Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Stock: Banque Pictet & Cie SA Cuts Holdings

Key Points

• Banque Pictet & Cie SA reduced its Merck stake by 18.9% in the third quarter, selling 95,032 shares and retaining 408,397 shares valued at approximately $59.3 million. Institutional investors collectively own 76.07% of Merck.
• Merck’s stock opened at $146.01, near its 52-week high, after reporting quarterly revenue of $16.61 billion, up 5.1% year over year and above analyst estimates. The company also maintains a quarterly dividend of $0.85, or a 2.3% annualized yield.
• Analysts remain generally positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $151.92, though Merck’s sharp 2026 rally and elevated valuation increase sensitivity to disappointing pipeline or trial results.

Banque Pictet & Cie SA cut its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 18.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 408,397 shares of the company's stock after selling 95,032 shares during the period. Banque Pictet & Cie SA's holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $59,344,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Horizons Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Bullseye Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Graney & King LLC boosted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 400.0% in the second quarter. Graney & King LLC now owns 250 shares of the company's stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Montgomery Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, Evergreen Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $43,000. 76.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Key Merck & Co., Inc. News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Merck reported promising skin-cancer trial results involving Keytruda and a personalized mRNA vaccine. Positive clinical data could strengthen confidence in Merck’s oncology franchise and support longer-term growth. Merck reports promising skin cancer trial results
• Positive Sentiment: Merck is scheduled to present first-time pivotal Phase 3 oncology results at ESMO 2026, including melanoma and endometrial-cancer programs, alongside an oncology investor event. The disclosures may demonstrate progress in replacing or extending revenue from existing cancer therapies. Merck ESMO 2026 oncology pipeline preview
• Positive Sentiment: Merck’s continued uptrend has encouraged options traders to consider bullish strategies, indicating that some market participants expect further gains. Options activity, however, can amplify volatility and does not by itself change the company’s fundamentals. Merck bullish options strategy
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck’s investment narrative has shifted toward oncology and other growth opportunities as investors look beyond challenges affecting Gardasil, particularly in China. The strategy could improve diversification, but execution and pipeline commercialization remain key.
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck is being compared favorably with other pharmaceutical companies on dividend sustainability and cash generation, though the articles do not identify a major new dividend announcement. Merck versus Amgen dividend comparison
• Negative Sentiment: After rising more than 38% in 2026, Merck trades at a substantially higher forward earnings multiple than in late 2025. Analysts warn that the market may already be pricing in significant pipeline success, leaving less room for upside and greater sensitivity to disappointing trial data. Merck valuation and rally analysis

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP David Maraldo sold 18,706 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.72, for a total value of $2,407,836.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 18,212 shares in the company, valued at $2,344,248.64. This represents a 50.67% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Richard Deluca sold 20,784 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.43, for a total transaction of $2,710,857.12. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 134,703 shares of the company's stock, valued at $17,569,312.29. This trade represents a 13.37% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 228,238 shares of company stock valued at $29,977,783. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Guggenheim boosted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $146.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 8th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $137.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 23rd. CICC Research began coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Wednesday, June 24th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $138.00 price objective for the company. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Seventeen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Merck & Co., Inc. has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $151.92.

Merck & Co., Inc. Trading Up 0.6%

Shares of MRK stock opened at $146.01 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.32. The company has a market capitalization of $360.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 116.81, a PEG ratio of 6.71 and a beta of 0.21. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 52-week low of $82.01 and a 52-week high of $156.92. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $145.60 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $129.24.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 firm had revenue of $16.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $16.37 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.13 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th were given a $0.85 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. Merck & Co., Inc.'s payout ratio is currently 272.00%.

About Merck & Co., Inc.

Merck & Co, Inc is a global healthcare company that develops and markets prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal-health products. The company serves patients, healthcare providers, and customers in markets around the world, with research and commercial operations spanning multiple geographic regions.

Its pharmaceutical portfolio includes oncology, infectious-disease, cardiovascular, immunology, and other therapeutic areas. Key products include Keytruda, an oncology treatment; Gardasil, a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine; Januvia and Janumet for type 2 diabetes; Bridion for anesthesia-related use; and Winrevair for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

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