Arizona State Retirement System Sells 31,306 Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Key Points

• Arizona State Retirement System trimmed its stake in Merck by 4.3% in Q4, selling 31,306 shares and now holds 702,282 shares worth about $73.92 million.
• Merck has mixed near‑term catalysts: the FDA granted Priority Review for KEYTRUDA in muscle‑invasive bladder cancer and it struck a multi‑year (up to $1B) partnership with Google Cloud, but a late‑stage Keytruda triplet failed in kidney cancer and analysts expect a year‑over‑year earnings decline.
• Insiders sold 320,176 shares worth roughly $38.28 million over the last quarter and now own just 0.13% of the company, signaling notable insider selling pressure.

Arizona State Retirement System trimmed its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 4.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 702,282 shares of the company's stock after selling 31,306 shares during the quarter. Arizona State Retirement System's holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $73,922,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 237.4% during the third quarter. Darwin Wealth Management LLC now owns 307 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 302.3% during the third quarter. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 354 shares of the company's stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 266 shares in the last quarter. United Financial Planning Group LLC purchased a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the third quarter worth about $31,000. Wealth Watch Advisors INC purchased a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the third quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC grew its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 83.0% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 419 shares of the company's stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. 76.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: FDA granted Priority Review for two supplemental BLA filings for KEYTRUDA in combination regimens for muscle‑invasive bladder cancer — this could expand a high‑value label for KEYTRUDA if approved, supporting future revenue. Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Gains FDA Priority Review for KEYTRUDA Regimen in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
• Positive Sentiment: Merck announced a multi‑year partnership with Google Cloud (up to $1B) to deploy agentic AI across R&D, manufacturing and commercial functions — a strategic investment that could boost long‑term productivity, R&D efficiency and digital transformation. Merck and Google Cloud Partner to Accelerate Agentic AI Enterprise Transformation
• Positive Sentiment: FDA approved IDVYNSO, a once‑daily two‑drug, non‑INSTI, tenofovir‑free HIV regimen — a new approved product can contribute incremental sales and diversify Merck’s commercial portfolio. Merck Weighs New HIV Approval Against Mixed Oncology Trial Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports say Merck and other drugmakers are eyeing a deal for Inhibrx’s experimental cancer drug tied to KEYTRUDA — strategic M&A/licensing interest is a potential longer‑term positive but remains speculative and valuation‑dependent. Exclusive: Merck, rivals eye deal in Inhibrx experimental cancer drug tied to Keytruda, sources say
• Neutral Sentiment: Market research notes expansion in the polycythemia vera field and lists Merck’s bomedemstat as one of several emerging entrants — a potential long‑term opportunity but competitive and years from wide commercial impact. Polycythemia Vera Market Set for Transformation: Key 9 Companies Expected to Enter by 2036
• Negative Sentiment: Merck and partner Eisai reported a late‑stage Keytruda‑based triplet in first‑line advanced renal cell carcinoma failed to meet primary endpoints — this clinical setback has already pressured the stock and raises near‑term uncertainty around that program and investor confidence in certain oncology readouts. MRK Down as Triplet Therapy Fails to Meet Goal in Kidney Cancer Study
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts expect Merck to report a year‑over‑year earnings decline and note Merck lacks the key factors typically associated with an earnings beat — weaker near‑term EPS guidance/expectations can cap upside and prompt short‑term selling. Analysts Estimate Merck (MRK) to Report a Decline in Earnings: What to Look Out for

Merck & Co., Inc. Price Performance

MRK opened at $114.68 on Friday. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $118.80 and its 200 day simple moving average is $106.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.30. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1 year low of $73.31 and a 1 year high of $125.14. The firm has a market cap of $283.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.75, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.26.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $2.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.01 by $0.03. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 44.57% and a net margin of 28.08%.The business had revenue of $16.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.19 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.72 EPS. Merck & Co., Inc.'s revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.000-5.150 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 4.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 7th. Investors of record on Monday, March 16th were given a dividend of $0.85 per share. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 16th. Merck & Co., Inc.'s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.70%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Merck & Co., Inc.

In related news, CMO Chirfi Guindo sold 20,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.88, for a total transaction of $2,437,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer directly owned 80,615 shares in the company, valued at $9,825,356.20. This trade represents a 19.88% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Caroline Litchfield sold 41,997 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.61, for a total value of $5,023,261.17. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 90,192 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,787,865.12. The trade was a 31.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 320,176 shares of company stock worth $38,281,735 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. Barclays assumed coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Friday, February 20th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $140.00 target price for the company. Zacks Research upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 17th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, March 28th. Finally, TD Cowen upped their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $128.47.

Merck & Co., Inc. 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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