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NYSE:MRK

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

$127.99
+0.49 (+0.38%)
(As of 06/18/2024 ET)
Today's Range
$127.09
$128.73
50-Day Range
$124.47
$131.84
52-Week Range
$99.14
$133.10
Volume
6.51 million shs
Average Volume
7.49 million shs
Market Capitalization
$324.17 billion
P/E Ratio
142.21
Dividend Yield
2.41%
Price Target
$133.00

Merck & Co., Inc. MarketRank™ Stock Analysis

Analyst Rating
Moderate Buy
2.69 Rating Score
Upside/​Downside
3.9% Upside
$133.00 Price Target
Short Interest
Healthy
0.81% of Shares Sold Short
Dividend Strength
Strong
Based on Four Factors
Sustainability
-2.62
Upright™ Environmental Score
News Sentiment
0.80mentions of Merck & Co., Inc. in the last 14 days
Based on 20 Articles This Week
Insider Trading
N/A
Proj. Earnings Growth
14.81%
From $8.64 to $9.92 Per Share

Overall MarketRank

New Rank-Based ScoringMarketRank is calculated by averaging available category scores (with extra weight given to analysis and valuation), then ranking the company's weighted average against that of other companies.

4.48 out of 5 stars

Medical Sector

104th out of 913 stocks

Pharmaceutical Preparations Industry

40th out of 430 stocks

MRK stock logo

About Merck & Co., Inc. Stock (NYSE:MRK)

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.

MRK Stock Price History

MRK Stock News Headlines

mobile phone screen with logo lettering of moderna pharma, stock market chart background
Moderna Stock Soars on Cutting-Edge Personalized Cancer Vaccines (MRK)
Biotechnology firm Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) made mainstream headlines during the pandemic for its COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna is focused on messenger RNA
[Urgent] Protect your money before November
Those who listened to his warnings could have kept their money safe and even made substantial profits during each crisis. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reported that his work was more accurate … and more profitable than that of … Deutsche Bank … Merrill Lynch … JPMorgan Chase … Goldman Sachs … and every other firm reviewed.
Ligand Says Merck Receives FDA Approval For CAPVAXIVE For Adults
[Urgent] Protect your money before November
Those who listened to his warnings could have kept their money safe and even made substantial profits during each crisis. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reported that his work was more accurate … and more profitable than that of … Deutsche Bank … Merrill Lynch … JPMorgan Chase … Goldman Sachs … and every other firm reviewed.
Merck & Co., Inc. Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NYSE:MRK)
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) Sees Strong Trading Volume
Merck acquires EyeBio in up to $3B deal
Merck To Acquire EyeBio; Deal Valued Up To $3 Bln
See More Headlines
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Company Calendar

Ex-Dividend for 4/5 Dividend
3/14/2024
Dividend Payable
4/05/2024
Last Earnings
4/25/2024
Ex-Dividend for 7/8 Dividend
6/17/2024
Today
6/18/2024
Dividend Payable
7/08/2024
Next Earnings (Confirmed)
7/30/2024
Fiscal Year End
12/31/2024

Industry, Sector and Symbol

Sector
Medical
Industry
Pharmaceutical preparations
Sub-Industry
Pharmaceuticals
CUSIP
58933Y10
Employees
72,000
Year Founded
1891

Price Target and Rating

Average Stock Price Target
$133.00
High Stock Price Target
$155.00
Low Stock Price Target
$104.00
Potential Upside/Downside
+3.9%
Consensus Rating
Moderate Buy
Rating Score (0-4)
2.69
Research Coverage
13 Analysts

Profitability

Net Income
$365 million
Pretax Margin
6.37%

Debt

Sales & Book Value

Annual Sales
$60.12 billion
Cash Flow
$3.01 per share
Book Value
$14.85 per share

Miscellaneous

Outstanding Shares
2,532,810,000
Free Float
2,530,526,000
Market Cap
$324.17 billion
Optionable
Optionable
Beta
0.39

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Should I Buy Merck & Co., Inc. Stock? MRK Pros and Cons Explained

Pros

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Merck:

  • Merck's Keytruda, a leading immunotherapy drug, has shown significant success in treating various types of cancer, providing a strong revenue stream for the company.
  • The company's diverse portfolio of pharmaceutical products, including brands like Januvia and Gardasil, offers stability and resilience in different market conditions.
  • Merck's strong focus on research and development ensures a pipeline of innovative products, potentially leading to future revenue growth.
  • Recent positive analyst ratings and price target increases indicate confidence in Merck's performance and potential stock price growth.
  • Merck's consistent dividend payments and history of shareholder returns make it an attractive option for income-focused investors.

