S&P 500   4,184.03 (-0.51%)
DOW   32,905.23 (-0.42%)
QQQ   348.83 (-0.33%)
AAPL   179.09 (+1.01%)
MSFT   330.52 (-0.21%)
META   263.67 (+0.44%)
GOOGL   123.26 (-0.33%)
AMZN   120.22 (-1.18%)
TSLA   200.43 (-0.36%)
NVDA   386.26 (-3.70%)
NIO   7.38 (-0.40%)
BABA   79.43 (+0.97%)
AMD   120.37 (-3.91%)
T   15.77 (+0.83%)
F   12.08 (-4.05%)
MU   68.33 (-4.69%)
CGC   0.81 (-4.54%)
GE   100.90 (-1.46%)
DIS   87.90 (+0.09%)
AMC   4.51 (-2.59%)
PFE   37.86 (+2.30%)
PYPL   61.86 (-0.31%)
NFLX   395.17 (+0.56%)
S&P 500   4,184.03 (-0.51%)
DOW   32,905.23 (-0.42%)
QQQ   348.83 (-0.33%)
AAPL   179.09 (+1.01%)
MSFT   330.52 (-0.21%)
META   263.67 (+0.44%)
GOOGL   123.26 (-0.33%)
AMZN   120.22 (-1.18%)
TSLA   200.43 (-0.36%)
NVDA   386.26 (-3.70%)
NIO   7.38 (-0.40%)
BABA   79.43 (+0.97%)
AMD   120.37 (-3.91%)
T   15.77 (+0.83%)
F   12.08 (-4.05%)
MU   68.33 (-4.69%)
CGC   0.81 (-4.54%)
GE   100.90 (-1.46%)
DIS   87.90 (+0.09%)
AMC   4.51 (-2.59%)
PFE   37.86 (+2.30%)
PYPL   61.86 (-0.31%)
NFLX   395.17 (+0.56%)
S&P 500   4,184.03 (-0.51%)
DOW   32,905.23 (-0.42%)
QQQ   348.83 (-0.33%)
AAPL   179.09 (+1.01%)
MSFT   330.52 (-0.21%)
META   263.67 (+0.44%)
GOOGL   123.26 (-0.33%)
AMZN   120.22 (-1.18%)
TSLA   200.43 (-0.36%)
NVDA   386.26 (-3.70%)
NIO   7.38 (-0.40%)
BABA   79.43 (+0.97%)
AMD   120.37 (-3.91%)
T   15.77 (+0.83%)
F   12.08 (-4.05%)
MU   68.33 (-4.69%)
CGC   0.81 (-4.54%)
GE   100.90 (-1.46%)
DIS   87.90 (+0.09%)
AMC   4.51 (-2.59%)
PFE   37.86 (+2.30%)
PYPL   61.86 (-0.31%)
NFLX   395.17 (+0.56%)
S&P 500   4,184.03 (-0.51%)
DOW   32,905.23 (-0.42%)
QQQ   348.83 (-0.33%)
AAPL   179.09 (+1.01%)
MSFT   330.52 (-0.21%)
META   263.67 (+0.44%)
GOOGL   123.26 (-0.33%)
AMZN   120.22 (-1.18%)
TSLA   200.43 (-0.36%)
NVDA   386.26 (-3.70%)
NIO   7.38 (-0.40%)
BABA   79.43 (+0.97%)
AMD   120.37 (-3.91%)
T   15.77 (+0.83%)
F   12.08 (-4.05%)
MU   68.33 (-4.69%)
CGC   0.81 (-4.54%)
GE   100.90 (-1.46%)
DIS   87.90 (+0.09%)
AMC   4.51 (-2.59%)
PFE   37.86 (+2.30%)
PYPL   61.86 (-0.31%)
NFLX   395.17 (+0.56%)
NYSE:MRK

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

$110.60
+1.43 (+1.31%)
(As of 02:40 PM ET)
Compare
Today's Range
$108.47
▼
$110.69
50-Day Range
$109.18
▼
$166.45
52-Week Range
$83.05
▼
$119.65
Volume
3.98 million shs
Average Volume
7.76 million shs
Market Capitalization
$280.64 billion
P/E Ratio
21.60
Dividend Yield
2.64%
Price Target
$120.75
ProfileAnalyst RatingsChartCompetitorsDividendEarningsFinancialsInsider TradesInstitutional OwnershipHeadlinesOptions ChainSEC FilingsShort InterestSocial MediaSustainability

Merck & Co., Inc. MarketRank™ Forecast

Analyst Rating
Moderate Buy
2.70 Rating Score
Upside/​Downside
9.3% Upside
$120.75 Price Target
Short Interest
Healthy
0.77% of Shares Sold Short
Dividend Strength
Strong
Based on Four Factors
Sustainability
-2.31
Upright™ Environmental Score
News Sentiment
0.59mentions of Merck & Co., Inc. in the last 14 days
Based on 9 Articles This Week
Insider Trading
Selling Shares
$56.48 M Sold Last Quarter
Proj. Earnings Growth
21.73%
From $6.95 to $8.46 Per Share

Overall MarketRank™

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

2.84 out of 5 stars

Medical Sector

17th out of 1,006 stocks

Pharmaceutical Preparations Industry

6th out of 492 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.

