Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Shares Sold by Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC

Key Points

• Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss reduced its Merck stake by 14.8% in Q3, selling 1,291,412 shares and leaving 7,415,270 shares worth about $622.4 million (Merck is its 11th largest position); institutional investors own roughly 76.1% of MRK.
• Merck recently beat quarterly estimates with $2.04 EPS (vs. $2.01 consensus) and $16.4B revenue, issued FY2026 EPS guidance of 5.00–5.15, and declared a $0.85 quarterly dividend (2.9% yield).
• Analysts collectively rate Merck a "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $125.88, and several firms have recently raised price targets and upgraded ratings (e.g., Deutsche Bank to a buy with a $150 target).

Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC lessened its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 14.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,415,270 shares of the company's stock after selling 1,291,412 shares during the period. Merck & Co., Inc. comprises 2.0% of Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest position. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC owned 0.30% of Merck & Co., Inc. worth $622,364,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MRK. One Charles Private Wealth Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 3.3% during the third quarter. One Charles Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 3,464 shares of the company's stock valued at $291,000 after acquiring an additional 111 shares during the period. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA grew its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 3.4% during the third quarter. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA now owns 3,566 shares of the company's stock worth $299,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Security National Bank of Sioux City Iowa IA increased its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Security National Bank of Sioux City Iowa IA now owns 3,402 shares of the company's stock worth $286,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares during the period. Investors Research Corp lifted its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 9,325 shares of the company's stock valued at $783,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Trust Point Inc. lifted its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Trust Point Inc. now owns 14,834 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,245,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Zacks Research downgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $100.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $105.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a "sector outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, February 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Merck & Co., Inc. presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $125.88.

Merck & Co., Inc. Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MRK opened at $117.14 on Wednesday. The company's fifty day moving average is $114.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $99.14. The company has a market cap of $289.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.27. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 12-month low of $73.31 and a 12-month high of $125.14. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $2.04 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.01 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $16.40 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.19 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 28.08% and a return on equity of 44.57%. The firm's revenue was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.72 earnings per share. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.000-5.150 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 9.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 7th. Investors of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.85 per share. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 16th. Merck & Co., Inc.'s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.70%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 37,685 shares of the firm'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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 160,174 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,368,240.08. This trade represents a 19.05% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jennifer Zachary sold 121,573 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.15, for a total transaction of $14,485,422.95. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 68,916 shares in the company, valued at $8,211,341.40. This trade represents a 63.82% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 320,176 shares of company stock worth $38,281,735 in the last ninety days. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Late‑stage trial wins for oncology and HIV programs (KEYTRUDA, WELIREG regimens and DOR/ISL HIV therapy) that show improved survival and broadened indications—these readouts raise near‑term revenue potential and long‑term pipeline value. Merck Trial Wins Shape Oncology And HIV Prospects For Investors
• Positive Sentiment: Stock moving higher within the S&P 500 — market‑level strength and rotation into large pharma/defensive names is supporting MRK’s price action. Merck & Co. NYSE: MRK Moves Higher Within S&P 500 Index Amid Gains
• Positive Sentiment: Expanding neuroendocrine carcinoma market and other oncology indications — market forecasts to 2036 increase the addressable opportunity for Merck’s targeted therapies, supporting longer‑term growth assumptions for KEYTRUDA and companion assets. Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Market Poised for Significant Growth During the Forecast Period (2026-2036) Driven by Rising Incidence and Advancements in Targeted Therapies | DelveInsight
• Neutral Sentiment: Vaccine franchise market reports (Ervebo, M‑M‑R II, Pneumovax 23, Elonva) highlight steady long‑term demand and niche growth opportunities—positive background but unlikely to move near‑term results absent new approvals or major contract wins. Ervebo (Merck & Co) Market Research Report 2026: Epidemiology, Pipeline Analysis, Trends, Strategies, & Forecasts, 2020-2025, 2025-2030F, 2035F
• Negative Sentiment: Persistent weakness in Gardasil sales (down ~39% in 2025 with weak China demand) — management expects no near‑term rebound, which pressures top‑line growth and investor expectations for vaccine contribution to revenue. Will Weak Gardasil Sales Continue to Weigh on MRK's Top Line in 2026?
• Negative Sentiment: RBC caution on Winrevair — analyst says the COPD candidate must show a ≥20‑meter improvement in 6‑minute walk to restore confidence; this raises clinical/regulatory uncertainty that could limit upside for that program. Merck's Winrevair Must Show Walk Distance Improvement to Build Confidence, RBC Says

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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