Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Stock Purchased by Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC

Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 17.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 46,821 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,898 shares during the quarter. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $6,804,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MRK. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 226,999,837 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,169,479,000 after buying an additional 1,073,507 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.9% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 120,413,256 shares of the company’s stock worth $15,573,754,000 after acquiring an additional 1,087,583 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 2.3% during the second quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 86,249,283 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,083,033,000 after acquiring an additional 1,934,312 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 10.5% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 30,774,221 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,701,831,000 after acquiring an additional 2,919,780 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 23.8% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 15,456,039 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,858,938,000 after acquiring an additional 2,969,856 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 76.07% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Merck & Co., Inc.

In other news, EVP Chirfi Guindo sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.00, for a total value of $1,965,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 46,613 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,106,303. This trade represents a 24.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 20,784 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction on Monday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.43, for a total transaction of $2,710,857.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 134,703 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,569,312.29. The trade was a 13.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 228,238 shares of company stock worth $29,977,783 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.17% of the company’s stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Down 3.4%

MRK opened at $140.36 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $346.28 billion, a PE ratio of 112.29, a P/E/G ratio of 6.74 and a beta of 0.21. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 52 week low of $82.01 and a 52 week high of $156.92. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $146.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is $125.84.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.26) by $0.13. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 16.73% and a net margin of 4.77%. The business had revenue of $16.61 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.37 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.13 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were issued a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. Merck & Co., Inc.’s dividend payout ratio is currently 272.00%.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Merck and partner Daiichi Sankyo reported positive Phase 3 results for sacituzumab tirumotecan (Sac-TMT) in certain patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. The treatment reduced the risk of death by 32% and the risk of disease progression or death by 41% versus chemotherapy; median overall survival was 19 months compared with 12.1 months. An FDA decision is expected by June 2027. Sac-TMT Phase 3 results
• Positive Sentiment: KEYTRUDA monotherapy reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 43% in a specified group of patients with mismatch repair-deficient endometrial cancer, reinforcing the drug’s oncology franchise and potential for additional indications. KEYTRUDA endometrial cancer results
• Positive Sentiment: Barclays raised its MRK price target to $180 from $150 and maintained an overweight rating. Another valuation update lifted fair value to $159.76 from $155.68, citing Merck’s oncology pipeline and cancer-vaccine partnership. Barclays price-target increase
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck and Moderna’s personalized melanoma vaccine reduced recurrence or death by 42% when added to KEYTRUDA in a Phase 3 trial. However, the result was below some elevated investor expectations, and overall-survival data remain immature. Merck’s October 29 earnings call may provide details on regulatory filings, launch economics and the vaccine’s role in offsetting future Keytruda losses.
• Negative Sentiment: Investors remain focused on Keytruda’s compound-patent expiration in December 2028. Upcoming results must show that newer products—including Winrevair, Keytruda QLEX and other pipeline assets—can support management’s “shallow dip” outlook.
• Negative Sentiment: New U.S. Treasury restrictions on certain U.S. collaborations and investments involving Chinese biotech companies could limit Merck’s access to partnerships, research and potential cancer-drug candidates from China. China biotech restrictions and Merck

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on MRK. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday. Guggenheim increased their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $146.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $140.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Leerink Partners lifted their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $127.00 to $161.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $179.00 to $177.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 7th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Merck & Co., Inc. has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $153.12.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company 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.