8,503 Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Shares Bought by GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC

Key Points

• GRIMES & Co. Wealth Management increased its Merck stake by 20.6% in the third quarter, buying 8,503 shares to own 49,787 shares valued at approximately $7.24 million. Institutional investors collectively hold 76.07% of MRK.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with 17 Buy ratings, 10 Holds and one Sell; Merck has a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $155.85.
• Merck’s third-quarter results exceeded expectations, with revenue rising 4.7% year over year to $18.09 billion and adjusted EPS of $2.49 versus the $2.09 consensus estimate, while insiders have sold nearly $30 million of stock over the past 90 days.

GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC grew its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 20.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 49,787 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 8,503 shares during the period. GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC's holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $7,235,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Curry Webb Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. Horizons Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. Bullseye Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Graney & King LLC boosted its holdings in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, Foresight Capital Management Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the third quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MRK has been the topic of several research reports. Leerink Partners upped their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $127.00 to $161.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 9th. HSBC lifted their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $172.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, September 4th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $145.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 20th. Finally, Freedom Broker increased their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $125.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Monday. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $155.85.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP David Williams sold 52,847 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.77, for a total value of $6,805,108.19. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 31,716 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,084,069.32. The trade was a 62.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP David R. Maraldo sold 18,706 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.72, for a total value of $2,407,836.32. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 18,212 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,344,248.64. This trade represents a 50.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 228,238 shares of company stock valued at $29,977,783. Insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Merck & Co., Inc.

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

• Positive Sentiment: Merck plans to present new data from its oral HIV portfolio at HIV Glasgow 2026, including Phase 3 analyses and patient-reported outcomes for the once-weekly investigational ISL/LEN regimen. The FDA has also accepted supplemental applications for IDVYNSO, with a decision expected in 2027. Merck HIV portfolio data
• Positive Sentiment: Merck’s personalized melanoma-vaccine strategy is drawing investor attention because a successful approach could reduce recurrence and support long-term oncology growth. Merck personalized cancer strategy
• Positive Sentiment: Merck posted third-quarter revenue of $18.09 billion, up 4.7% year over year and ahead of expectations, while adjusted earnings of $2.49 per share exceeded consensus by approximately 19%. Merck third-quarter review
• Neutral Sentiment: Cantor Fitzgerald raised its MRK price target from $145 to $155 but kept a Neutral rating, indicating limited conviction at current valuation levels. Cantor Fitzgerald Merck target
• Neutral Sentiment: Another analyst raised Merck’s price target to $171, while broader reports highlight potential opportunities in biotechnology reagents and RNA-targeting drug discovery, areas where Merck is an industry participant. Merck price target raised to $171
• Negative Sentiment: Freedom Broker increased its target from $125 to $140 but maintained a Hold rating; the new target remains below the stock’s reported trading level, signaling downside concerns. Freedom Broker Merck target

Merck & Co., Inc. Price Performance

NYSE MRK opened at $148.58 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $366.58 billion, a PE ratio of 153.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.49 and a beta of 0.21. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 12-month low of $82.01 and a 12-month high of $156.92. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $146.82 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $126.89.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.40. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 16.73% and a net margin of 4.77%. The company had revenue of $18.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $17.33 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.58 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company Profile

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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