Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) Stock Price Target Raised at Scotiabank

Key Points

• Scotiabank raised Merck’s price target to $180 from $155 while maintaining a “sector outperform” rating, implying 22.81% upside from the stock’s $146.57 price.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive, with 16 Buy ratings and 11 Holds producing a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and average target price of $145.76.
• Merck’s latest quarterly results beat expectations, with adjusted EPS of $(0.13) versus $(0.26) expected and revenue of $16.61 billion versus $16.37 billion forecast; however, insiders sold nearly $30 million of stock over the past 90 days.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by stock analysts at Scotiabank from $155.00 to $180.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a "sector outperform" rating on the stock. Scotiabank's price target indicates a potential upside of 22.81% from the company's current price.

MRK has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, September 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a "neutral" rating and set a $120.00 price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Monday, July 6th. CICC Research initiated coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Wednesday, June 24th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $138.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, Berenberg Bank increased their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $127.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, September 11th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $145.76.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Down 1.4%

NYSE:MRK traded down $2.12 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $146.57. 1,375,664 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,703,549. The stock has a market cap of $361.61 billion, a PE ratio of 117.38, a PEG ratio of 6.48 and a beta of 0.21. Merck & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $78.39 and a twelve month high of $156.92. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $141.38 and a 200 day moving average of $126.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.10.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.26) by $0.13. The company had revenue of $16.61 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.37 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 4.77% and a return on equity of 16.73%. The firm's revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.13 earnings per share. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Merck & Co., Inc.

In related news, EVP Chirfi Guindo sold 15,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.00, for a total value of $1,965,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 46,613 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,106,303. This trade represents a 24.35% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 20,784 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.43, for a total value of $2,710,857.12. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 134,703 shares of the company's stock, valued at $17,569,312.29. The trade was a 13.37% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 228,238 shares of company stock worth $29,977,783 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Merck & Co., Inc.

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. boosted its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 28.3% during the second quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 105,500 shares of the company's stock worth $13,557,000 after purchasing an additional 23,240 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 3.7% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,996,890 shares of the company's stock valued at $513,599,000 after purchasing an additional 143,914 shares during the period. Andra AP fonden raised its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 6.8% in the second quarter. Andra AP fonden now owns 389,285 shares of the company's stock valued at $50,023,000 after purchasing an additional 24,800 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 120,413,256 shares of the company's stock worth $15,573,754,000 after buying an additional 1,087,583 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Security National Bank of SO Dak acquired a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the 2nd quarter worth about $119,000. 76.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Merck & Co., Inc. this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Merck agreed to license SciBrunch Therapeutics’ experimental oral KRAS G12D inhibitor SPR2015 globally. The deal includes a $400 million upfront payment and could reach $2.13 billion based on development, regulatory and commercial milestones. The preclinical program could diversify Merck’s oncology pipeline and strengthen its position in a highly competitive cancer market. Merck licenses SciBrunch cancer drug deal
• Positive Sentiment: The FDA expanded Welireg’s label to include another advanced kidney-cancer indication, potentially broadening the drug’s commercial opportunity as sales grow. Merck also said CAPVAXIVE was added to Ontario’s publicly funded adult pneumococcal vaccination program, supporting wider vaccine access and demand. FDA expands Merck’s Welireg label
• Positive Sentiment: MSD began a Phase I trial of a drug candidate using Cyprumed’s oral delivery technology. The first program to reach human testing triggers a payment to Cyprumed and could eventually support more convenient oral formulations. Cyprumed oral delivery technology advances
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck’s remigromig program posted positive Phase 2b/3 BRUNELLO results in diabetic macular edema, but additional regulatory and commercial work is still needed before it can materially offset future revenue exposure.
• Neutral Sentiment: A Zacks screen identified Merck as a candidate to exceed quarterly earnings estimates, although the item provides no new company-specific operating results.
• Negative Sentiment: Merck and Daiichi Sankyo withdrew the U.S. application for ifinatamab deruxtecan in previously treated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer after FDA discussions indicated that available Phase 2 evidence did not support accelerated approval. The setback delays a potential revenue contributor and removes an expected regulatory advantage over competitors, although late-stage studies continue. Merck and Daiichi end plans for speedy approval

Merck & Co., Inc. Company Profile

Merck & Co, Inc is a global healthcare company that develops and markets prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal-health products. The company serves patients, healthcare providers, and customers in markets around the world, with research and commercial operations spanning multiple geographic regions.

Its pharmaceutical portfolio includes oncology, infectious-disease, cardiovascular, immunology, and other therapeutic areas. Key products include Keytruda, an oncology treatment; Gardasil, a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine; Januvia and Janumet for type 2 diabetes; Bridion for anesthesia-related use; and Winrevair for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

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