Receive MRK Stock News and Ratings via Email

Sign-up to receive the latest news and ratings for Merck & Co., Inc. and its competitors with MarketBeat's FREE daily newsletter.

MRK Stock News Headlines

May 30, 2023 | marketbeat.com
Iovance Biotherapeutics Spikes on Melanoma BLA FDA Application (MRK)
Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: IOVA) shares spiked over 20% on its advanced-stage melanoma treatment application to the U.S. Food and Drug Admin
May 18, 2023 | marketbeat.com
Pharma Giants Novartis, Lilly, Merck, and Novo Outperform Market (MRK)
Big pharma stocks Novartis, Eli Lilly, Merck, and Novo Nordisk are outperforming the market, driven by successful drugs and strong earnings growth.
May 31, 2023 | Edge On The Street (Ad)
146 Pounds of Graphite Needed for Each EV
Graphite - not lithium - is the largest component of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. That's why 97 more graphite mines will be needed by 2035 just to keep up with battery demand for the $7 trillion EV market.
May 4, 2023 | marketbeat.com
3 Underperforming Nasdaq 100 Stocks Worth a Closer Look (MRK)
Given the volatility and growth potential associated with the Nasdaq’s elite, investors may want to keep these recent underperformers on the watch list.
May 2, 2023 | marketbeat.com
Can-Fite BioPharma Spikes on Pancreatic Cancer Inhibition Finding (MRK)
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN: CANF) is an Israel-based biotechnology firm that develops small-molecule therapeutic treatments for cancers
May 2, 2023 | marketbeat.com
High-Yield Pfizer Falls Off The COVID Cliff, And Survives (MRK)
Pfizer is a value and high-yield compared to its peers and it it outperforming expectations in 2023; The pipeline is robust.
May 30, 2023 | msn.com
Cantor Fitzgerald Reiterates Merck (MRK) Overweight Recommendation
May 30, 2023 | seekingalpha.com
Merck: Solid Pharma Buy With Strong Upside If Keytruda Patents Extended
May 31, 2023 | Edge On The Street (Ad)
Soaring EV Industry Keeps Investor Focus on Lithium
The need for lithium keeps going up, up, up with the mass adoption of electric vehicles. The lithium demand for EV batteries alone is now double the rate of lithium production.
May 30, 2023 | markets.businessinsider.com
Analysts Have Conflicting Sentiments on These Healthcare Companies: Rain Therapeutics (RAIN), Merck & Company (MRK) and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals (LXRX)
May 25, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) Demonstrates Long-Term, Durable Survival Benefit Versus Sunitinib as First-Line Treatment for Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
May 25, 2023 | americanbankingnews.com
Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Quarterly Dividend of $0.73 (NYSE:MRK)
May 24, 2023 | msn.com
Unusual Call Option Trade in Merck (MRK) Worth $618.80K
May 23, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Merck Announces Third-Quarter 2023 Dividend
May 18, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
25 Most Prescribed Medication in the World
May 18, 2023 | americanbankingnews.com
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) Coverage Initiated by Analysts at StockNews.com
May 16, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Drugmakers Circle $23 Billion Biotech Argenx Ahead of Key Data
May 16, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top 15 Dividend Stock Picks
May 16, 2023 | americanbankingnews.com
Zacks Research Equities Analysts Raise Earnings Estimates for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)
May 15, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
Merck to Present Extensive New Research Demonstrating Significant Progress in the Treatment of Certain Earlier Stage Cancers and in Advancing Broad Oncology Pipeline at 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
May 14, 2023 | seekingalpha.com
Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Bank of America Securities 2023 Healthcare Conference Transcript
May 11, 2023 | msn.com
Unusual Put Option Trade in Merck (MRK) Worth $1,012.00K
May 11, 2023 | finance.yahoo.com
UPDATE 1-Merck KGaA aims to build domestic supply chains in China
May 10, 2023 | marketwatch.com
Merck & Co. Inc. stock rises Wednesday, still underperforms market
May 10, 2023 | americanbankingnews.com
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) Given Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages
May 9, 2023 | forbes.com
Should You Buy Merck Stock At $120?
May 8, 2023 | marketwatch.com
Merck & Co. Inc. stock rises Monday, outperforms market
See More Headlines
Receive MRK Stock News and Ratings via Email

Sign-up to receive the latest news and ratings for Merck & Co., Inc. and its competitors with MarketBeat's FREE daily newsletter.

