United Asset Strategies Inc. Boosts Holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

United Asset Strategies Inc. grew its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 14.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 217,195 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 26,930 shares during the quarter. Merck & Co., Inc. comprises about 1.8% of United Asset Strategies Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 11th largest position. United Asset Strategies Inc.’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $22,862,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. DLD Asset Management LP boosted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 30.1% in the 3rd quarter. DLD Asset Management LP now owns 47,500,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,986,675,000 after purchasing an additional 11,000,000 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 16.6% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 19,844,936 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,665,585,000 after buying an additional 2,821,766 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 20.7% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 15,933,909 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,336,877,000 after buying an additional 2,735,459 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 61.6% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 5,325,033 shares of the company’s stock valued at $446,930,000 after acquiring an additional 2,029,342 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Danske Bank A S acquired a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. in the third quarter valued at $159,973,000. 76.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, CFO Caroline Litchfield sold 41,997 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.61, for a total value of $5,023,261.17. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 90,192 shares in the company, valued at $10,787,865.12. This represents a 31.77% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CMO Chirfi Guindo sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer directly owned 80,615 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $9,825,356.20. This trade represents a 19.88% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 320,176 shares of company stock worth $38,281,735 in the last ninety days. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on MRK shares. Citigroup boosted their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, March 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $142.00 price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Monday, March 30th. UBS Group boosted 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. increased their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, April 6th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, March 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $128.47.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of NYSE MRK opened at $112.87 on Thursday. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 12-month low of $73.31 and a 12-month high of $125.14. The company has a market cap of $278.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a current ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $118.89 and a 200 day moving average price of $106.53.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $2.04 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 company had revenue of $16.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $16.19 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.72 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.000-5.150 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 4.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 7th. Investors of record on Monday, March 16th were given a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 16th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. Merck & Co., Inc.’s payout ratio is 46.70%.

Key Stories Impacting Merck & Co., Inc.

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

• Positive Sentiment: Announced a multi‑year partnership with Google Cloud valued at up to $1 billion to deploy agentic AI across R&D, manufacturing and commercial functions — a potential productivity and R&D acceleration catalyst that could improve long‑term margins and pipeline efficiency. Merck to partner with Google Cloud on AI initiatives
• Positive Sentiment: FDA approved Merck’s once‑daily IDVYNSO (doravirine/islatravir) for HIV-1 — a new oral two‑drug regimen that expands Merck’s infectious‑disease franchise and provides near‑term commercial upside. FDA Approves Merck’s Once-Daily IDVYNSO
• Positive Sentiment: Won EU approval for ENFLONSIA to protect infants from RSV — another regulatory win that supports near‑term revenue diversification in vaccines. Merck Wins EU Approval for ENFLONSIA
• Neutral Sentiment: Reported interest in Inhibrx’s Keytruda‑linked experimental cancer drug from multiple buyers including Merck — potential M&A optionality but uncertain timing/value. Exclusive: Merck, rivals eye deal for Inhibrx experimental cancer drug
• Neutral Sentiment: Market report flags increasing competition in polycythemia vera with several entrants (including Merck’s bomedemstat) in development — underscores both addressable market growth and increasing competitive risk over the next decade. Polycythemia Vera Market Set for Transformation
• Negative Sentiment: Merck and Eisai said the Phase 3 LITESPARK‑012 combination in first‑line advanced renal cell carcinoma failed to meet primary endpoints — a notable clinical setback that reduced near‑term oncology upside and pushed shares lower in recent sessions. Merck‑Eisai’s combination cancer therapy fails meet main goals
• Negative Sentiment: Market coverage highlights the stock decline after the kidney‑cancer trial miss, reflecting investor concern over Keytruda‑combination setbacks even as Keytruda remains a major revenue driver. MRK Down as Triplet Therapy Fails to Meet Goal

Merck & Co., Inc. 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.