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NYSE:MRK

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Stock Forecast, Price & News

$102.34
-0.61 (-0.59%)
(As of 11:22 AM ET)
Compare
Today's Range
$101.79
▼
$102.83
50-Day Range
$102.95
▼
$111.34
52-Week Range
$86.02
▼
$119.65
Volume
1.88 million shs
Average Volume
7.52 million shs
Market Capitalization
$259.69 billion
P/E Ratio
83.89
Dividend Yield
2.85%
Price Target
$124.74
ProfileAnalyst RatingsChartCompetitorsDividendEarningsFinancialsInsider TradesInstitutional OwnershipHeadlinesOptions ChainSEC FilingsShort InterestSocial MediaSustainability

Merck & Co., Inc. MarketRank™ Forecast

Analyst Rating
Moderate Buy
2.74 Rating Score
Upside/​Downside
21.2% Upside
$124.74 Price Target
Short Interest
Healthy
0.55% of Shares Sold Short
Dividend Strength
Strong
Based on Four Factors
Sustainability
-2.33
Upright™ Environmental Score
News Sentiment
1.22mentions of Merck & Co., Inc. in the last 14 days
Based on 13 Articles This Week
Insider Trading
Selling Shares
$937,998 Sold Last Quarter
Proj. Earnings Growth
180.86%
From $3.03 to $8.51 Per Share

Overall MarketRank™

MarketRank is calculated as an average of available category scores, with extra weight given to analysis and valuation.

3.16 out of 5 stars

Medical Sector

20th out of 969 stocks

Pharmaceutical Preparations Industry

5th out of 453 stocks

See Top Rated MarketRank™ Stocks Here

MRK stock logo

About Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) Stock

Merck & Co., Inc. is a US-based multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company. It was officially founded in 1891 as the US arm of Merck Group, headquartered in Germany. Merck Group was founded in 1668 when Friedrick Jacob Merck purchased a pharmacy in Darmstadt, Germany. The company transformed from a pharmacy into a drug manufacturer in 1827 with the commercialization of morphine and the perfection of the manufacturing process. The company will later gain recognition for isolating and commercializing the manufacture of cocaine as well.

Merck Group sent Theodore Weicker to New York as its representative in 1889 and he quickly began to set up operations. The original investment of $200,000 resulted in a facility in lower Manhattan and the addition of Merck family member George Merck to the project. They began operations in 1891 and were in business as the US branch of Merck Group until 1917 and the onset of World War I.

World War I brought about the Trading With The Enemy Act of 1917 and the nationalization of Merck Group’s US operations. Those operations were repurchased at a government auction only 2 years later with the help of Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers, but the split was done. The company retained rights to the Merck name in the US but remained independent. One of many noteworthy achievements in the post-War period is the discovery of streptomycin, which was revolutionary in treating tuberculosis.

In 1953 the company merged with Sharp& Dohme to form the then 2nd largest US drug manufacturer. The merger brought smallpox vaccines to the portfolio and opened a new avenue of research for the business. Since then, advancements in vaccine technology include treatments for mumps and chickenpox. Other notable advancements include the discovery of statins as a cholesterol inhibitor and work in veterinary medicine.

Today, Merck & Co operates through 2 segments and under 2 different names with a headquarters in Kenilworth, NJ.  The company operates as Merck & Co in the US and as Merck Sharp & Dohme outside the US and Canada. The 2 segments are Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. Revenue topped $49 billion in 2022 and employed more than 68,000 people. The company has 8 research facilities near major university systems, including 7 in the US and 1 in the UK. As of 2022, the company had 82 pipeline products in Phase 2 trials, 30 in Phase 3 trials and 3 under review.

The Pharmaceutical segment researches discover and commercializes human health products in several areas of medicine. These include but are not limited to oncology, acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes. This segment has 6 blockbuster drugs as of late 2022, with each generating more than $1 billion in revenue. The leading treatments are Keytruda for treating cancer-related immune conditions, Gardisil which is a vaccine for HPV and Januvia for treating Type-II diabetes. The Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets veterinary healthcare products and services. Both segments sell to healthcare facilities and distributors.