MRK Company Calendar

Ex-Dividend for 4/10 Dividend
3/14/2023
Dividend Payable
4/10/2023
Last Earnings
4/27/2023
Today
5/31/2023
Ex-Dividend for 7/10 Dividend
6/14/2023
Dividend Payable
7/10/2023
Next Earnings (Estimated)
7/27/2023
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
$120.75
High Stock Price Forecast
$135.00
Low Stock Price Forecast
$98.00
Forecasted Upside/Downside
+10.6%
Consensus Rating
Moderate Buy
Rating Score (0-4)
2.70
Research Coverage
23 Analysts

Profitability

EPS (Most Recent Fiscal Year)
$5.12
Trailing P/E Ratio
21.32
Forward P/E Ratio
15.71
P/E Growth
1.93
Net Income
$14.52 billion
Net Margins
22.52%
Pretax Margin
26.32%
Return on Equity
37.92%
Return on Assets
15.90%

Debt

Debt-to-Equity Ratio
0.60
Current Ratio
1.44
Quick Ratio
1.19

Sales & Book Value

Annual Sales
$59.28 billion
Price / Sales
4.67
Cash Flow
$8.88 per share
Price / Cash Flow
12.29
Book Value
$18.49 per share
Price / Book
5.90

Miscellaneous

Outstanding Shares
2,537,440,000
Free Float
2,532,361,000
Market Cap
$277.04 billion
Optionable
Optionable
Beta
0.34

Social Links


Key Executives

  • Robert M. DavisRobert M. Davis
    Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
  • Caroline A. LitchfieldCaroline A. Litchfield
    Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President
  • Dave Williams
    Chief Information & Digital Officer
  • Lisa LeCointe-Cephas
    Senior VP, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer
  • Sanat ChattopadhyaySanat Chattopadhyay
    EVP & President-Merck Manufacturing Division

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?

23 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Merck & Co., Inc. in the last year. There are currently 7 hold ratings and 16 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street analysts is that investors should "buy" MRK shares.
View MRK analyst ratings or view top-rated stocks.

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

23 analysts have issued 12-month price targets for Merck & Co., Inc.'s shares. Their MRK share price forecasts range from $98.00 to $135.00. On average, they expect the company's share price to reach $120.75 in the next year. This suggests a possible upside of 10.6% 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 $180.90 at the start of the year. Since then, MRK shares have decreased by 39.6% and is now trading at $109.18.
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, July 27th 2023.
View our MRK earnings forecast.

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

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April, 27th. The company reported $1.40 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.34 by $0.06. The business earned $14.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.81 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 22.52% and a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 37.92%. The company's revenue was down 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.14 EPS.
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, May 23rd. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.73 per share on Monday, July 10th. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 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 iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE), Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF (SPMO), First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (FTXH), Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV), Invesco Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF (PJP), VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH), iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (IYH) and Absolute Select Value ETF (ABEQ).

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 2.63%. 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 57.03%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, MRK will have a dividend payout ratio of 34.52% 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. issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday, April, 27th. The company provided EPS guidance of $6.88-$7.00 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.91. The company issued revenue guidance of $57.70 billion-$58.90 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $58.28 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."

Who are Merck & Co., Inc.'s major shareholders?

Merck & Co., Inc.'s stock is owned by many different institutional and retail investors. Top institutional shareholders include BlackRock Inc. (8.24%), State Street Corp (4.59%), Wellington Management Group LLP (2.70%), Geode Capital Management LLC (2.02%), FMR LLC (1.41%) and Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. (1.21%). Insiders that own company stock include Caroline Litchfield, Frank Clyburn, Johannes Jacobus Oosthuizen, Joseph Romanelli, Julie L Gerberding, Kenneth C Frazier, Richard R Deluca, Rita A Karachun, Robert M Davis, Sanat Chattopadhyay and Steven Mizell.
View institutional ownership trends.

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 $109.18.

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

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) has a market capitalization of $277.04 billion and generates $59.28 billion in revenue each year. The company earns $14.52 billion in net income (profit) each year or $5.12 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 5/31/2023 by MarketBeat.com Staff

My Account -