4,076 Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Shares Sold by Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC

Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC lowered its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 3.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 118,054 shares of the company’s stock after selling 4,076 shares during the period. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $16,956,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Massachusetts Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 7.5% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management now owns 25,502 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,706,000 after purchasing an additional 1,785 shares during the period. Bender Robert & Associates lifted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. Bender Robert & Associates now owns 4,210 shares of the company’s stock valued at $612,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 26.0% during the 3rd quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC now owns 9,265 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,346,000 after purchasing an additional 1,914 shares during the period. Piedmont Capital Management LLC NC grew its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Piedmont Capital Management LLC NC now owns 4,866 shares of the company’s stock worth $707,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the period. Finally, Kings Path Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the 3rd quarter worth about $408,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently issued reports on MRK shares. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 3rd. Guggenheim lifted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $146.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 8th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $152.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 20th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $145.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 12th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $151.92.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: The European Commission approved KEYTRUDA plus Padcev as perioperative treatment for adults with resectable muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The expanded indication strengthens Merck’s oncology portfolio, supports additional long-term revenue opportunities and reinforces the commercial value of the two-drug combination. European Commission KEYTRUDA and Padcev approval
• Positive Sentiment: The latest trading session saw Merck outperform the broader market, reflecting investor interest in its strong oncology franchise and recent product catalysts. Merck outperforms the stock market
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck’s participation in the growing bioconjugation and cell-culture-media markets provides potential exposure to expanding biopharmaceutical research demand, but the reports offer no specific financial impact or new company guidance. Bioconjugation market report Cell culture media market report
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports on Merck’s phase 3 melanoma results and ETF selling could influence sentiment, but the available information does not provide enough detail to assess the magnitude or durability of either development. Merck phase 3 melanoma results
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research downgraded Merck from “hold” to “strong sell,” adding selling pressure and highlighting valuation or growth concerns.
• Negative Sentiment: KEYTRUDA and KEYTRUDA QLEX remain Merck’s primary earnings engine, while U.S. growth is expected to moderate as the drug approaches peak penetration. The looming patent cliff and a legal setback affecting subcutaneous KEYTRUDA sales in several European markets increase concerns about Merck’s ability to replace future lost revenue with newer treatments. Merck KEYTRUDA growth and patent cliff analysis

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Chirfi Guindo sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.00, for a total transaction of $1,350,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 36,613 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,942,755. The trade was a 21.45% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jennifer Zachary sold 80,315 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $133.46, for a total value of $10,718,839.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 45,509 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,073,631.14. This represents a 63.83% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 228,238 shares of company stock valued at $29,977,783. Company insiders own 0.17% of the company’s stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of NYSE MRK opened at $149.98 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $146.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $129.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 12-month low of $82.01 and a 12-month high of $156.92. The company has a market cap of $370.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 119.98, a P/E/G ratio of 6.85 and a beta of 0.21.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.26) by $0.13. The company had revenue of $16.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $16.37 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 16.73% and a net margin of 4.77%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.13 earnings per share. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th were paid a $0.85 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Merck & Co., Inc.’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 272.00%.

Merck & Co., Inc. Profile

Merck & Co, Inc is a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures and markets prescription medicines, vaccines and animal-health products. Its pharmaceutical business focuses on oncology, infectious diseases, cardiology, immunology and other areas of significant medical need. The company serves patients, healthcare providers and institutions in markets worldwide.

Merck’s principal products include Keytruda, an immunotherapy used to treat a range of cancers; Gardasil and Gardasil 9, vaccines that help protect against human papillomavirus; and Januvia and Janumet, medicines used to manage type 2 diabetes.