Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) Upgraded at Daiwa Securities Group

Key Points

• Daiwa Securities Group upgraded Merck to “outperform” from “neutral” and set a $143 price target, implying 9.71% upside from the reported $130.35 share price.
• Merck reported quarterly revenue of $16.61 billion, ahead of estimates, while adjusted EPS of $(0.13) beat the $(0.26) consensus estimate. The company maintained fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $2.66–$2.76.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus and a $135.50 average target, though investors face longer-term concerns including Keytruda patent expirations, declining estimates, and recent insider selling.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities researchers at Daiwa Securities Group from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating in a report released on Wednesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage presently has a $143.00 price objective on the stock. Daiwa Securities Group's target price points to a potential upside of 9.71% from the company's current price.

A number of other equities analysts have also commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Argus raised their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $145.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $135.00 to $142.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Merck & Co., Inc. currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $135.50.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock opened at $130.35 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02. Merck & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $77.58 and a twelve month high of $135.05. The stock has a market cap of $321.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 104.28, a P/E/G ratio of 5.66 and a beta of 0.19. The company's fifty day moving average is $124.58 and its 200 day moving average is $119.47.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last announced its 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. The business had revenue of $16.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.37 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 16.05% and a net margin of 4.77%.Merck & Co., Inc.'s revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.13 EPS. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.76 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP David R. Maraldo sold 18,706 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.72, for a total value of $2,407,836.32. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 18,212 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,344,248.64. The trade was a 50.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP David Michael Williams sold 52,847 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 owned 31,716 shares in the company, valued at $4,084,069.32. The trade was a 62.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders have sold 92,603 shares of company stock valued at $11,966,744. Company insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Merck & Co., Inc.

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of MRK. TrinityBridge Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the second quarter valued at about $446,000. Jupiter Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the 2nd quarter worth about $1,773,000. OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING Corp Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the 2nd quarter valued at about $969,000. Great Lakes Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the 2nd quarter valued at about $9,753,000. Finally, Oxbow Advisors LLC increased its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 8.9% in the 2nd quarter. Oxbow Advisors LLC now owns 3,575 shares of the company's stock valued at $459,000 after buying an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. 76.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Headlines Impacting Merck & Co., Inc.

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

• Positive Sentiment: Argus raised its price target to $145 and reiterated a “Buy” rating, implying additional upside from recent levels. The move adds to a generally favorable analyst view, with Merck carrying a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating. Argus raises Merck price target
• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group Bank increased its FY2026 earnings estimate to $2.75 per share from $2.70, broadly in line with the $2.76 consensus forecast. The revision signals modestly improved expectations for Merck’s profitability. Erste Group Bank earnings estimate update
• Positive Sentiment: The FDA and European Medicines Agency accepted applications to expand ENFLONSIA for RSV prevention in additional high-risk young children. Broader approval could strengthen Merck’s vaccine and infectious-disease portfolio and help diversify revenue as Keytruda faces future patent pressure. Merck wins FDA and EMA review for broader RSV use
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck’s latest quarter included $16.61 billion in revenue, ahead of estimates, with oncology and animal health supporting growth. However, reported EPS was negative because of significant charges, while full-year 2026 guidance remains $2.66–$2.76 per share. Merck Q2 2026 earnings call transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts continue to flag declining estimates and upcoming patent expirations, particularly the long-term risk to Keytruda, Merck’s major growth driver. These concerns could limit near-term upside despite pipeline progress. Merck stock outlook amid falling estimates and patent risks
• Negative Sentiment: Executive Vice President Richard Deluca sold 6,050 shares worth approximately $788,799. The transaction reduced his direct holdings by 3.75%, although insider sales alone do not necessarily indicate a change in the company’s fundamentals. Merck executive stock sale

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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