Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Shares Sold by Franklin Resources Inc.

Key Points

• Franklin Resources cut its stake in Merck by 38.0%, selling 10,285,611 shares and now holds 16,746,990 shares (about 0.67% of the company) valued at roughly $1.405 billion.
• Several analysts have raised price targets (e.g., Guggenheim to $140, Goldman to $120, BMO to $130) and the consensus rating is "Moderate Buy" with a consensus price target of $125.88.
• Merck beat quarterly estimates with $2.04 EPS and $16.40B revenue (+5% YoY), set FY2026 guidance of $5.00–5.15 EPS, declared a $0.85 quarterly dividend (2.9% yield), and insiders sold about 320,176 shares last quarter.

Franklin Resources Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 38.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 16,746,990 shares of the company's stock after selling 10,285,611 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. owned approximately 0.67% of Merck & Co., Inc. worth $1,405,575,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Key Headlines Impacting Merck & Co., Inc.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on MRK shares. Guggenheim increased their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $122.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $92.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. BMO Capital Markets raised Merck & Co., Inc. from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and increased their target price for the company from $82.00 to $130.00 in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Wall Street Zen lowered Merck & Co., Inc. from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, February 28th. Finally, Scotiabank raised their price target 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. One 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 given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $125.88.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock opened at $117.14 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $289.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.27. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 52 week low of $73.31 and a 52 week 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. The firm's 50 day moving average is $114.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $99.14.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 28.08% and a return on equity of 44.57%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.72 EPS. The company's revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.000-5.150 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 9.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

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

Insider Transactions at Merck & Co., Inc.

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Jennifer Zachary sold 121,573 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.15, for a total value of $14,485,422.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 68,916 shares in the company, valued at $8,211,341.40. This represents a 63.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 37,685 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.92, for a total transaction of $4,556,870.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 160,174 shares of the company's stock, valued at $19,368,240.08. This represents a 19.05% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 320,176 shares of company stock valued at $38,281,735 over the last quarter. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Merck & Co., Inc.

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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