Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. Sells 51,113 Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 9.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 502,885 shares of the company’s stock after selling 51,113 shares during the period. Merck & Co., Inc. makes up 0.7% of Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $52,934,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MRK. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 302.3% during the third quarter. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 354 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 266 shares in the last quarter. United Financial Planning Group LLC bought a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. during the third quarter worth about $31,000. Wealth Watch Advisors INC bought a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. in the third quarter worth $34,000. Dunhill Financial LLC boosted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 83.0% in the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 419 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Silicon Valley Capital Partners boosted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 160.5% in the third quarter. Silicon Valley Capital Partners now owns 422 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 260 shares in the last quarter. 76.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Down 1.5%

MRK opened at $109.33 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1-year low of $73.31 and a 1-year high of $125.14. The company has a market capitalization of $270.03 billion, a PE ratio of 15.02, a PEG ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.26. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $117.69 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $107.39.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported ($1.28) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($1.47) by $0.19. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 28.08% and a return on equity of 44.57%. The business had revenue of $16.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.85 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.22 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.040-5.160 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 4.89 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have commented on MRK shares. Zacks Research raised Merck & Co., Inc. from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 17th. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, April 13th. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $135.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Merck & Co., Inc. from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, March 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $128.47.

Key Headlines Impacting Merck & Co., Inc.

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results topped Street estimates — revenue of $16.29B and adjusted EPS beat — driven by continued Keytruda demand and Winrevair contribution. Merck Sales Beat As Winrevair Hits $525 Million
• Positive Sentiment: Management raised its adjusted EPS outlook for FY2026 (guidance set to 5.040–5.160), signaling earnings resilience despite headwinds. Merck beats quarterly estimates on strength of Keytruda and new products, narrows outlook
• Neutral Sentiment: Clinical pipeline progress: Merck dosed first patient in Phase 3 enpatoran program for lupus skin manifestations — a longer‑term potential upside if trials succeed. Merck Announces First Dose in Phase 3 Study with Enpatoran
• Neutral Sentiment: Broker support: Guggenheim reaffirmed its buy rating, providing some analyst backing amid mixed headlines. Guggenheim Reaffirms Their Buy Rating on Merck
• Negative Sentiment: GAAP loss due to an acquisition-related (Cidara) charge offset some of the beat, introducing one-time noise and investor concern about deal-related costs. Merck posts quarterly loss due to Cidara charge, sales rise 5%
• Negative Sentiment: Management narrowed its 2026 sales guidance and some services tightened sales views — a sign that top‑line visibility is more constrained, weighing on the stock. MRK Q1 Earnings & Sales Beat Estimates, 2026 Sales View Tightened
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst tweaks and near-term concerns about future pressure on some legacy products (HPV vaccine, diabetes drug) have damped enthusiasm; coverage noted shares falling after the print. Merck Stock Falls After Earnings. It’s Working on Ways to Blunt Future Lost Keytruda Sales.

Insider Transactions at Merck & Co., Inc.

In other news, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 37,685 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.92, for a total value of $4,556,870.20. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 160,174 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $19,368,240.08. This trade represents a 19.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CMO Chirfi Guindo sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.88, for a total transaction of $2,437,600.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer owned 80,615 shares in the company, valued at $9,825,356.20. The trade was a 19.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 320,176 shares of company stock valued at $38,281,735. Company insiders own 0.17% of the company’s stock.

About Merck & Co., Inc.

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.