Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd Buys 22,100 Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Key Points

• Catalyst Funds Management increased its Merck stake by 185.7% in the fourth quarter, buying 22,100 more shares and bringing its total holdings to 34,000 shares worth about $3.58 million.
• Other institutional investors also added to Merck positions, and 76.07% of the stock is owned by institutions, indicating broad professional interest in the company.
• Merck’s outlook was boosted by positive oncology developments, including encouraging late-stage Keytruda combination data in lung cancer and a favorable EU opinion for Keytruda plus Padcev in bladder cancer, though weak Gardasil sales remain a headwind.

Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 185.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 34,000 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 22,100 shares during the quarter. Merck & Co., Inc. accounts for about 0.8% of Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd's portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest position. Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd's holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $3,579,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Clune & Associates LTD. bought a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 4th quarter worth approximately $225,000. ARQ Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the 4th quarter valued at $245,000. Buckhead Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Buckhead Capital Management LLC now owns 3,115 shares of the company's stock valued at $328,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. White Lighthouse Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 10.9% in the 4th quarter. White Lighthouse Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,899 shares of the company's stock valued at $516,000 after acquiring an additional 482 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Planning Alternatives Ltd. ADV bought a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 4th quarter valued at $224,000. 76.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Merck and partner Sichuan Kelun-Biotech reported encouraging late-stage lung cancer data for a Keytruda combination, with the treatment beating Keytruda alone and improving confidence in Merck’s cancer pipeline. Kelun, Merck's lung cancer combo improves survival in late-stage China trial
• Positive Sentiment: The European Medicines Agency’s CHMP issued a positive opinion for Keytruda plus Padcev as a perioperative treatment for certain bladder cancer patients, which could expand the drug pair’s commercial reach if formally approved. Merck Receives Positive EU CHMP Opinion for KEYTRUDA Plus Padcev
• Positive Sentiment: Additional coverage highlighted positive EU recommendations and trial momentum across Merck’s oncology portfolio, suggesting the company is building new growth drivers ahead of future Keytruda patent pressure. Merck stock jumps as Keytruda combo trials boost cancer pipeline
• Neutral Sentiment: Some commentary noted Gardasil sales remain weak due to soft demand in China and other markets, which is a reminder that Merck still has headwinds outside oncology. Will Weak Gardasil Sales Continue to Ail MRK's Vaccines Sales in 2026?
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck’s recent run-up also reflects broader investor optimism after strong quarterly results and improving sentiment around its pipeline, rather than a single one-day event. Merck Stock Climbs on Cancer Data. Why the Drugmaker Is More Than a One-Trick Pony.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MRK has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Friday, February 20th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $140.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $145.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 1st. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, April 13th. Zacks Research raised shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 17th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $116.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $128.18.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

NYSE:MRK opened at $122.55 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $302.67 billion, a PE ratio of 34.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.18. Merck & Co., Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $75.40 and a fifty-two week high of $125.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.30. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $115.92 and a 200-day moving average price of $110.22.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported ($1.28) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($1.47) by $0.19. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 27.55% and a net margin of 13.59%.The company had revenue of $16.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.85 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.22 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.040-5.160 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 5.16 earnings per share for the current year.

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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