LM Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 14,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,814,000.
Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. TrinityBridge Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the second quarter valued at approximately $446,000. Jupiter Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth $1,773,000. OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING Corp Ltd bought a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth $969,000. Great Lakes Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. during the second quarter worth $9,753,000. Finally, Oxbow Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 8.9% during the second quarter. Oxbow Advisors LLC now owns 3,575 shares of the company's stock worth $459,000 after buying an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the company's stock.
More Merck & Co., Inc. News
Here are the key news stories impacting Merck & Co., Inc. this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Positive melanoma results strengthen the pipeline. Merck and Moderna reported positive Phase 3 topline results for intismeran autogene, an individualized neoantigen therapy used with KEYTRUDA in resected melanoma. The program could create a new growth opportunity and help extend KEYTRUDA’s commercial runway. Merck Surges on a Melanoma Win
- Positive Sentiment: A busy fall catalyst calendar is attracting investors. Upcoming FDA decisions, additional pipeline updates and a pivotal cancer-vaccine readout could materially influence expectations for Merck’s post-KEYTRUDA growth profile. What Would It Take to Get MRK Stock to $200?
- Positive Sentiment: Pipeline progress, new product launches and potential M&A are improving the long-term growth outlook and easing concerns about eventual KEYTRUDA revenue pressure. Merck Stock Hits New 52-Week High
- Positive Sentiment: Analysts have become more bullish. Wolfe Research raised its price target from $155 to $180 with an outperform rating, while Argus increased its target from $145 to $170 and upgraded the stock to buy. These revisions provide additional support for the recent advance.
- Neutral Sentiment: The cancer-vaccine opportunity remains uncertain. Reuters noted that evidence for broad use of the personalized therapy is still limited, with manufacturing, patient-selection and clinical-adoption challenges potentially affecting its commercial impact. How the Merck-Moderna Cancer Vaccine Works
- Negative Sentiment: Valuation and execution risks are increasing. After gaining roughly 19% over the past month and trading near its 52-week high, MRK is approaching analyst targets, leaving less room for disappointment. Investors will likely focus on whether upcoming approvals and trial results can justify further upside.
Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Down 2.1%
Shares of NYSE:MRK opened at $153.21 on Thursday. The company's fifty day moving average is $130.39 and its 200-day moving average is $122.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.32. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 52 week low of $77.58 and a 52 week high of $156.92. The company has a market capitalization of $378.00 billion, a PE ratio of 122.57, a P/E/G ratio of 6.56 and a beta of 0.19.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.26) by $0.13. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 4.77% and a return on equity of 16.73%. The business had revenue of $16.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $16.37 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.13 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Merck & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Merck & Co., Inc.'s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 272.00%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
MRK has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $141.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Guggenheim increased their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $145.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $125.00 price target for the company. Finally, Wolfe Research lifted their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $155.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $147.60.
View Our Latest Report on MRK
Insider Activity at Merck & Co., Inc.
In related news, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 11,699 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.63, for a total transaction of $1,539,939.37. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 110,167 shares in the company, valued at $14,501,282.21. This represents a 9.60% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP David Michael Williams sold 52,847 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.77, for a total value of $6,805,108.19. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 31,716 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,084,069.32. This represents a 62.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 228,238 shares of company stock valued at $29,977,783. Insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.
Merck & Co., Inc. Company Profile
(
Free Report)
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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