Sanders Morris Harris LLC Sells 4,249 Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Sanders Morris Harris LLC decreased its position in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 72.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,578 shares of the company’s stock after selling 4,249 shares during the period. Sanders Morris Harris LLC’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $203,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MRK. Somerset Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.9% in the second quarter. Somerset Trust Co now owns 8,701 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,118,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC grew its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC now owns 8,747 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,124,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the period. Chesapeake Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Chesapeake Wealth Management now owns 14,740 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,552,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the period. South Plains Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. South Plains Financial Inc. now owns 15,535 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,635,000 after buying an additional 89 shares during the period. Finally, Syverson Strege & Co raised its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Syverson Strege & Co now owns 4,142 shares of the company’s stock worth $436,000 after buying an additional 90 shares during the period. 76.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $135.00 to $142.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. Scotiabank increased their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $136.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $142.00 price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $112.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Merck & Co., Inc. presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $134.56.

Key Merck & Co., Inc. News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Merck reported second-quarter revenue of $16.61 billion, above the $16.37 billion consensus estimate, while its adjusted loss of $0.13 per share was narrower than the expected $0.26 loss. Revenue grew 5.1% year over year. Merck posts better-than-expected second-quarter results on Keytruda strength
• Positive Sentiment: Keytruda remained the primary growth driver, generating $8.37 billion in quarterly sales, while the injectable formulation substantially exceeded Wall Street expectations. Newer products and pipeline programs also supported the company’s performance. The Merck Product That Absolutely Demolished Wall Street’s Forecasts
• Positive Sentiment: Merck raised its 2026 revenue outlook to $66.3 billion-$67.3 billion, reflecting confidence in Keytruda, newer launches and pipeline progress. Guggenheim also raised its price target to $146 and maintained a Buy rating. MRK Q2 Earnings & Sales Beat Estimates, ’26 Sales View Raised
• Positive Sentiment: Health Canada approved Keytruda combined with enfortumab vedotin for certain cisplatin-ineligible patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, expanding the drug’s commercial reach. Health Canada approves Keytruda treatment
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck is accelerating acquisitions and partnerships in hematology, infectious diseases, vaccines, cardiopulmonary medicine and obesity to diversify ahead of Keytruda’s expected U.S. patent-exclusivity loss in 2028. The strategy offers long-term upside but increases execution and spending risks. Merck is racing beyond Keytruda
• Negative Sentiment: Merck lowered its 2026 EPS guidance to $2.66-$2.76, well below the $3.42 consensus, primarily because of acquisition-related charges tied to Terns Pharmaceuticals and other deals. Merck hikes revenue outlook but cuts profit guidance
• Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned that Keytruda’s 2028 patent cliff could create a significant revenue gap unless newer products, acquisitions and clinical programs deliver sufficient replacement growth. Merck also reported a mixed development update for anti-TL1A drug tulisokibart, which was discontinued in one rare lung-disease indication. MSD posts a victory and defeat for anti-TL1A

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Up 0.3%

MRK stock opened at $128.33 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $123.61 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $118.91. The company has a market cap of $316.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 102.66, a P/E/G ratio of 5.13 and a beta of 0.19. Merck & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $77.58 and a twelve month high of $135.05.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.26) by $0.13. The company had revenue of $16.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $16.37 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 16.05% and a net margin of 4.77%.The business’s revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.13 EPS. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be paid a $0.85 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. Merck & Co., Inc.’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 272.00%.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company 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.