Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA Sells 3,840 Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA reduced its position in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 0.9% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 442,799 shares of the company’s stock after selling 3,840 shares during the quarter. Merck & Co., Inc. accounts for approximately 3.5% of Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA’s holdings, making the stock its 10th biggest position. Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $56,900,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the fourth quarter valued at about $3,997,933,000. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 14.8% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 86,435,458 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,098,196,000 after acquiring an additional 11,156,354 shares during the last quarter. Cardano Risk Management B.V. bought a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,012,530,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 37.9% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 18,753,390 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,973,983,000 after acquiring an additional 5,152,069 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 985.4% during the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 3,969,469 shares of the company’s stock valued at $417,826,000 after purchasing an additional 3,603,769 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.07% of the company’s stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MRK opened at $148.30 on Friday. Merck & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $77.58 and a twelve month high of $156.92. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $131.78 and its 200-day moving average price is $122.41. The company has a market capitalization of $365.88 billion, a PE ratio of 118.64, a PEG ratio of 6.22 and a beta of 0.19. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.26) by $0.13. The company had revenue of $16.61 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.37 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 16.73% and a net margin of 4.77%.Merck & Co., Inc.’s revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.13 earnings per share. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 2.76 EPS for the current year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Merck & Co., Inc.’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 272.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have commented on the company. Morgan Stanley raised Merck & Co., Inc. from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $116.00 to $179.00 in a report on Thursday, August 20th. Wolfe Research lifted their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $155.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $140.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 21st. Bank of America increased their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $141.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada cut Merck & Co., Inc. from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $142.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Thursday, August 20th. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $147.60.

Insider Activity at Merck & Co., Inc.

In related news, EVP David R. Maraldo sold 18,706 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.72, for a total value of $2,407,836.32. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 18,212 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,344,248.64. The trade was a 50.67% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Chirfi Guindo sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.00, for a total transaction of $1,350,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 36,613 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,942,755. The trade was a 21.45% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 228,238 shares of company stock worth $29,977,783. 0.17% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.