Stocks of Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) traded higher last session on Wall Street, up 1.31% to $115.49.
According to the data, Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) has 27 analysts covering its stock. The consensus rating among analysts is ‘Overweight’. As we calculate the median target price by taking the range between a high of $135.00 and a low of $102.00, we find $126.00. Given the previous closing price of $114.00, this indicates a potential upside of 10.53 percent. MRK stock price is now 3.11% away from the 50-day moving average and 11.97% away from the 200-day moving average. The market capitalization of the company currently stands at $289.27B.
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A total of 7 analysts have issued a hold rating and 16 have given it a buy rating. Brokers who have rated the stock have averaged $123.09 as their price target over the next twelve months.
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In other news, Zachary Jennifer, EVP, General Counsel sold 19,141 shares of the company’s stock on May 04. The stock was sold for $2,250,834 at an average price of $117.59. Upon completion of the transaction, the EVP, General Counsel now directly owns 35,128 shares in the company, valued at $4.06 million. An SEC document containing details of the transaction can be found on the SEC’s website. On May 04, Sr. VP Fince-Global Controller Karachun Rita A sold 15,875 shares of the business’s stock. A total of $1,865,843 was realized by selling the stock at an average price of $117.53. This leaves the insider owning 45,710 shares of the company worth $5.28 million. Insiders disposed of 3,524,765 shares of company stock worth roughly $407.08 million over the past 1 year. A total of 0.10% of the company’s stock is owned by insiders.
There have been several recent changes in the stakes of large investors in MRK stock. A new stake in Merck & Co. Inc. shares was purchased by OFI INVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT during the first quarter worth $6,691,871,000. SENATOR INVESTMENT GROUP LP invested $75,069,000 in shares of MRK during the first quarter. In the first quarter, AVIDITY PARTNERS MANAGEMENT LP acquired a new stake in Merck & Co. Inc. valued at approximately $69,294,000. COMPASS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC acquired a new stake in MRK for approximately $51,097,000. ELEMENT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC purchased a new stake in MRK valued at around $34,850,000 in the second quarter. In total, there are 4,071 active investors with 76.60% ownership of the company’s stock.
Friday’s opening bell rang with an opening price of $114.33 for Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK). During the past 12 months, Merck & Co. Inc. has had a low of $83.05 and a high of $119.65. As of last week, the company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.40, and a quick ratio of 1.20. According to the stock market information, the enterprise value for the company is $310.53B, which is based on a 22.53 price-to-earnings ratio, a 2.76 price-to-earnings-growth ratio, and a beta of 0.36. The fifty day moving average price for MRK is $112.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price translates $103.28 for the stock.
The latest earnings results from Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) was released for Mar, 2023. According to the Drug Manufacturers – General Company, earnings per share came in at $1.4, beating analysts’ expectations of $1.32 by 0.08. This compares to $1.70 EPS in the same period last year. The net profit margin was 22.50% and return on equity was 28.90% for MRK. The company reported revenue of $14.49 billion for the quarter, compared to $15.9 billion a year earlier. Comparatively to last year’s same quarter, the company’s quarterly revenue fell -8.89 percent. For the current quarter, analysts expect MRK to generate $14.41B in revenue.
Moreover, the firm recently paid out its quarterly dividend on 04/10/2023. Investors who held shares on 03/15/2023 were paid a $0.73 dividend. On an annualized basis, this represents a $2.92 dividend and a 2.53% percent yield. There was an ex-dividend date of 03/14/2023 for this dividend. In terms of dividend payout ratio, MRK is presently at 55.20%.
Merck & Co. Inc.(MRK) Company Profile
Merck & Co., Inc. operates as a healthcare company worldwide. It operates through two segments, Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. The Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products in the areas of oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes, as well as vaccine products, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. The Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and health management solutions and services, as well as digitally connected identification, traceability, and monitoring products. The company serves drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, and government agencies; managed health care providers, such as health maintenance organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, and other institutions; and physicians and physician distributors, veterinarians, and animal producers. It has collaborations with AstraZeneca PLC; Bayer AG; Eisai Co., Ltd.; Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP; and Gilead Sciences, Inc. to jointly develop and commercialize long-acting treatments in HIV. Merck & Co., Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey.
