3,183,169 Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Shares Bought by Fisher Asset Management LLC

Key Points

• Fisher Asset Management increased its Merck stake by 8.3%, buying 3,183,169 shares in the third quarter. It now holds 41.7 million shares, worth about $6.06 billion.
• Other major investors also added to their holdings, and institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of Merck’s stock.
• Merck reported quarterly EPS of $2.49, beating the $2.09 consensus, while revenue of $18.09 billion topped estimates and rose 4.7% year over year. Analysts’ consensus rating is “Moderate Buy,” with an average price target of $155.74.

Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 8.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 41,699,432 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 3,183,169 shares during the period. Merck & Co., Inc. accounts for approximately 1.8% of Fisher Asset Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest holding. Fisher Asset Management LLC owned approximately 1.69% of Merck & Co., Inc. worth $6,059,345,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 23.8% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 15,456,039 shares of the company's stock worth $1,858,938,000 after purchasing an additional 2,969,856 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 30,774,221 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,701,831,000 after buying an additional 2,919,780 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 263.7% in the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 2,702,992 shares of the company's stock valued at $347,334,000 after buying an additional 1,959,778 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 86,249,283 shares of the company's stock valued at $11,083,033,000 after buying an additional 1,934,312 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 3rd quarter valued at $260,560,000. 76.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Summary

Investors following MRK have been watching these news items:

• Positive Sentiment: Phase 2b results for efinopegdutide showed statistically significant MASH resolution without worsening fibrosis. The data add to investor optimism about Merck’s pipeline beyond Keytruda. Article: Merck (MRK) Could Be 7% Undervalued As MASH Trial Data Lifts Optimism
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck is scheduled to participate in the Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference in London. The appearance could provide investors with updates, but the announcement itself gives no new financial or clinical information. Article: Merck to Participate in the Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference in London
• Negative Sentiment: Potential U.S. drug-price negotiations are a longer-term risk for Merck, with the article describing the company as facing a bigger test in coming years. Article: EXCLUSIVE: Lilly, Gilead Face Near-Term Drug Pricing Risks As Washington Turns Up Heat

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

NYSE:MRK opened at $146.98 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $146.25 and a 200-day simple moving average of $128.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market cap of $362.34 billion, a PE ratio of 151.52, a P/E/G ratio of 6.75 and a beta of 0.13. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1-year low of $90.90 and a 1-year high of $156.92.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.09 by $0.40. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 3.64% and a return on equity of 16.73%. The business had revenue of $18.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.33 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.58 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.82 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. HSBC raised their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $172.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. Argus began coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Tuesday, November 3rd. They issued a "strong-buy" rating on the stock. Leerink Partners upped their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $127.00 to $161.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 9th. Wall Street Zen raised Merck & Co., Inc. from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, November 7th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $145.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $155.74.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company Profile

Merck & Co., Inc. is a global pharmaceutical company that develops and markets prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal-health products. The company's research and commercial activities span areas including oncology, infectious diseases, vaccines, cardiovascular disease and immunology. Its products include the cancer medicine Keytruda and the Gardasil vaccine. Founded in the United States in 1891, Merck & Co. became an independent company in 1917. It is headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey, and operates internationally.

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