QRG Capital Management Inc. Purchases 36,295 Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Key Points

• QRG Capital boosted its Merck stake by 36,295 shares (a 9.5% increase) to 419,909 shares valued at about $44.2 million, and institutional investors now own roughly 76.07% of the stock.
• Insider selling accelerated: two EVPs sold shares on Feb. 6 and insiders disposed of 320,176 shares worth $38.28 million over the last quarter, leaving company insiders with just 0.17% ownership.
• Operational and analyst outlook — Merck beat Q1 revenue ($16.29B) and EPS expectations, set FY‑2026 guidance of $5.04–$5.16, and analysts have generally raised price targets (average target ~$128.18, consensus "Moderate Buy").

QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 9.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 419,909 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 36,295 shares during the quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc.'s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $44,200,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 254,322,763 shares of the company's stock worth $26,770,014,000 after purchasing an additional 2,185,853 shares in the last quarter. DLD Asset Management LP raised its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 30.1% in the third quarter. DLD Asset Management LP now owns 47,500,000 shares of the company's stock worth $3,986,675,000 after purchasing an additional 11,000,000 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc grew its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 5.9% during the third quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 20,659,157 shares of the company's stock worth $1,733,923,000 after acquiring an additional 1,156,112 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 16.6% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 19,844,936 shares of the company's stock worth $1,665,585,000 after acquiring an additional 2,821,766 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 20.7% during the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 15,933,909 shares of the company's stock worth $1,336,877,000 after acquiring an additional 2,735,459 shares during the last quarter. 76.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Merck & Co., Inc.

In related news, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 37,685 shares of the company'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 sale, the executive vice president owned 160,174 shares in the company, valued at $19,368,240.08. This represents a 19.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP David Michael Williams sold 5,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.91, for a total value of $609,550.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 30,838 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,759,460.58. The trade was a 13.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 320,176 shares of company stock valued at $38,281,735 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on MRK shares. TD Cowen boosted their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Guggenheim boosted their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $122.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $145.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Weiss Ratings restated a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Friday. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, April 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $128.18.

Trending Headlines about Merck & Co., Inc.

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat expectations — revenue of $16.29B, EPS ahead of consensus, and management maintained/raised FY‑2026 guidance and reiterated growth drivers from oncology and new launches. MRK Q1 Deep Dive
• Positive Sentiment: Pipeline and M&A boost long‑term thesis — recent FDA approval of the HIV regimen IDVYNSO, KEYTRUDA priority reviews and the Terns acquisition (adds TERN‑701) support upside beyond Keytruda. Analysts and bulls point to these as offsetting Patent risks. Pipeline & Terns Acquisition
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst and media support — major firms (Wells Fargo, BMO) reaffirm buy ratings and commentators such as Jim Cramer highlighted the quarter as a turning point, which helps sentiment. Wells Fargo Buy Rating BMO Buy Rating Jim Cramer on MRK
• Neutral Sentiment: Institutional commentary — Baron Capital highlighted MRK in its Q1 letter as an investment case, reflecting continued institutional interest but not immediate catalyst. Baron Capital Letter
• Negative Sentiment: Technical/price risk — chart analysts flag a confirmed double‑top breakdown and moving‑average resistance that could open a deeper correction, increasing short‑term downside risk despite fundamentals. Double Top Technical Risk
• Negative Sentiment: Sector rotation and shorter‑term profit‑taking — some sell pressure in pharma after strong earnings days for the sector has weighed on MRK intermittently, tempering the rally. Sector Sentiment Note

Merck & Co., Inc. Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MRK opened at $113.05 on Tuesday. The business's 50 day moving average price is $117.69 and its 200 day moving average price is $107.70. The firm has a market cap of $279.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.19. 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.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported ($1.28) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($1.47) by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $16.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.85 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 26.84% and a net margin of 13.59%.Merck & Co., Inc.'s revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.22 earnings per share. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.040-5.160 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 4.9 earnings per share for the current year.

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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