VMS Asset Management Limited Makes New Investment in Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Key Points

• VMS Asset Management initiated a $5.39 million Merck stake by purchasing 37,095 shares in the third quarter, making Merck about 2.1% of its portfolio. Institutional investors collectively own 76.07% of the company.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable: Merck has a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating from 27 analysts, with an average price target of $151.92. Keytruda growth, oncology pipeline data, and the Moderna cancer-vaccine partnership are cited as potential catalysts.
• Merck shares opened at $147.47, near their 12-month high of $156.92, while the company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.85, equivalent to a 2.3% annualized yield.

VMS Asset Management Limited purchased a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 37,095 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,390,000. Merck & Co., Inc. makes up about 2.1% of VMS Asset Management Limited's investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. B.A. Schrock Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the 3rd quarter valued at $3,516,000. Howard Financial Services LTD. increased its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 10.0% in the 3rd quarter. Howard Financial Services LTD. now owns 8,962 shares of the company's stock worth $1,302,000 after purchasing an additional 817 shares in the last quarter. Ashurst Perkins Coie Trust Co raised its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 8.7% in the third quarter. Ashurst Perkins Coie Trust Co now owns 3,554 shares of the company's stock valued at $516,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares during the last quarter. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. raised its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 7.0% in the third quarter. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 28,277 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,109,000 after purchasing an additional 1,840 shares during the last quarter. Finally, West Wealth Group LLC raised its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 28.4% in the third quarter. West Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,097 shares of the company's stock valued at $305,000 after purchasing an additional 464 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.07% of the company's stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Keytruda and pipeline catalysts support Q3 optimism. Continued Keytruda sales growth, expanded indications and newer launches could help Merck exceed third-quarter expectations. Will Keytruda Continue to Aid Merck's Top Line in Q3 Earnings?
• Positive Sentiment: Oncology pipeline data is an important longer-term catalyst. Merck plans to present first-time pivotal Phase 3 results from three studies and more than 90 additional abstracts at ESMO 2026, potentially providing evidence of growth opportunities as Keytruda eventually faces biosimilar pressure. Merck ESMO 2026 Oncology Pipeline Announcement
• Positive Sentiment: Management sounded constructive on the Moderna cancer vaccine partnership. CEO Rob Davis said manufacturing of the personalized cancer vaccine should become faster and more efficient as Merck and Moderna refine the complex production process. Merck CEO Discusses Cancer Vaccine Manufacturing
• Positive Sentiment: Leerink Partners initiated or reiterated a Buy rating on Merck, adding favorable analyst sentiment. Merck Gets a Buy Rating from Leerink Partners

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on MRK. Guggenheim upped their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $146.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 8th. CICC Research assumed coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Wednesday, June 24th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $138.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, October 5th. HSBC boosted their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $172.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, September 10th. Finally, Argus upped their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $145.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 25th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $151.92.

Merck & Co., Inc. Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MRK opened at $147.47 on Thursday. Merck & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $82.01 and a twelve month high of $156.92. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $144.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $128.93. The company has a market capitalization of $363.83 billion, a PE ratio of 117.97, a P/E/G ratio of 6.56 and a beta of 0.21. 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 released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.26) by $0.13. The business had revenue of $16.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.37 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 4.77% and a return on equity of 16.73%. Merck & Co., Inc.'s revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.13 earnings per share. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.66 EPS for the current year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed 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 of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. Merck & Co., Inc.'s payout ratio is currently 272.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP David Williams sold 52,847 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.77, for a total value of $6,805,108.19. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 31,716 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,084,069.32. The trade was a 62.49% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Richard Deluca sold 20,784 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.43, for a total value of $2,710,857.12. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 134,703 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,569,312.29. The trade was a 13.37% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 228,238 shares of company stock worth $29,977,783 over the last three months. Insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company Profile

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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