TSG Advice Partners LLC Makes New $734,000 Investment in Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

TSG Advice Partners LLC bought a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 5,054 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $734,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Round Rock Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Round Rock Advisors LLC now owns 9,901 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,272,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the period. Cypress Wealth Services LLC raised its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC now owns 13,807 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,960,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Code Waechter LLC lifted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Code Waechter LLC now owns 2,179 shares of the company’s stock valued at $317,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. Cascade Financial Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Cascade Financial Partners LLC now owns 14,746 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,895,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the period. Finally, Somerset Trust Co lifted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Somerset Trust Co now owns 8,701 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,118,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 20,784 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.43, for a total value of $2,710,857.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 134,703 shares in the company, valued at $17,569,312.29. This represents a 13.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP David Williams sold 52,847 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.77, for a total transaction of $6,805,108.19. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 31,716 shares in the company, valued at $4,084,069.32. The trade was a 62.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 228,238 shares of company stock worth $29,977,783. Company insiders own 0.17% of the company’s stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Merck plans to present new data from its oral HIV portfolio at HIV Glasgow 2026, including Phase 3 analyses and patient-reported outcomes for the once-weekly investigational ISL/LEN regimen. The FDA has also accepted supplemental applications for IDVYNSO, with a decision expected in 2027. Merck HIV portfolio data
• Positive Sentiment: Merck’s personalized melanoma-vaccine strategy is drawing investor attention because a successful approach could reduce recurrence and support long-term oncology growth. Merck personalized cancer strategy
• Positive Sentiment: Merck posted third-quarter revenue of $18.09 billion, up 4.7% year over year and ahead of expectations, while adjusted earnings of $2.49 per share exceeded consensus by approximately 19%. Merck third-quarter review
• Neutral Sentiment: Cantor Fitzgerald raised its MRK price target from $145 to $155 but kept a Neutral rating, indicating limited conviction at current valuation levels. Cantor Fitzgerald Merck target
• Neutral Sentiment: Another analyst raised Merck’s price target to $171, while broader reports highlight potential opportunities in biotechnology reagents and RNA-targeting drug discovery, areas where Merck is an industry participant. Merck price target raised to $171
• Negative Sentiment: Freedom Broker increased its target from $125 to $140 but maintained a Hold rating; the new target remains below the stock’s reported trading level, signaling downside concerns. Freedom Broker Merck target

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Down 0.6%

Shares of NYSE MRK opened at $148.58 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $146.82 and a 200-day moving average price of $126.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $366.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 153.18, a P/E/G ratio of 6.49 and a beta of 0.21. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1 year low of $82.01 and a 1 year high of $156.92.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $2.49 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.09 by $0.40. The firm had revenue of $18.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.33 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 16.73% and a net margin of 4.77%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.58 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.81 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MRK has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $145.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday. Weiss Ratings upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, July 6th. Zacks Research lowered Merck & Co., Inc. from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Monday, October 19th. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, October 26th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $155.85.

About Merck & Co., Inc.

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.