Keybank National Association OH Sells 6,845 Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Keybank National Association OH cut its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 0.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 830,095 shares of the company’s stock after selling 6,845 shares during the quarter. Keybank National Association OH’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $87,376,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Chemung Canal Trust Co. increased its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 21.1% in the third quarter. Chemung Canal Trust Co. now owns 76,338 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,407,000 after purchasing an additional 13,285 shares during the last quarter. First Pacific Financial increased its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 14.7% in the third quarter. First Pacific Financial now owns 47,555 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,991,000 after purchasing an additional 6,082 shares during the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. increased its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 4.4% in the fourth quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 576,959 shares of the company’s stock worth $60,731,000 after purchasing an additional 24,576 shares during the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 9.6% in the third quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 207,838 shares of the company’s stock worth $17,444,000 after purchasing an additional 18,187 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 48.9% in the fourth quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 97,818 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,296,000 after purchasing an additional 32,114 shares during the last quarter. 76.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:MRK opened at $110.13 on Wednesday. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1 year low of $73.31 and a 1 year high of $125.14. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $118.16 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $107.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $272.00 billion, a PE ratio of 15.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.30.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $2.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.01 by $0.03. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 44.57% and a net margin of 28.08%.The business had revenue of $16.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.19 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.72 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.000-5.150 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 4.89 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on MRK. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, March 20th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, April 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, April 6th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $116.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and seven have issued 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.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Regulatory clearance for Terns deal and pipeline news — Merck reported the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino waiting period expired for its Terns Pharmaceuticals acquisition, and the company highlighted CADENCE proof‑of‑concept data for Winrevair plus European approval of ENFLONSIA for infant RSV prevention, all of which strengthen growth options beyond oncology. Merck Advances Terns Deal And Cardiovascular And RSV Growth Options
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst previews point to an earnings beat probability — multiple Zacks pieces and a Seeking Alpha note emphasize Merck’s history of beats and favorable positioning (Keytruda/Winrevair) heading into Q1, which can lift sentiment if results confirm expectations. Will Merck (MRK) Beat Estimates Again in Its Next Earnings Report?
• Positive Sentiment: Addressable oncology growth remains visible — market coverage of the peripheral T‑cell lymphoma treatment market cites KEYTRUDA among leading therapies, underlining ongoing demand for Merck’s oncology franchise. Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma Market to Witness Significant Expansion
• Neutral Sentiment: HPV market growth report — an industry report highlights strong vaccine adoption and R&D in HPV, naming Merck as a key player; long‑term upside for vaccine sales but limited immediate stock impact. Human Papillomavirus Market Research Report 2025-2035
• Neutral Sentiment: Inclusion in industrial market reports (bulk filtration) — Merck appears as an industry participant in filtration market analyses, reflecting exposure to industrial trends but not a near‑term stock driver. Bulk Filtration Market Report 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Corporate PR / awareness program — Merck’s “Playing with Heart” campaign with baseball teams raises LDL‑C awareness (brand/engagement benefit) but is unlikely to move fundamentals. Merck’s Playing with Heart Program Teams Up With Professional Baseball Clubs
• Neutral Sentiment: Sector M&A noise — Sun Pharma’s acquisition of Organon highlights active pharma M&A but doesn’t directly change Merck’s fundamentals; watch for broader valuation/strategic ripple effects. Organon Agrees to Be Acquired by Sun Pharmaceutical
• Negative Sentiment: Earnings uncertainty ahead of Q1 — some previews show a wide range of expectations and note headline metrics investors will focus on; any miss or weak guidance on Keytruda/other products could push the stock lower. Buy, Sell or Hold MRK Stock With Q1 Earnings Around the Corner?

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

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Jennifer Zachary sold 121,573 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.15, for a total transaction of $14,485,422.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 68,916 shares in the company, valued at $8,211,341.40. The trade was a 63.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Caroline Litchfield sold 41,997 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.61, for a total value of $5,023,261.17. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 90,192 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $10,787,865.12. This trade represents a 31.77% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 320,176 shares of company stock valued at $38,281,735. 0.17% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.