Western Financial Corp CA Acquires 29,043 Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Key Points

• Western Financial Corp CA increased its Merck stake by 531% in the third quarter, purchasing 29,043 additional shares and bringing its total holdings to 34,512 shares valued at approximately $5.0 million.
• Merck reported quarterly revenue of $16.61 billion, exceeding expectations, while analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with an average price target of $151.92.
• Merck paid a quarterly dividend of $0.85 per share, equivalent to an annualized $3.40 dividend and a 2.3% yield; however, recent insider transactions show executives selling shares.

Western Financial Corp CA raised its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) by 531.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 34,512 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 29,043 shares during the quarter. Merck & Co., Inc. accounts for approximately 1.6% of Western Financial Corp CA's portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest position. Western Financial Corp CA's holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $5,015,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC bought a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 2nd quarter valued at $11,470,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 2,578,024 shares of the company's stock worth $331,931,000 after acquiring an additional 51,393 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 7.0% during the 2nd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 6,184,340 shares of the company's stock worth $794,577,000 after acquiring an additional 402,011 shares during the last quarter. Talon Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 2nd quarter worth $995,000. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 12.3% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 2,073,176 shares of the company's stock worth $266,403,000 after acquiring an additional 227,589 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the company's stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Up 3.9%

Shares of NYSE:MRK opened at $147.47 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $363.83 billion, a PE ratio of 117.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.56 and a beta of 0.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $144.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $128.93. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1 year low of $82.01 and a 1 year high of $156.92.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.26) by $0.13. The company had revenue of $16.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $16.37 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 16.73% and a net margin of 4.77%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.13 EPS. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. Analysts forecast that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.66 earnings per share for the current year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were issued a dividend of $0.85 per share. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a 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 Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Scotiabank increased their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $155.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a "sector outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 29th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, October 3rd. Leerink Partners increased their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $127.00 to $161.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 9th. 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. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $143.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 12th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Merck & Co., Inc. presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $151.92.

Trending Headlines about Merck & Co., Inc.

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

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

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Chirfi Guindo sold 10,000 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.00, for a total value of $1,350,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 36,613 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,942,755. The trade was a 21.45% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Richard Deluca sold 11,699 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 110,167 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,501,282.21. The trade was a 9.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 228,238 shares of company stock valued at $29,977,783 in the last three months. 0.17% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Merck & Co., Inc. 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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