Zacks Research Analysts Lower Earnings Estimates for MRK

Key Points

• Zacks Research analysts have lowered their Q4 2026 earnings estimate for Merck & Co., Inc. to $2.36 per share from the previous estimate of $2.40.
• Merck's current full-year earnings consensus estimate stands at $9.01 per share, with FY2027 estimates set at $10.05 EPS.
• Institutional investors hold approximately 76.07% of Merck's stock, indicating a strong institutional interest in the company.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Free Report) - Equities research analysts at Zacks Research dropped their Q4 2026 earnings estimates for Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report issued on Monday, October 13th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the company will post earnings of $2.36 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $2.40. The consensus estimate for Merck & Co., Inc.'s current full-year earnings is $9.01 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Merck & Co., Inc.'s FY2027 earnings at $10.05 EPS.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $97.00 to $90.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Monday. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $95.00 price objective for the company. Berenberg Bank downgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $100.00 to $90.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 17th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $99.00 to $98.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a "hold (c-)" rating on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $105.00.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

Merck & Co., Inc. stock opened at $84.82 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $211.86 billion, a PE ratio of 13.07, a P/E/G ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $83.67 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $81.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.42 and a quick ratio of 1.17. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 12 month low of $73.31 and a 12 month high of $111.58.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The company reported $2.13 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.03 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $15.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.92 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 25.79% and a return on equity of 41.05%. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.870-8.970 EPS.

Merck & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 7th. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th were issued a $0.81 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 15th. This represents a $3.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.8%. Merck & Co., Inc.'s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.92%.

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

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.6% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 252,513,381 shares of the company's stock worth $22,665,601,000 after acquiring an additional 1,417,274 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.1% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 81,669,651 shares of the company's stock worth $7,330,668,000 after acquiring an additional 927,621 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 9.4% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 53,865,466 shares of the company's stock worth $4,263,991,000 after acquiring an additional 4,636,183 shares in the last quarter. DLD Asset Management LP bought a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth about $2,889,340,000. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth about $2,858,570,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the company's stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company Profile

Merck & Co, Inc is a health care company, which engages in the provision of health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceutical, Animal Health, and Other. The Pharmaceutical segment includes human health pharmaceutical and vaccine products.

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