MRK Price History

MRK Stock News Headlines

September 20, 2023 | marketbeat.com
Flee to Healthcare Stocks if Recession Rears its Head? (MRK)
In uncertain economic conditions, healthcare stocks can be a refuge due to steady demand and favorable inflation conditions. Many also offer dividends.
October 2, 2023 | americanbankingnews.com
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) Receives Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts
October 2, 2023 | Edge On The Street (Ad)
Gold Could Be Heading for Record Highs - But How to Play It?
According to FX Empire, the gold forecast is now bullish, with support for a $3,000 target in 2024. The big question is how to play it. Some investors are discovering a unique gold investment alternative that sidesteps the major issues with gold mining stocks or physical gold.
September 29, 2023 | americanbankingnews.com
Equities Analysts Set Expectations for Merck & Co., Inc.'s Q4 2024 Earnings (NYSE:MRK)
September 28, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Merck Receives Priority Review from FDA for New Biologics License Application for Sotatercept, an Activin Signaling Inhibitor to Treat Adults with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
September 27, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Merck & Co., Inc.'s (NYSE:MRK) Fundamentals Look Pretty Strong: Could The Market Be Wrong About The Stock?
September 22, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Merck Announces Phase 3 KEYNOTE-A39/EV-302 Trial Met Dual Primary Endpoints of Overall Survival (OS) and Progression-Free Survival (PFS) in Certain Patients With Previously Untreated Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Cancer
September 21, 2023 | seekingalpha.com
Merck: Still Fundamentally Undervalued Considering Keytruda's Prospects
October 2, 2023 | Edge On The Street (Ad)
Gold Could Be Heading for Record Highs - But How to Play It?
According to FX Empire, the gold forecast is now bullish, with support for a $3,000 target in 2024. The big question is how to play it. Some investors are discovering a unique gold investment alternative that sidesteps the major issues with gold mining stocks or physical gold.
September 20, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Merck (MRK) Stock Moves -0.05%: What You Should Know
September 20, 2023 | marketwatch.com
Merck & Co. Inc. stock outperforms market despite losses on the day
September 20, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
FDA Accepts Merck (MRK) sNDA for Welireg in Renal Cell Carcinoma
September 20, 2023 | msn.com
Merck: A Blue-Chip Dividend Stock Worth Buying
September 20, 2023 | msn.com
Merck: Secure A Safe 8% Annualized Return For The Next Decade
September 20, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
FDA Grants Priority Review to Merck’s Application for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy as Treatment for Patients With Newly Diagnosed High-Risk Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer
September 19, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
FDA Accepts for Priority Review Merck’s Supplemental New Drug Application for WELIREG® (belzutifan) in Certain Previously Treated Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)
September 15, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Merck Receives Positive EU CHMP Opinion for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) as Adjuvant Treatment for Adults with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer at High Risk of Recurrence Following Complete Resection and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy
September 14, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Merck & Co Inc (MRK): A Comprehensive Analysis of its Dividend Performance and Sustainability
September 13, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Is Merck (NYSE:MRK) A Risky Investment?
September 11, 2023 | seekingalpha.com
Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Morgan Stanley 21st Annual Global Healthcare Conference (Transcript)
September 11, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Merck Presents New Analyses Supporting the Promising Potential of Sotatercept, its Investigational Medicine for Adults with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
September 11, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Reasons for the Rise of Merck & Co. (MRK) in Q2
September 8, 2023 | msn.com
Merck's (MRK) Ebola Vaccine Gets Approval for Kids in Europe
September 7, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is a favorite amongst institutional investors who own 78%
September 6, 2023 | seekingalpha.com
Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Citi 18th Annual BioPharma Conference (Transcript)
September 5, 2023 | markets.businessinsider.com
Cantor Fitzgerald Sticks to Its Buy Rating for Merck & Company (MRK)
September 5, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Long-Term Follow-up Data on Sustained Immunogenicity and Safety for GARDASIL®9 Published in Pediatrics
See More Headlines
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MRK Company Calendar