Cons

Investors should be bearish about investing in Merck for these reasons:

  • Concerns about potential competition and pricing pressures in the pharmaceutical industry could impact Merck's profitability and market share.
  • Regulatory challenges and uncertainties, especially related to drug approvals and patent expirations, may pose risks to Merck's future earnings.
  • Market volatility and macroeconomic factors could affect Merck's stock price, leading to short-term fluctuations and potential investor uncertainty.
  • The healthcare sector's sensitivity to political and regulatory changes could introduce unpredictability in Merck's operations and financial performance.
  • Investors should carefully consider Merck's current stock price valuation and potential risks before making investment decisions.
These pros and cons were generated based on recent news and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate insights. They were last updated on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Please send any questions or comments about these Merck & Co., Inc. pros and cons to contact@marketbeat.com.

MRK Stock Analysis - Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy or sell Merck & Co., Inc. stock right now?

13 Wall Street research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Merck & Co., Inc. in the last year. There are currently 1 sell rating, 3 hold ratings, 8 buy ratings and 1 strong buy rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street research analysts is that investors should "moderate buy" MRK shares.
View MRK analyst ratings
or view top-rated stocks.

What is Merck & Co., Inc.'s stock price target for 2024?

13 equities research analysts have issued 12-month price objectives for Merck & Co., Inc.'s stock. Their MRK share price targets range from $104.00 to $155.00. On average, they expect the company's stock price to reach $133.00 in the next twelve months. This suggests a possible upside of 3.9% 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 2024?

Merck & Co., Inc.'s stock was trading at $109.02 at the beginning of the year. Since then, MRK stock has increased by 17.4% and is now trading at $127.99.
View the best growth stocks for 2024 here
.

When is Merck & Co., Inc.'s next earnings date?

The company is scheduled to release its next quarterly earnings announcement on Tuesday, July 30th 2024.
View our MRK earnings forecast
.

How can I listen to Merck & Co., Inc.'s earnings call?

Merck & Co., Inc. will be holding an earnings conference call on Tuesday, July 30th at 9:00 AM Eastern. Interested parties can register for or listen to the call using this link.

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

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) issued its earnings results on Thursday, April, 25th. The company reported $2.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.94 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $15.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.21 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 14.05% and a net margin of 3.76%. The business's revenue was up 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.40 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. announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, May 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 17th will be given a dividend of $0.77 per share on Monday, July 8th. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.41%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 17th.
Read our dividend analysis for MRK
.

Is Merck & Co., Inc. a good dividend stock?

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) pays an annual dividend of $3.08 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 2.38%. The company has been increasing its dividend for 13 consecutive years, indicating the company has a strong committment to maintain and grow its dividend. The dividend payout ratio is 342.22%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, MRK will have a dividend payout ratio of 31.05% 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. updated its FY24 earnings guidance on Thursday, April, 25th. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $8.53-8.65 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $8.56. The company issued revenue guidance of $63.1-64.3 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $63.81 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).

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

Merck & Co., Inc.'s stock is owned by a number of retail and institutional investors. Top institutional investors include Vanguard Group Inc. (9.60%), Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD (1.17%), Bank of New York Mellon Corp (0.78%), Capital World Investors (0.55%), Janus Henderson Group PLC (0.41%) and Raymond James & Associates (0.39%). Insiders that own company stock include Caroline Litchfield, Frank Clyburn, Johannes Jacobus Oosthuizen, Joseph Romanelli, 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 Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, Fidelity, and Vanguard Brokerage Services.
Compare Top Brokerages Here.

This page (NYSE:MRK) was last updated on 6/19/2024 by MarketBeat.com Staff

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