Merck Leads Dow Gains, Goldman Sachs Slumps

Merck shares lead the Dow Jones Industrial Average, up 1.2% in early trading, while Goldman Sachs Group lags, down 2.7%. American Express and McDonald's also move, down 2.5% and up 0.7%, respectively. Merck has lost 14.4% YTD, while Goldman Sachs has gained 26.6%.

Title: Merck Shares Lead Dow Jones Industrial Average; Goldman Sachs Lagging

September 02, 2025

In early trading on September 2, Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) led the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) with a 1.2% increase, while The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) lagged with a 2.7% decline. American Express Company (AXP) and McDonald's Corporation (MCD) also moved, with AXP down 2.5% and MCD up 0.7%. Merck has seen a 14.4% year-to-date (YTD) loss, while Goldman Sachs has gained 26.6% YTD.

Merck, known for its strong dividend history, has been recognized as the "Top Dividend Stock of the Dow" by Dividend Channel [1]. The company's recent share price of $84.07 represents a price-to-book ratio of 4.3 and an annual dividend yield of 3.9%, significantly higher than the average dividend-paying stock in the Dow, which yields 2.1% and trades at a price-to-book ratio of 12.7 [1].

Goldman Sachs, valued at nearly $225.6 billion by market cap, has been outperforming the Dow. The stock touched its all-time high of $753.33 on August 28 and has since traded 1.1% below that peak. Over the past three months, GS stock prices have surged 23.2%, notably outperforming the Dow's 7.9% surge during the same period. The stock has also seen impressive long-term growth, with a 30.2% increase year-to-date and a 48.1% gain over the past 52 weeks, outpacing the Dow's 7.1% and 10.8% gains respectively [2].

American Express stock reached an all-time high of $329.34 USD, reflecting a robust 27.21% increase over the past year and 11.08% year-to-date returns. The company's revenue growth and strong financial metrics have contributed to this performance [4].

References

[1] https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/mrks-strong-dividend-history-helps-it-reach-top-dividend-stock-dow
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/goldman-sachs-stock-outperforming-dow-065539869.html
[3] https://www.marketwatch.com/data-news/goldman-sachs-amazon-com-inc-share-losses-contribute-to-dow-s-nearly-550-point-drop-05b2b32a-8d0f0195633b
[4] https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/american-express-stock-hits-alltime-high-at-32934-usd-93CH-4216818