Ex-Dividend for 7/10 Dividend
6/14/2023
Dividend Payable
7/10/2023
Last Earnings
8/01/2023
Ex-Dividend for 10/6 Dividend
9/14/2023
Today
10/02/2023
Dividend Payable
10/06/2023
Next Earnings (Confirmed)
10/26/2023
Fiscal Year End
12/31/2023
Get Stock Alerts

Industry, Sector and Symbol

Stock Exchange
NYSE
Industry
Pharmaceutical preparations
Sub-Industry
Pharmaceuticals
Sector
Medical
Current Symbol
NYSE:MRK
CUSIP
58933Y10
CIK
310158
Web
www.merck.com
Phone
(908) 740-4000
Fax
908-735-1253
Employees
69,000
Year Founded
1891

Price Target and Rating

Average Stock Price Forecast
$124.74
High Stock Price Forecast
$135.00
Low Stock Price Forecast
$113.00
Forecasted Upside/Downside
+21.2%
Consensus Rating
Moderate Buy
Rating Score (0-4)
2.74
Research Coverage
19 Analysts

Profitability

EPS (Most Recent Fiscal Year)
$1.22
Trailing P/E Ratio
84.39
Forward P/E Ratio
33.98
P/E Growth
4.06
Net Income
$14.52 billion
Net Margins
5.34%
Pretax Margin
9.28%
Return on Equity
16.29%
Return on Assets
6.70%

Debt

Debt-to-Equity Ratio
0.88
Current Ratio
1.28
Quick Ratio
1.03

Sales & Book Value

Annual Sales
$59.28 billion
Price / Sales
4.41
Cash Flow
$9.04 per share
Price / Cash Flow
11.39
Book Value
$18.17 per share
Price / Book
5.67

Miscellaneous

Outstanding Shares
2,537,520,000
Free Float
2,532,446,000
Market Cap
$261.24 billion
Optionable
Optionable
Beta
0.33

Social Links

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Key Executives

  • Mr. Robert M. Davis J.D.Mr. Robert M. Davis J.D. (Age 56)
    Chairman, Pres & CEO
    Comp: $6.08M
  • Ms. Caroline LitchfieldMs. Caroline Litchfield (Age 54)
    Exec. VP & CFO
    Comp: $2.8M
  • Ms. Jennifer L. Zachary (Age 45)
    Exec. VP & Gen. Counsel
    Comp: $2.73M
  • Dr. Dean Y. Li M.D. (Age 61)
    Ph.D., Exec. VP & Pres of Merck Research Laboratories
    Comp: $3.44M
  • Mr. Chirfi Guindo (Age 57)
    Sr. VP & Chief Marketing Officer for Merck Human Health
    Comp: $1.54M
  • Mr. David Michael Williams (Age 54)
    Exec. VP and Chief Information & Digital Officer
  • Mr. Peter Dannenbaum
    VP of Investor Relations
  • Lisa LeCointe-Cephas (Age 41)
    Sr. VP and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer
  • Ms. Cristal N. Downing (Age 53)
    Exec. VP and Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer
  • Mr. Steven C. MizellMr. Steven C. Mizell (Age 63)
    Exec. VP & Chief HR Officer

Key Competitors

View All Competitors

Insiders & Institutions

View All Insider Transactions
View All Institutional Transactions













MRK Stock - Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy or sell Merck & Co., Inc. stock right now?

19 Wall Street equities research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Merck & Co., Inc. in the last year. There are currently 5 hold ratings and 14 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street equities research analysts is that investors should "moderate buy" MRK shares.
View MRK analyst ratings or view top-rated stocks.

What is Merck & Co., Inc.'s stock price forecast for 2023?

19 equities research analysts have issued 1 year target prices for Merck & Co., Inc.'s stock. Their MRK share price forecasts range from $113.00 to $135.00. On average, they predict the company's stock price to reach $124.74 in the next twelve months. This suggests a possible upside of 21.2% from the stock's current price.
View analysts price targets for MRK or view top-rated stocks among Wall Street analysts.

How have MRK shares performed in 2023?

