Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK Shares Bought by TD Asset Management Inc

TD Asset Management Inc raised its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 7.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,230,821 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 152,026 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $234,816,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 254,322,763 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,770,014,000 after acquiring an additional 2,185,853 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 60,047,984 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,307,572,000 after acquiring an additional 249,110 shares during the last quarter. DLD Asset Management LP raised its stake 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 in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the 4th quarter valued at about $3,997,933,000. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 24,873,327 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,618,166,000 after purchasing an additional 805,201 shares in the last quarter. 76.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

Shares of MRK opened at $114.92 on Thursday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $116.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $112.13. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 12-month low of $76.66 and a 12-month high of $125.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $283.84 billion, a PE ratio of 32.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.06.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported ($1.28) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($1.47) by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $16.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $15.85 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 27.55% and a net margin of 13.59%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.22 earnings per share. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.040-5.160 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 5.16 EPS for the current year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be given a dividend of $0.85 per share. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 15th. Merck & Co., Inc.’s dividend payout ratio is presently 95.77%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on MRK. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $150.00 to $145.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 1st. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, April 13th. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $125.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, April 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $128.18.

Merck & Co., Inc. News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts have been raising Merck price targets, with some moving estimates from $135 to $150, as optimism builds around pipeline assets such as Sac TMT and TERN-701. This suggests Wall Street sees more upside if key trials and deal terms develop favorably. How Recent Pipeline Bets Are Rewriting the Story for Merck (MRK)
• Positive Sentiment: Merck received FDA breakthrough therapy designation for calderasib, a potential sign of regulatory momentum for one of its pipeline programs. That kind of update can support sentiment by improving the odds of future commercialization. Merck & Co. (MRK) Announces FDA’s Grant of Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Calderasib
• Positive Sentiment: Merck continues to highlight its oncology strategy and clinical pipeline at ASCO and other healthcare conferences, which keeps investors focused on longer-term growth opportunities beyond Keytruda. Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Presents at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2026 – Slideshow
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck also announced a quarterly dividend and participated in investor-conference coverage, both of which reinforce its stable income profile and keep the company in focus, but are not major near-term catalysts. Merck & Co. (MRK) Announces Quarterly Dividend Merck to Participate in the Goldman Sachs 47th Annual Global Healthcare Conference
• Negative Sentiment: Some articles compare Merck unfavorably with peers or suggest the stock may not be the top biotech winner this year, which can weigh on sentiment if investors rotate toward faster-growing names. Meet the Biotech Stock That’s Trouncing Lilly, Merck, and Pfizer in 2026
• Negative Sentiment: Merck’s recent notes offering may strengthen its capital structure, but debt issuance can also remind investors of balance-sheet leverage and financing needs. Merck (MRK) Strengthens Capital Structure With Notes Offering

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.