Argent Trust Co Has $26.34 Million Stake in Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Argent Trust Co boosted its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 4.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 204,960 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 8,571 shares during the quarter. Merck & Co., Inc. accounts for approximately 0.8% of Argent Trust Co's investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Argent Trust Co's holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $26,337,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the 4th quarter worth about $3,997,933,000. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 14.8% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 86,435,458 shares of the company's stock valued at $9,098,196,000 after purchasing an additional 11,156,354 shares during the last quarter. Cardano Risk Management B.V. bought a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the fourth quarter worth about $1,012,530,000. Jennison Associates LLC bought a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the fourth quarter worth about $585,192,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 37.9% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 18,753,390 shares of the company's stock worth $1,973,983,000 after buying an additional 5,152,069 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Chirfi Guindo sold 10,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.00, for a total transaction of $1,350,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 36,613 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,942,755. This trade represents a 21.45% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP David Michael Williams sold 52,847 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was 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 represents a 62.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 228,238 shares of company stock worth $29,977,783. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Down 1.2%

MRK stock opened at $150.67 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The stock has a market capitalization of $371.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 120.54, a PEG ratio of 6.40 and a beta of 0.19. The business's fifty day moving average price is $128.81 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $121.53. Merck & Co., Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $77.58 and a fifty-two week high of $154.49.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last posted its 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 company had revenue of $16.61 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 quarter last year, the firm 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 anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have issued reports on MRK. CICC Research started coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Wednesday, June 24th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $138.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Merck & Co., Inc. from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $140.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday. Daiwa Securities Group raised 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. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $144.10.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company Profile

Merck & Co, Inc is a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products. Its portfolio spans multiple therapeutic areas with a particular emphasis on oncology, vaccines and infectious disease, as well as therapies for metabolic and chronic conditions. Among its well-known products are the cancer immunotherapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and the human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil; the company also markets a range of medicines and vaccines for veterinary use through Merck Animal Health.

Founded in the late 19th century as the U.S.

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