Operating
Stock-Based Comp
Merck & Co. Stock-Based Comp increased by 0.5% to $205.00M in Q4 2025 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 9.6%, from $187.00M to $205.00M. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Stock-Based Comp shows an upward trend with a 14.4% CAGR.
Analysis
StatementCash Flow Statement
SectionOperating
CategoryCapital Allocation
SignalContext dependent
VolatilityModerate
First reportedQ4 2013
Last reportedQ4 2025
How to read this metric
An increase may signal a strategy to preserve cash or align employee interests with shareholders, but it also results in share dilution.
Detailed definition
Stock-based compensation is a non-cash expense where employees and executives are rewarded with equity or stock options...
Peer comparison
High-growth technology firms often have higher stock-based compensation as a percentage of revenue compared to mature industrial firms.
Metric ID:
cf_stock_based_compensationHistorical Data
19 periods
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $123.00M | $117.00M | $119.00M | $120.00M | $137.00M | $139.00M | $145.00M | $145.00M | $169.00M | $164.00M | $167.00M | $176.00M | $203.00M | $195.00M | $187.00M | $195.00M | $216.00M | $204.00M | $205.00M |
| QoQ Change | — | -4.9% | +1.7% | +0.8% | +14.2% | +1.5% | +4.3% | +0.0% | +16.6% | -3.0% | +1.8% | +5.4% | +15.3% | -3.9% | -4.1% | +4.3% | +10.8% | -5.6% | +0.5% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +11.4% | +18.8% | +21.8% | +20.8% | +23.4% | +18.0% | +15.2% | +21.4% | +20.1% | +18.9% | +12.0% | +10.8% | +6.4% | +4.6% | +9.6% |
Range$117.00M – $216.00M
CAGR+12.0%
Avg YoY Growth+15.5%
Median YoY Growth+18.0%
Stock-Based Comp at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Merck & Co.'s stock-based comp?
- Merck & Co. (MRK) reported stock-based comp of $205.00M in Q4 2025.
- How has Merck & Co.'s stock-based comp changed year-over-year?
- Merck & Co.'s stock-based comp increased by 9.6% year-over-year, from $187.00M to $205.00M.
- What is the long-term trend for Merck & Co.'s stock-based comp?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Merck & Co.'s stock-based comp has grown at a 14.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $479.00M to $820.00M.
- What does stock-based comp mean?
- The value of company shares given to employees as part of their pay.