27,739 Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Shares Sold by Axxcess Wealth Management LLC

Key Points

• Axxcess Wealth Management cut its Merck stake by 44.1% in the third quarter, selling 27,739 shares and retaining 35,091 shares valued at approximately $5.1 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 76.07% of Merck.
• Merck received European approval for KEYTRUDA plus Padcev in resectable muscle-invasive bladder cancer, supporting its oncology pipeline. However, concerns remain over KEYTRUDA’s approaching patent cliff, moderating U.S. growth and a recent “strong sell” downgrade from Zacks Research.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive view, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $151.92. Merck shares opened at $149.98, while the company reported quarterly revenue of $16.61 billion and pays an annualized dividend of $3.40 per share.

Axxcess Wealth Management LLC reduced its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 44.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 35,091 shares of the company's stock after selling 27,739 shares during the period. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $5,099,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Bullseye Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Horizons Wealth Management acquired a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the third quarter worth $30,000. Graney & King LLC raised its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 400.0% during the second quarter. Graney & King LLC now owns 250 shares of the company's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Montgomery Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the second quarter worth $41,000. Finally, Evergreen Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the first quarter valued at $43,000. 76.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Headlines Impacting Merck & Co., Inc.

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

• Positive Sentiment: The European Commission approved KEYTRUDA plus Padcev as perioperative treatment for adults with resectable muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The expanded indication strengthens Merck’s oncology portfolio, supports additional long-term revenue opportunities and reinforces the commercial value of the two-drug combination. European Commission KEYTRUDA and Padcev approval
• Positive Sentiment: The latest trading session saw Merck outperform the broader market, reflecting investor interest in its strong oncology franchise and recent product catalysts. Merck outperforms the stock market
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck’s participation in the growing bioconjugation and cell-culture-media markets provides potential exposure to expanding biopharmaceutical research demand, but the reports offer no specific financial impact or new company guidance. Bioconjugation market report Cell culture media market report
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports on Merck’s phase 3 melanoma results and ETF selling could influence sentiment, but the available information does not provide enough detail to assess the magnitude or durability of either development. Merck phase 3 melanoma results
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research downgraded Merck from “hold” to “strong sell,” adding selling pressure and highlighting valuation or growth concerns.
• Negative Sentiment: KEYTRUDA and KEYTRUDA QLEX remain Merck’s primary earnings engine, while U.S. growth is expected to moderate as the drug approaches peak penetration. The looming patent cliff and a legal setback affecting subcutaneous KEYTRUDA sales in several European markets increase concerns about Merck’s ability to replace future lost revenue with newer treatments. Merck KEYTRUDA growth and patent cliff analysis

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on MRK shares. Berenberg Bank boosted their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $127.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, September 11th. CICC Research assumed coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Wednesday, June 24th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $138.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, October 5th. Argus lifted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $145.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group raised shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $143.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Merck & Co., Inc. has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $151.92.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of NYSE MRK opened at $149.98 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $370.02 billion, a PE ratio of 119.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.85 and a beta of 0.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1 year low of $82.01 and a 1 year high of $156.92. The firm's 50-day moving average is $146.55 and its 200-day moving average is $129.88.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.26) by $0.13. The business had revenue of $16.61 billion during 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%. Merck & Co., Inc.'s revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.13 earnings per share. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.66 EPS for the current year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th were paid a $0.85 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. Merck & Co., Inc.'s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 272.00%.

Insider Activity

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Richard Deluca sold 11,699 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.63, for a total transaction of $1,539,939.37. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 110,167 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $14,501,282.21. The trade was a 9.60% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP David Maraldo sold 18,706 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.72, for a total transaction of $2,407,836.32. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 18,212 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,344,248.64. The trade was a 50.67% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 228,238 shares of company stock worth $29,977,783. Corporate insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

About Merck & Co., Inc.

Merck & Co, Inc is a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures and markets prescription medicines, vaccines and animal-health products. Its pharmaceutical business focuses on oncology, infectious diseases, cardiology, immunology and other areas of significant medical need. The company serves patients, healthcare providers and institutions in markets worldwide.

Merck's principal products include Keytruda, an immunotherapy used to treat a range of cancers; Gardasil and Gardasil 9, vaccines that help protect against human papillomavirus; and Januvia and Janumet, medicines used to manage type 2 diabetes.

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