8,527 Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Acquired by Neumann Capital Management LLC

Key Points

• Neumann Capital Management acquired 8,527 Merck shares worth approximately $1.24 million during the third quarter, while institutional investors overall own 76.07% of the company.
• Merck reported quarterly revenue of $16.61 billion, exceeding estimates, and raised interest with a $0.85 quarterly dividend, equivalent to a 2.3% annualized yield.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive, with 17 Buy ratings and 10 Hold ratings; the average price target is $151.92, though investors are monitoring future biosimilar competition and challenges in the Gardasil business.

Neumann Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 8,527 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,239,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Horizons Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Bullseye Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Graney & King LLC increased its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 400.0% in 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 last quarter. Montgomery Financial Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth approximately $41,000. Finally, Evergreen Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the first quarter worth approximately $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.07% of the company's stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Price Performance

MRK opened at $145.66 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $145.26 and a 200-day moving average price of $129.12. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 12-month low of $82.01 and a 12-month high of $156.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $359.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 116.53, a PEG ratio of 6.81 and a beta of 0.21.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.26) by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $16.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.37 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 16.73% and a net margin of 4.77%. The company's revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.13 EPS. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. Merck & Co., Inc.'s dividend payout ratio is currently 272.00%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP David Williams sold 52,847 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.77, for a total transaction of $6,805,108.19. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 31,716 shares in the company, valued at $4,084,069.32. This trade represents a 62.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP David Maraldo sold 18,706 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the executive vice president owned 18,212 shares in the company, valued at $2,344,248.64. The trade was a 50.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 228,238 shares of company stock valued at $29,977,783 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

Key Merck & Co., Inc. News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Merck plans to present first-time pivotal Phase 3 data at ESMO 2026 for oncology programs including melanoma and endometrial cancer. The company will also hold an oncology investor event, potentially giving investors greater visibility into growth opportunities beyond Keytruda. What Could Merck Reveal At ESMO 2026 About Its Oncology Pipeline?
• Positive Sentiment: CEO Rob Davis said Merck and Moderna expect manufacturing of their personalized cancer vaccine to become faster over time. Improving production efficiency could support broader commercialization of the vaccine, although manufacturing remains complex. Merck CEO Tells CNBC He Expects Breakthrough Cancer Vaccine Will Become Faster to Make
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts expect Keytruda sales growth, newer product launches and expanded indications to support third-quarter revenue. However, biosimilar competition is expected to become a more significant risk in 2028–2029, making pipeline execution increasingly important. Will Keytruda Continue to Aid Merck's Top Line in Q3 Earnings?
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck’s dividend yield is about 2.3%, but comparisons with Amgen highlight differing levels of dividend coverage and cash-flow flexibility. The analysis may influence income-focused investors but does not introduce a new company-specific catalyst. AMGN vs. MRK: Which Pharma Giant's Dividend Actually Has Room to Grow
• Negative Sentiment: Merck trades at a premium valuation of roughly 5.5 times sales, increasing the market’s expectations for sustained growth. Investors are also monitoring the changing emphasis in management’s strategy and continuing challenges for the Gardasil vaccine business in China. How Has Merck's Story Changed?

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on MRK shares. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $137.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, October 5th. Wolfe Research increased their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $155.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, October 3rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $152.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, August 20th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Merck & Co., Inc. presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $151.92.

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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