Boston Common Asset Management LLC Has $20.79 Million Stock Holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Boston Common Asset Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 8.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 247,718 shares of the company’s stock after selling 22,009 shares during the quarter. Boston Common Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $20,791,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 29.5% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 38,278 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,808,000 after buying an additional 8,710 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 52.2% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 11,494 shares of the company’s stock worth $910,000 after acquiring an additional 3,941 shares during the last quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC lifted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 6.1% in the second quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 4,741 shares of the company’s stock worth $375,000 after acquiring an additional 272 shares during the period. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 7.7% in the second quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 35,420 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,804,000 after acquiring an additional 2,532 shares during the period. Finally, Opal Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 9.2% in the second quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,448 shares of the company’s stock valued at $273,000 after acquiring an additional 290 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.07% of the company’s stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Trading Up 1.5%

MRK opened at $111.09 on Thursday. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1-year low of $73.31 and a 1-year high of $112.90. The company has a current ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The company has a market cap of $275.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.29. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $103.31 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $90.68.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $1.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.08 by ($0.14). Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 44.54% and a net margin of 29.63%. Analysts predict that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 9.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 8th. Investors of record on Monday, December 15th were issued a $0.85 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.1%. This is an increase from Merck & Co., Inc.’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Merck & Co., Inc.’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.91%.

Trending Headlines about Merck & Co., Inc.

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

• Positive Sentiment: Five‑year data from the Moderna + Merck cancer‑vaccine study showed a sustained, clinically meaningful reduction in risk of recurrence or death for high‑risk melanoma when given with KEYTRUDA — a result that boosts Merck’s oncology franchise and long‑term revenue potential. Moderna, Merck’s skin cancer vaccine shows sustained benefit after five years
• Positive Sentiment: Merck and CEPI launched a $30M program to develop a more affordable Ebola vaccine aimed at improving access in low‑ and middle‑income countries — positive for Merck’s public‑health standing and potential future demand in emerging markets. Merck partners with global health coalition to develop affordable Ebola vaccine
• Positive Sentiment: TD Cowen raised its price target on MRK from $100 to $120 (maintaining a Hold), signaling analyst confidence in upside versus the prior target and supporting the stock’s move. TD Cowen raises MRK price target
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage and analyst commentary highlighting Merck’s M&A activity and pipeline expansion (especially in oncology) are fueling bullish sentiment that MRK could re‑rate if execution continues. Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Poised for Breakout After Strategic M&A and Pipeline Expansion
• Neutral Sentiment: Short market note: MRK was reported to have traded higher than the broader market in the recent session — a snapshot confirming the intraday strength but not a standalone catalyst. Merck (MRK) Rises Higher Than Market: Key Facts
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck appears on dividend/yield screens (e.g., “Dogs of the Dow” coverage), which can attract income‑oriented investors but is peripheral to near‑term fundamental drivers. The Dogs of the Dow: 10 Downtrodden Dividends Paying Out Up to 6.8%
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts warn Gardasil sales remain weak in China and Japan, creating near‑term revenue pressure heading into Q4 results — a clear negative that could limit upside until growth stabilizes. Will Weak Gardasil Sales Continue to Ail MRK Revenues in Q4 Earnings?

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, January 17th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $105.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $90.00 to $125.00 in a report on Monday, November 24th. Wolfe Research raised shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $135.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Merck & Co., Inc. has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $114.20.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP David Michael Williams sold 8,614 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction on Monday, November 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.59, for a total value of $720,044.26. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 24,578 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,054,475.02. This trade represents a 25.95% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate 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.