Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Shares Purchased by Cadinha & Co. LLC

Key Points

• Cadinha & Co. LLC boosted its Merck stake by 2,005.6% in Q4, buying 240,055 shares to hold 252,024 shares worth about $26.53 million, which is roughly 4.1% of Cadinha’s portfolio and Merck’s 11th largest holding.
• Merck beat quarterly estimates with $2.04 EPS (vs. $2.01) and $16.4B revenue, and set FY2026 guidance of 5.000–5.150 EPS versus analysts’ average forecast of about 4.93 EPS.
• Recent catalysts are mixed: the FDA granted Priority Review for a KEYTRUDA combo, Merck announced a multi‑year AI partnership with Google Cloud (up to $1B), and the FDA approved the HIV regimen IDVYNSO, while a Keytruda‑based renal cell carcinoma triplet recently failed to meet primary endpoints.

Cadinha & Co. LLC increased its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 2,005.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 252,024 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 240,055 shares during the quarter. Merck & Co., Inc. accounts for approximately 4.1% of Cadinha & Co. LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest holding. Cadinha & Co. LLC's holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $26,528,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. DLD Asset Management LP lifted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 30.1% in the third quarter. DLD Asset Management LP now owns 47,500,000 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,986,675,000 after acquiring an additional 11,000,000 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 16.6% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 19,844,936 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,665,585,000 after acquiring an additional 2,821,766 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 20.7% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 15,933,909 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,336,877,000 after acquiring an additional 2,735,459 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 61.6% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 5,325,033 shares of the company's stock valued at $446,930,000 after acquiring an additional 2,029,342 shares during the period. Finally, Danske Bank A S acquired a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. in the third quarter valued at approximately $159,973,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the company's stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Trading Up 1.6%

Shares of MRK stock opened at $114.68 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.30. The company 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. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $118.80 and a 200-day simple moving average of $106.58. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1-year low of $73.31 and a 1-year high of $125.14.

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

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

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

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

In related news, CMO Chirfi Guindo sold 20,000 shares of the business'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 completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer directly owned 80,615 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,825,356.20. The trade was a 19.88% 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 the SEC website. Also, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 37,685 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.92, for a total value of $4,556,870.20. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 160,174 shares of the company's stock, valued at $19,368,240.08. The trade was a 19.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 320,176 shares of company stock worth $38,281,735. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MRK has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. TD Cowen boosted their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, April 13th. Guggenheim boosted their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $122.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Barclays initiated coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Friday, February 20th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $140.00 price target for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, April 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $128.47.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Roundup

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. 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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