Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Stock Holdings Trimmed by Hohimer Wealth Management LLC

Hohimer Wealth Management LLC lowered its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 69.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,295 shares of the company’s stock after selling 20,925 shares during the quarter. Hohimer Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $1,194,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Kingdom Financial Group LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Abound Financial LLC bought a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Prosperity Bancshares Inc acquired a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. High Note Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 58.9% in the fourth quarter. High Note Wealth LLC now owns 294 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the period. Finally, IFC & Insurance Marketing Inc. bought a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. during the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. Institutional investors own 76.07% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Merck & Co., Inc.

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Chirfi Guindo sold 10,000 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction 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 sale, the executive vice president owned 36,613 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,942,755. The trade was a 21.45% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP David R. Maraldo sold 18,706 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.72, for a total value of $2,407,836.32. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 18,212 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,344,248.64. This trade represents a 50.67% decrease in their position. 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. Insiders own 0.17% of the company’s stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Trading Up 12.6%

Shares of NYSE:MRK opened at $152.21 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $126.86 and its 200 day moving average price is $120.74. The company has a market cap of $375.53 billion, a PE ratio of 121.77, a P/E/G ratio of 5.83 and a beta of 0.19. Merck & Co., Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $77.58 and a fifty-two week high of $153.50.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.26) by $0.13. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 4.77% and a return on equity of 16.73%. The firm had revenue of $16.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $16.37 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.13 EPS. Merck & Co., Inc.’s quarterly revenue 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. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be issued a $0.85 dividend. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 15th. Merck & Co., Inc.’s dividend payout ratio is 272.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have weighed in on MRK. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $136.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $112.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Daiwa Securities Group raised shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $143.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Finally, Argus lifted their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Merck & Co., Inc. presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $135.50.

Trending Headlines about Merck & Co., Inc.

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

• Positive Sentiment: Phase 3 melanoma success: Moderna and Merck said their individualized mRNA vaccine, intismeran, combined with Merck’s Keytruda, met the primary endpoint in a large Phase 3 trial. The combination significantly extended recurrence-free survival and reduced the risk of melanoma spreading compared with Keytruda alone. This represents the first positive late-stage result for a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine. Merck, Moderna say melanoma skin cancer vaccine meets goals in large trial
• Positive Sentiment: New growth opportunity for Keytruda: The results could expand Merck’s oncology franchise by pairing Keytruda with a mutation-targeted vaccine. The companies believe thousands of high-risk melanoma patients could eventually benefit, pending regulatory approval targeted for 2027. Similar trials are underway in lung, pancreatic, breast and other cancers. Why this mRNA cancer vaccine is raising new treatment hope
• Positive Sentiment: Strategic importance before patent expiry: A successful vaccine-Keytruda combination could help support Merck’s oncology pipeline as Keytruda’s patent protection is expected to expire later this decade. Unusually heavy call-option activity also indicated heightened bullish trading interest.
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader market support: Relief in bond markets helped lift rate-sensitive healthcare stocks generally, providing an additional supportive backdrop for Merck’s move. However, the company’s advance was primarily tied to the vaccine announcement.
• Negative Sentiment: Important uncertainties remain: The companies released topline results, while investors and analysts await complete trial data. The vaccine still requires regulatory approval, and the commercial opportunity, pricing and longer-term benefits are not yet established. Merck also faces substantial future pressure from Keytruda’s eventual loss of exclusivity.

Merck & Co., Inc. Profile

Merck & Co, Inc is a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products. Its portfolio spans multiple therapeutic areas with a particular emphasis on oncology, vaccines and infectious disease, as well as therapies for metabolic and chronic conditions. Among its well-known products are the cancer immunotherapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and the human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil; the company also markets a range of medicines and vaccines for veterinary use through Merck Animal Health.

Founded in the late 19th century as the U.S.