8,503 Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Shares Bought by GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC

GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC grew its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 20.6% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 49,787 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 8,503 shares during the quarter. GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $7,235,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 226,999,837 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,169,479,000 after buying an additional 1,073,507 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.9% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 120,413,256 shares of the company’s stock worth $15,573,754,000 after acquiring an additional 1,087,583 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 2.3% during the second quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 86,249,283 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,083,033,000 after acquiring an additional 1,934,312 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 10.5% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 30,774,221 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,701,831,000 after acquiring an additional 2,919,780 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 23.8% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 15,456,039 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,858,938,000 after acquiring an additional 2,969,856 shares during the period. 76.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Merck & Co., Inc.

In related news, EVP Chirfi Guindo sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.00, for a total value of $1,965,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 46,613 shares in the company, valued at $6,106,303. The trade was a 24.35% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP David Maraldo sold 18,706 shares of the company’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 directly owned 18,212 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,344,248.64. This represents a 50.67% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 228,238 shares of company stock worth $29,977,783 over the last ninety days. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Key Stories Impacting Merck & Co., Inc.

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. Trading Down 0.6%

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

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.40. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 4.77% and a return on equity of 16.73%. The company had revenue of $18.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.33 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.58 earnings per share. Merck & Co., Inc.’s quarterly revenue was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $179.00 to $177.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $137.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, October 3rd. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Monday, October 19th. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $170.00 to $171.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $155.85.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company 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.