Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Stock Sold by Inlet Private Wealth LLC

Inlet Private Wealth LLC cut its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 14.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 43,910 shares of the company’s stock after selling 7,280 shares during the period. Merck & Co., Inc. comprises approximately 1.5% of Inlet Private Wealth LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest holding. Inlet Private Wealth LLC’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $6,381,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC lifted its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 4.4% in the third quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 43,176 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,274,000 after purchasing an additional 1,826 shares in the last quarter. Sawyer & Company Inc acquired a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the third quarter worth $54,000. Atticus Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 6.1% in the third quarter. Atticus Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,105 shares of the company’s stock valued at $887,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.2% in the third quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 89,665 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,731,000 after purchasing an additional 1,038 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bell Bank grew its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 8.1% in the third quarter. Bell Bank now owns 3,968 shares of the company’s stock valued at $577,000 after purchasing an additional 296 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.07% of the company’s stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Up 1.1%

NYSE:MRK opened at $149.98 on Thursday. Merck & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $82.01 and a twelve month high of $156.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $370.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 119.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.85 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. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $146.55 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $129.88.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.26) by $0.13. The company had revenue of $16.61 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.13 EPS. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement

The company 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. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. Merck & Co., Inc.’s payout ratio is presently 272.00%.

Trending Headlines about Merck & Co., Inc.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have issued reports on MRK. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 5th. CICC Research assumed coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Wednesday, June 24th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $138.00 price objective for the company. Daiwa Securities Group upgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $143.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 12th. Wall Street Zen cut Merck & Co., Inc. from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, October 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $137.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $151.92.

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

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Jennifer Zachary sold 80,315 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.46, for a total transaction of $10,718,839.90. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 45,509 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,073,631.14. This represents a 63.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Richard Deluca sold 20,784 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.43, for a total transaction of $2,710,857.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 134,703 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $17,569,312.29. This represents a 13.37% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 228,238 shares of company stock valued at $29,977,783 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.17% of the company’s stock.

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.