations | Even | Target upside 0.9% vs 1.3% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of ABBV and MRK and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is moderate at 11 points.
- Only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on ABBV.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20ABBV lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 11 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- ABBV +11
- 56 vs 45
- 7 sessions ago
- ABBV +14
- 57 vs 43
- 30 sessions ago
- ABBV +9
- 55 vs 46
- 90 sessions ago
- MRK +4
- 46 vs 50
The lead changed hands 3 times in this window, most recently on Sep 9 when ABBV moved ahead of MRK.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
6 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
Only ABBV
- Keltner Channel Breakout — bullish, volatility, short horizon
- RSI Overbought — bearish, momentum, short horizon
- 52-Week High Proximity — bullish, risk, long horizon (0.1%)
4 bullish / 0 bearish
No signal that the other name lacks.
Both carry 4 more signals that do not separate them: Golden Cross Active, EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish, Uptrend Structure Active, MACD Bullish Crossover.
ABBV leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price -1.48%, AIQ 0 points).
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +1.07%, AIQ +6 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1MRK closes the Momentum gap — currently 18 points behind, the largest single contributor to ABBV's edge.
- 2MRK's existing bullish trend signals translate into factor-score gains — the rules are already firing, but the scores have not yet followed.
- 3ABBV's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 6 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
MRK leads on balance| Metric | ABBV | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 13.3% | 2% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 4.2% | 68.6% |
| Gross margin | 71.5% | 75.4% |
| Operating margin | 29.3% | 16.7% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | -136.5% | 6.6% |
| Debt to equity | -11.93 | 1.29 |
Performance
Split across windows| Metric | ABBV | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 5.4% | 4.5% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | 9% | -1.7% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 14.1% | 16.3% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 37.3% | 31.8% |
| Year to date | 25.3% | 40.9% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 27.4% | 76.7% |
Technicals
ABBV has the stronger structure| Metric | ABBV | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 77.5 | 54.6 |
| ADX (14) | 33.9 | 15.5 |
| Price vs 50-day | 7.9% | 2.8% |
| Price vs 200-day | 21.9% | 18.4% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 20.9% | 29.9% |
Risk
Split| Metric | ABBV | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | -0.14 | 0.12 |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.87 | 1.91 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.39 | 3.71 |
| Max drawdown | -16.5% | -11.9% |
| Current drawdown | 0% | -5.2% |
| Annualized volatility | 25.9% | 29.7% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.4% | -2.4% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, ABBV or MRK?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, ABBV is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 56 against MRK's 45. The edge comes from momentum and quality. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is ABBV or MRK the better buy right now?
ABBV carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor ABBV over MRK?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. ABBV leads Momentum by 18 points; ABBV leads Quality by 13 points; ABBV leads Value by 9 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, ABBV or MRK?
Analyst price targets imply +0.9% upside for ABBV and +1.3% for MRK. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, ABBV or MRK?
ABBV is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. ABBV on the peer-relative Value factor, by 9 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, ABBV or MRK?
MRK on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, ABBV or MRK?
ABBV on the Momentum factor, by 18 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, ABBV or MRK?
ABBV is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. ABBV carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is ABBV more profitable than MRK?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 71.5% vs 75.4%; operating margin 29.3% vs 16.7%; ttm roe -136.5% vs 6.6%. ABBV leads on one measure and MRK on two measures, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is ABBV's lead over MRK getting stronger or weaker?
ABBV lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 11 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has changed hands 3 times in that window, most recently on 2026-09-09, when ABBV moved ahead of MRK.
What would change the ABBV vs MRK verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: MRK closes the Momentum gap — currently 18 points behind, the largest single contributor to ABBV's edge; MRK's existing bullish trend signals translate into factor-score gains — the rules are already firing, but the scores have not yet followed; ABBV's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 6 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about ABBV and MRK?
ABBV: 6 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. MRK: 4 bullish / 0 bearish. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on ABBV is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On MRK it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare ABBV and MRK with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.