Merck & Co., Inc.'s stock was trading at $110.95 at the beginning of the year. Since then, MRK stock has decreased by 7.2% and is now trading at $102.95.
View the best growth stocks for 2023 here.

When is Merck & Co., Inc.'s next earnings date?

The company is scheduled to release its next quarterly earnings announcement on Thursday, October 26th 2023.
View our MRK earnings forecast.

How can I listen to Merck & Co., Inc.'s earnings call?

Merck & Co., Inc. will be holding an earnings conference call on Thursday, October 26th at 9:00 AM Eastern. Interested parties can register for or listen to the call using this link.

How were Merck & Co., Inc.'s earnings last quarter?

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August, 1st. The company reported ($2.06) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($2.18) by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $15.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.44 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 5.34% and a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 16.29%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.87 earnings per share.
Read the conference call transcript.

How often does Merck & Co., Inc. pay dividends? What is the dividend yield for Merck & Co., Inc.?

Merck & Co., Inc. declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, July 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.73 per share on Friday, October 6th. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.84%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 14th.
Read our dividend analysis for MRK.

What ETFs hold Merck & Co., Inc.'s stock?

ETFs with the largest weight of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) stock in their portfolio include First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (FTXH), Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF (SPMO), Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (PJP), Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV), iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (IYH), Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT), Optimize AI Smart Sentiment Event-Driven ETF (OAIE) and VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH).

Is Merck & Co., Inc. a good dividend stock?

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) pays an annual dividend of $2.92 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 2.84%. The company has been increasing its dividend for 12 consecutive years, indicating the company has a strong committment to maintain and grow its dividend. The dividend payout ratio is 239.34%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, MRK will have a dividend payout ratio of 34.31% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend.
Read our dividend analysis for MRK.

What guidance has Merck & Co., Inc. issued on next quarter's earnings?

Merck & Co., Inc. updated its FY23 earnings guidance on Tuesday, August, 1st. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $2.95-3.05 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.90. The company issued revenue guidance of $58.6-59.6 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $58.67 billion.

What is Kenneth C. Frazier's approval rating as Merck & Co., Inc.'s CEO?

1,343 employees have rated Merck & Co., Inc. Chief Executive Officer Kenneth C. Frazier on Glassdoor.com. Kenneth C. Frazier has an approval rating of 94% among the company's employees. This puts Kenneth C. Frazier in the top 30% of approval ratings compared to other CEOs of publicly-traded companies.

What other stocks do shareholders of Merck & Co., Inc. own?

Based on aggregate information from My MarketBeat watchlists, some companies that other Merck & Co., Inc. investors own include Pfizer (PFE), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), AT&T (T), Intel (INTC), Cisco Systems (CSCO), Walt Disney (DIS), Verizon Communications (VZ), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), AbbVie (ABBV) and Home Depot (HD).

What is Merck & Co., Inc.'s stock symbol?

Merck & Co., Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol "MRK."

How do I buy shares of Merck & Co., Inc.?

Shares of MRK stock can be purchased through any online brokerage account. Popular online brokerages with access to the U.S. stock market include WeBull, Vanguard Brokerage Services, TD Ameritrade, E*TRADE, Robinhood, Fidelity, and Charles Schwab.
Compare Top Brokerages Here.

What is Merck & Co., Inc.'s stock price today?

One share of MRK stock can currently be purchased for approximately $102.95.

How much money does Merck & Co., Inc. make?

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) has a market capitalization of $261.24 billion and generates $59.28 billion in revenue each year. The company earns $14.52 billion in net income (profit) each year or $1.22 on an earnings per share basis.

How many employees does Merck & Co., Inc. have?

The company employs 69,000 workers across the globe.

How can I contact Merck & Co., Inc.?

Merck & Co., Inc.'s mailing address is 2000 GALLOPING HILL ROAD, KENILWORTH NJ, 07033. The official website for the company is www.merck.com. The company can be reached via phone at (908) 740-4000, via email at investor_relations@merck.com, or via fax at 908-735-1253.

This page (NYSE:MRK) was last updated on 10/2/2023 by MarketBeat.com Staff

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