Merck Outshines Pfizer and J&J (NYSE:MRK),(NYSE:JNJ),(NYSE:PFE)

While it is true that in terms of sheer size (i.e. Market Cap), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) outweigh Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK).  Although as investors, we care more about our own money than we do about the company’s market cap.  Over the past year, Merck has helped the investors' bottom line the most, posting a 47.6% return over the past 12 months as compared with 16.6% and 42.7% for J&J and Pfizer, respectively.

Speaking strictly in term of a dividend yield, Merck again outpaces its DJIA 30 competition, edging it out by a small margin at 3.74% while J&J holds 3.00% and Pfizer is at 3.60%.  Merck is a strong company and likely will continue to pay its investors good dividends over the years. 

So, you may not be convinced of Merck, so let’s look at some technical indicators. Yes, all of the technical indicators are on BUY for Merck.  Then, checking the best performing technical indicator, the 50 - 100 Day MACD Oscillator, we see that it indeed has a BUY signal with Maximum strength and with the Strongest direction.  If you are on the fence about buying Merck, this may just push to that one side you needed for decision time.  True technical indicators alone should not make your decision, but if you are interested in a stock and the technical indicators are all “buy”, that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Merck & Co., Inc. provides products for human and animal health primarily in the United States. The company's Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products, such as therapeutic and preventive agents and boasts many pharmaceutical drugs with patents.