Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Stock Sold by Capital Investment Advisors LLC

Key Points

• Capital Investment Advisors cut its Merck stake by 41.6% in the third quarter, selling 156,799 shares and retaining 219,765 shares valued at approximately $31.9 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 76.07% of MRK.
• Merck insiders sold 228,238 shares worth nearly $30 million during the latest quarter, while the stock traded down 1.4% and opened at $145.25. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $151.92.
• Merck’s oncology pipeline received positive developments, including strong Phase 3 results for its personalized melanoma vaccine with Moderna and expanded EU approval for Keytruda plus Padcev. However, investors remain concerned about Keytruda’s patent-cliff exposure, valuation and forecast earnings declines.

Capital Investment Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 41.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 219,765 shares of the company's stock after selling 156,799 shares during the period. Capital Investment Advisors LLC's holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $31,934,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of MRK. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 7.4% in the third quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 78,616 shares of the company's stock valued at $11,424,000 after buying an additional 5,418 shares in the last quarter. BRIA Capital Group LLC lifted its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 22.8% during the third quarter. BRIA Capital Group LLC now owns 5,973 shares of the company's stock worth $868,000 after purchasing an additional 1,110 shares during the period. Rede Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $204,000. XXI Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. XXI Wealth LLC now owns 10,419 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,514,000 after purchasing an additional 298 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Credit Capital Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $509,000. 76.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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

In other news, EVP David Maraldo sold 18,706 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.72, for a total transaction of $2,407,836.32. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 18,212 shares in the company, valued at $2,344,248.64. This trade represents a 50.67% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Richard Deluca sold 11,699 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.63, for a total transaction of $1,539,939.37. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 110,167 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,501,282.21. This trade represents a 9.60% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 228,238 shares of company stock worth $29,977,783. 0.17% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

More Merck & Co., Inc. News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Merck and Moderna reported positive Phase 3 INTerpath-001 results for the personalized melanoma vaccine, intismeran, combined with Keytruda. The treatment reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 42% and also improved distant metastasis-free survival, supporting the long-term potential of the partnership’s oncology pipeline. Doctors call Moderna and Merck cancer vaccine data a major advancement
• Positive Sentiment: The European Commission approved Keytruda plus Padcev as a perioperative treatment for resectable muscle-invasive bladder cancer, regardless of patients’ cisplatin eligibility. The broader label expands the addressable market and represents the EU’s first approval of a PD-1 inhibitor combined with an antibody-drug conjugate in this setting. Merck wins EU approval for Keytruda plus Padcev
• Neutral Sentiment: Despite strong clinical results, the vaccine announcement triggered a “sell-the-news” reaction. The data largely met elevated Wall Street expectations after an earlier leak, limiting the immediate upside for MRK even though oncologists viewed the results as an important treatment advance. Merck and Moderna shares fall on cancer vaccine results
• Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned about valuation and Merck’s future revenue concentration in Keytruda ahead of its patent cliff. Analysts have also characterized the recent rally as leaving limited margin of safety, increasing the risk of profit-taking when news is merely in line with expectations. Merck rally leaves little margin of safety
• Negative Sentiment: Erste Group Bank reduced its FY2026 EPS estimate to $2.63 from $2.73 and its FY2027 estimate to $9.38 from $9.47. Separate previews also anticipate a year-over-year decline in quarterly earnings, adding near-term pressure to the shares. Merck earnings preview

Merck & Co., Inc. Trading Down 1.4%

MRK opened at $145.25 on Friday. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 52 week low of $82.01 and a 52 week high of $156.92. The stock has a market cap of $358.35 billion, a PE ratio of 116.20, a PEG ratio of 6.83 and a beta of 0.21. The business has a 50 day moving average of $146.98 and a 200-day moving average of $130.17. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.26) by $0.13. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 16.73% and a net margin of 4.77%. The firm had revenue of $16.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.37 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.13 EPS. Merck & Co., Inc.'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. Equities research analysts predict that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th were paid a $0.85 dividend. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. Merck & Co., Inc.'s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 272.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MRK has been the subject of several analyst reports. Rothschild & Co Redburn raised their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, July 6th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $179.00 to $177.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Leerink Partners boosted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $127.00 to $161.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 9th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $145.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 20th. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group upgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $143.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 12th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $151.92.

About Merck & Co., Inc.

Merck & Co, Inc is a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures and markets prescription medicines, vaccines and animal-health products. Its pharmaceutical business focuses on oncology, infectious diseases, cardiology, immunology and other areas of significant medical need. The company serves patients, healthcare providers and institutions in markets worldwide.

Merck's principal products include Keytruda, an immunotherapy used to treat a range of cancers; Gardasil and Gardasil 9, vaccines that help protect against human papillomavirus; and Januvia and Janumet, medicines used to manage type 2 diabetes.

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