ASML vs MRK: Which Is the Better Buy?
Side-by-side comparison of ASML Holding N.V. and Merck & Co., Inc. — fair value, conviction, valuation metrics, and QuantHub research signals.
Updated 2026-05-20.
ASML Holding N.V. · Technology
$1,458.97
+45.0% upside to fair value
Grade B
High Quality
VS
Merck & Co., Inc. · Healthcare
$114.27
+3.3% upside to fair value
Grade C
High Quality
QuantHub Verdict
ASML has more upside to fair value
(+45.0%).
MRK trades at a lower forward P/E
(22.4x).
These are model outputs — not personalized investment advice.
See all research →
Valuation & Fundamentals
| Metric |
ASML |
MRK |
| Current Price |
$1,458.97 |
$114.27 |
| Fair Value Estimate |
$2,115.51 |
$118.00 |
| Upside to Fair Value |
+45.0%
|
+3.3%
|
| Market Cap |
$562.3B |
$282.2B |
| Forward P/E |
48.3x
|
22.4x
|
| EV / EBITDA |
37.6x
|
13.5x
|
| Price / Sales |
14.4x
|
4.3x
|
| Price / FCF |
54.4x
|
20.2x
|
| Revenue Growth YoY |
+13.2%
|
+5.0%
|
| Gross Margin |
52.6%
|
81.9%
|
| Operating Margin |
34.8%
|
27.5%
|
| Return on Equity |
52.0%
|
5.6%
|
| Dividend Yield |
0% |
2.91% |
| FCF Yield |
1.84%
|
4.95%
|
| Analyst Consensus |
Strong Buy
|
Overweight
|
Investment Thesis
ASML Holding N.V. is a leading technology company specializing in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, particularly extreme ultraviolet lithography machines which hold a near-monopoly position. The company benefits from a durable competitive moat driven by its technological leadership, high barriers to entry, and strong demand from semiconductor manufacturers globally, especially in China. Desp…
Merck delivered a clean Q1 2026 operational beat on April 30, with revenue of 16.3 billion dollars growing 5 percent year over year and Keytruda sales rising 12 percent to 8.0 billion dollars. The reported loss of 1.28 dollars per share, though better than the negative 1.47 dollar consensus estimate, reflected a 3.62 dollar per share IPR and D charge tied to the Cidara Therapeutics acquisition an…
Accumulation Zones
| Metric |
ASML |
MRK |
| Zone Low |
$1,586.63 |
$88.50 |
| Zone High |
$1,798.18 |
$100.30 |
| In Buy Zone? |
Yes
|
No
|