Merck KGaA (OTCMKTS:MKGAF) Shares Gap Up – Here’s What Happened

Merck KGaA (OTCMKTS:MKGAF)’s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $158.1480, but opened at $168.7840. Merck KGaA shares last traded at $159.0560, with a volume of 47 shares trading hands.

Merck KGaA Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $20.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.28 and a beta of 0.96. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $163.21 and its 200-day moving average is $148.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.31.

Institutional Trading of Merck KGaA

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new stake in Merck KGaA during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $3,923,774,000. Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new position in Merck KGaA in the 2nd quarter valued at $2,425,225,000. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC purchased a new position in Merck KGaA in the 2nd quarter valued at $942,087,000. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec acquired a new stake in Merck KGaA during the 2nd quarter worth $571,582,000. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new stake in shares of Merck KGaA in the second quarter valued at about $536,694,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

About Merck KGaA

Merck KGaA, headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, is a long-established multinational chemical and pharmaceutical company with roots dating back to 1668. Operating under the brand Merck Group (and using distinct consumer-facing names in certain regions to avoid confusion with other companies of similar name), the company is privately controlled by the Merck family and organizes its activities across multiple business units that serve customers in Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and beyond.

The company’s operations are organized mainly into three businesses.