Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Stock: Eurizon Capital SGR S.p.A. Decreases Stake

Key Points

• Eurizon Capital SGR cut its Merck stake by 7.3% in the third quarter, selling 174,489 shares; it still held 2.22 million shares worth about $325 million.
• Merck beat quarterly earnings and revenue estimates, reporting $2.49 per share and $18.09 billion in revenue. Revenue rose 4.7% year over year.
• Analysts’ consensus rating is Moderate Buy, with a $155.74 average price target; positive MASH trial results have also lifted optimism about Merck’s pipeline.

Eurizon Capital SGR S.p.A. decreased its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 7.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,224,345 shares of the company's stock after selling 174,489 shares during the quarter. Merck & Co., Inc. comprises approximately 0.9% of Eurizon Capital SGR S.p.A.'s holdings, making the stock its 20th largest position. Eurizon Capital SGR S.p.A. owned about 0.09% of Merck & Co., Inc. worth $325,094,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 23.8% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 15,456,039 shares of the company's stock worth $1,858,938,000 after acquiring an additional 2,969,856 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 10.5% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 30,774,221 shares of the company's stock worth $3,701,831,000 after acquiring an additional 2,919,780 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 263.7% during the second quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 2,702,992 shares of the company's stock worth $347,334,000 after acquiring an additional 1,959,778 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 2.3% during the 2nd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 86,249,283 shares of the company's stock valued at $11,083,033,000 after purchasing an additional 1,934,312 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 3rd quarter valued at $260,560,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the company's stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MRK opened at $146.98 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $146.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $128.41. The company has a current ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $362.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 151.52, a PEG ratio of 6.75 and a beta of 0.13. Merck & Co., Inc. has a one year low of $90.90 and a one year high of $156.92.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.40. The firm had revenue of $18.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.33 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 3.64% and a return on equity of 16.73%. The business's revenue was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.58 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.82 EPS for the current year.

Key Stories Impacting Merck & Co., Inc.

Here are a few of the latest stories about MRK:

• Positive Sentiment: Phase 2b results for efinopegdutide showed statistically significant MASH resolution without worsening fibrosis. The data add to investor optimism about Merck’s pipeline beyond Keytruda. Article: Merck (MRK) Could Be 7% Undervalued As MASH Trial Data Lifts Optimism
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck is scheduled to participate in the Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference in London. The appearance could provide investors with updates, but the announcement itself gives no new financial or clinical information. Article: Merck to Participate in the Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference in London
• Negative Sentiment: Potential U.S. drug-price negotiations are a longer-term risk for Merck, with the article describing the company as facing a bigger test in coming years. Article: EXCLUSIVE: Lilly, Gilead Face Near-Term Drug Pricing Risks As Washington Turns Up Heat

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Argus started coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Tuesday, November 3rd. They issued a "strong-buy" rating for the company. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Monday, October 19th. Wolfe Research boosted their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $155.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 30th. Finally, HSBC increased their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $172.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $155.74.

Merck & Co., Inc. Profile

Merck & Co., Inc. is a global pharmaceutical company that develops and markets prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal-health products. The company's research and commercial activities span areas including oncology, infectious diseases, vaccines, cardiovascular disease and immunology. Its products include the cancer medicine Keytruda and the Gardasil vaccine. Founded in the United States in 1891, Merck & Co. became an independent company in 1917. It is headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey, and operates internationally.

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