Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management Grows Stock Holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management lifted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 35.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 37,930 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 9,826 shares during the quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $3,993,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Darwin Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 237.4% during the third quarter. Darwin Wealth Management LLC now owns 307 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Kilter Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth $27,000. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 302.3% in the third quarter. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 354 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 266 shares during the last quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth $31,000. Finally, United Financial Planning Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the third quarter valued at $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.07% of the company’s stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Down 0.2%

MRK opened at $120.62 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $117.47 and a 200-day moving average price of $102.80. Merck & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $73.31 and a twelve month high of $125.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $298.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.57, a PEG ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.26.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $2.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.01 by $0.03. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 28.08% and a return on equity of 44.57%. The company had revenue of $16.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $16.19 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company 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. Equities research analysts forecast that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 9.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be paid a $0.85 dividend. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. Merck & Co., Inc.’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on MRK. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Scotiabank raised their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $105.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $105.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 15th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, March 20th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $116.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Merck & Co., Inc. currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $127.13.

Key Headlines Impacting Merck & Co., Inc.

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

• Positive Sentiment: European approval expands KEYTRUDA use to a platinum‑resistant ovarian cancer population (PD‑L1 CPS ≥1). This label adds a new, high‑need indication and could incrementally lift oncology sales in Europe if uptake is steady; approval reduces regulatory uncertainty for the combo in that market. Merck granted EU approval of Keytruda combo in ovarian cancer
• Positive Sentiment: European Commission press release confirming KEYTRUDA + paclitaxel ± bevacizumab approval for PD‑L1‑positive, platinum‑resistant recurrent ovarian carcinoma — reinforces the commercial significance of the approval and the company’s oncology momentum in EU markets. European Commission Approves KEYTRUDA combo
• Positive Sentiment: Merck reported strong Phase 3 results for an oral PCSK9 candidate (enlicitide decanoate) — if confirmed through regulatory paths, an oral PCSK9 could be a major commercial opportunity in lipid management and compete with injectables, implying material long‑term upside to cardiovascular franchise revenue. Merck Reports Strong Phase 3 Results for Oral PCSK9
• Positive Sentiment: Initiation of a pivotal Phase 2b/3 trial for MK‑8748 (Tiespectus) in neovascular AMD shows Merck advancing a novel bispecific Tie2 agonist/VEGF inhibitor into registrational testing — de‑risks a promising ophthalmology program and could add a new specialty product if successful. Merck Announces Initiation of Pivotal Phase 2b/3 Trial
• Positive Sentiment: Royal Bank of Canada assigned an Outperform rating — analyst upgrades/support can buoy sentiment and buying interest, especially when coupled with pipeline news and recent beats. Merck Earns Outperform Rating from RBC
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck released detailed Phase 2 CADENCE data (WINREVAIR) — more granular data helps investors assess clinical profile and commercial potential, but Phase 2 detail typically moves shares less than registrational results unless outcomes are transformational. Merck Announces Detailed Results From the Phase 2 CADENCE Study
• Neutral Sentiment: Merck completed the acquisition of JSR Life Sciences’ chromatography business — broadens manufacturing/service capabilities (note: some headlines refer to Merck KGaA; confirm scope). Strategic but not immediately revenue‑moving for MRK’s core drug sales. Merck Completes Acquisition of JSR Life Sciences’ Chromatography Business
• Neutral Sentiment: Sector commentary: Lilly warned against locking pricing‑deal rules into law, citing innovation risk — a reminder of policy/regulatory uncertainty that can affect the whole pharma sector, including MRK, but it’s not a company‑specific development. Lilly Pushes Back on Making Drug Price Deals Permanent

Insider Transactions at Merck & Co., Inc.

In related news, EVP Jennifer Zachary sold 121,573 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction on Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.15, for a total value of $14,485,422.95. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 68,916 shares of the company’s stock, 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 legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Robert M. Davis sold 47,434 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.04, for a total value of $5,599,109.36. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 443,602 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $52,362,780.08. This trade represents a 9.66% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 320,176 shares of company stock worth $38,281,735. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

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.