For \(j= 1,2,3,4,5\), let \(f_j\) be a nonconstant meromorphic function in the plane for which \(\overline N(r, f_j)+\overline N(r,1/f_j)= S(r, f_j)\) in the notation of Nevanlinna theory. Assume none of the products \(f_1 f_2\), \(f_2f_3\), \(f_3f_4\), \(_4f_5\) and \(f_5f_1\) is identically one. Let \(\tau_5= \limsup\{\overline N_0(r)/T(r)|r\to\infty\), \(r\not\in E\) a set of finite linear measure}, where \(\overline N_0(r)\) is the counting function ignoring multiplicity of all common zeros of \(f_j(z)- 1\) \((1\leq j\leq 5)\) and \(T(r)= \sum^5_{j=1} T(r, f_j)\). If \(\tau_5> 1/7\), then the author shows at least 4 of the \(f_j\) functions are equal. The paper also presents a theorem on shared values for six functions meromorphic in the plane.