Leo Wealth LLC Makes New Investment in Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Key Points

• Leo Wealth LLC acquired 11,979 Merck shares worth approximately $1.74 million in the third quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 76.07% of MRK.
• Merck reported quarterly revenue of $16.61 billion, ahead of expectations, and beat adjusted EPS estimates. The company maintained 2026 EPS guidance of $2.66–$2.76 and pays a quarterly dividend of $0.85, yielding about 2.4%.
• Analyst sentiment remains generally positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and average price target of $153.12. Investors are weighing Merck’s strong oncology pipeline against Keytruda’s December 2028 patent expiration and recent insider selling.

Leo Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 11,979 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,741,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Apollon Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 48.9% during the 3rd quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 142,977 shares of the company's stock worth $20,776,000 after buying an additional 46,936 shares during the last quarter. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 42.4% in the 3rd quarter. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC now owns 1,354 shares of the company's stock valued at $194,000 after acquiring an additional 403 shares in the last quarter. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 8.3% in the 3rd quarter. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 34,157 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,963,000 after acquiring an additional 2,624 shares in the last quarter. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC grew its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC now owns 12,104 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,759,000 after acquiring an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Centerpoint Advisory Group increased its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 3.9% in the third quarter. Centerpoint Advisory Group now owns 2,421 shares of the company's stock valued at $352,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. 76.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

NYSE MRK opened at $140.36 on Tuesday. 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 firm's fifty day moving average price is $146.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $125.84. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1 year low of $82.01 and a 1 year high of $156.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $346.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 112.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.74 and a beta of 0.21.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.26) by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $16.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $16.37 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 4.77% and a return on equity of 16.73%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.13 earnings per share. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.64 EPS for the current year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were paid a $0.85 dividend. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. Merck & Co., Inc.'s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 272.00%.

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

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP David Williams sold 52,847 shares of the business'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 owned 31,716 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,084,069.32. The trade was a 62.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Jennifer Zachary sold 80,315 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.46, for a total value of $10,718,839.90. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 45,509 shares in the company, valued at $6,073,631.14. This represents a 63.83% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 228,238 shares of company stock valued at $29,977,783 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Merck and partner Daiichi Sankyo reported positive Phase 3 results for sacituzumab tirumotecan (Sac-TMT) in certain patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. The treatment reduced the risk of death by 32% and the risk of disease progression or death by 41% versus chemotherapy; median overall survival was 19 months compared with 12.1 months. An FDA decision is expected by June 2027. Sac-TMT Phase 3 results
• Positive Sentiment: KEYTRUDA monotherapy reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 43% in a specified group of patients with mismatch repair-deficient endometrial cancer, reinforcing the drug’s oncology franchise and potential for additional indications. KEYTRUDA endometrial cancer results
• Positive Sentiment: Barclays raised its MRK price target to $180 from $150 and maintained an overweight rating. Another valuation update lifted fair value to $159.76 from $155.68, citing Merck’s oncology pipeline and cancer-vaccine partnership. Barclays price-target increase
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck and Moderna’s personalized melanoma vaccine reduced recurrence or death by 42% when added to KEYTRUDA in a Phase 3 trial. However, the result was below some elevated investor expectations, and overall-survival data remain immature. Merck’s October 29 earnings call may provide details on regulatory filings, launch economics and the vaccine’s role in offsetting future Keytruda losses.
• Negative Sentiment: Investors remain focused on Keytruda’s compound-patent expiration in December 2028. Upcoming results must show that newer products—including Winrevair, Keytruda QLEX and other pipeline assets—can support management’s “shallow dip” outlook.
• Negative Sentiment: New U.S. Treasury restrictions on certain U.S. collaborations and investments involving Chinese biotech companies could limit Merck’s access to partnerships, research and potential cancer-drug candidates from China. China biotech restrictions and Merck

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on MRK shares. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, September 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $145.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 12th. Wolfe Research raised their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $155.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 25th. Bank of America boosted their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $125.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, October 12th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $153.12.

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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