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Hexagon AB (publ) vs Merck KGaA: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

Structurally, Hexagon AB (publ) and Merck KGaA are closely matched — neither holds a meaningful edge overall. Merck KGaA still has the edge on profitability, which keeps the comparison from looking entirely one-sided. The market setup is currently leaning toward Merck KGaA, which does not confirm the structural lead.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels. Both peer scores are relative to the STOXX 600 universe, making them directly comparable.

Updated 2026-06-14

On profitability, the clearer edge sits with Merck KGaA, while the broader score remains level.

Trajectory Similarity
0.61
Moderately similar
Peer-set rank: #12
within Hexagon AB (publ)'s functional peer set

This pair is matched through long-term financial trajectory similarity within the selected peer universe.

The pair shares a valid long-term profile match, but the trajectories are not especially close.

The match is driven mainly by revenue stability and margin trend.

Similarity drivers
revenue stabilitymargin trend
How to read the score
0.85–1.00 · Very similar0.70–0.84 · Similar0.55–0.69 · Moderately similarbelow 0.55 · Loose match
Peer-Relative Score
HEXA-B.ST
Hexagon AB (publ)
56
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium
Peer basis: STOXX 600
vs
MRK.DE
Merck KGaA
56
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium
Peer basis: STOXX 600

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

The clearest separation appears in profitability.

Dimension spread: HEXA-B.ST vs MRK.DE Profitability 29 84 Stability 39 47 Valuation 88 51 Growth 66 30 HEXA-B.ST MRK.DE
Gap Ranking
#1 Profitability +55
#2 Valuation +37
#3 Growth +36
#4 Stability +8
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for HEXA-B.ST and MRK.DE Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer HEXA-B.STMRK.DE Relative valuation Structural strength

Merck KGaA occupies the cheaper side of the setup map, although Hexagon AB (publ) still holds the stronger structural profile.

Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Profitability
On profitability, Merck KGaA ranks near the top of the group; Hexagon AB (publ) sits in the weaker half.
Valuation
On valuation, the edge is clear — both rank well, but Hexagon AB (publ) sits noticeably higher.
Profitability — Dominant Gap
HEXA-B.ST
29
MRK.DE
84
Gap+55in favour of MRK.DE

Return on equity adds support too, with a 9.4-point advantage.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

The market setup is mixed for both, so the structural comparison carries most of the weight here.

What this means for the comparison

The lead is built on both profitability and valuation — though profitability still provides a counterweight.

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Break down the HEXA-B.ST vs MRK.DE comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

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Explore how HEXA-B.ST and MRK.DE each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Because scores are peer-relative, the same company can have slightly different scores in different index universes. On comparison pages, both companies are shown within their shared peer universe wherever possible — so the scores are directly comparable. The peer basis is stated on each score card.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.