Merck & Co.
NASDAQ: MRKKey stats
Price chart
About Merck & Co.
Pharmaceuticals
Company profile
- IPO date
- Jan 1, 1941
- Website
- www.merck.com
Healthcare peers
How MRK compares to other large companies in the same sector.
| Company | Price | Today | Market cap | P/E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 LLY Eli Lilly and Company | $1004.92 | -0.18% | $946.37B | 37.44 |
 JNJ Johnson & Johnson | $226.71 | -1.77% | $549.56B | 26.34 |
 ABBV AbbVie Inc. | $210.39 | -0.18% | $371.72B | 87.96 |
 UNH UnitedHealth Group | $393.85 | -1.31% | $358.78B | 30.14 |
 PFE Pfizer Inc. | $25.33 | -1.63% | $144.17B | 19.57 |
Wall Street analyst ratings
DollarScout analysis
Editorial, not advice. See our methodology.
Bull case
Merck & Co. maintains a competitive moat with its leading pharmaceuticals, notably the success of Keytruda in oncology. The drug is a significant growth driver, contributing heavily to revenue, and further oncology innovations are expected to maintain this momentum. Merck's strategic acquisitions enhance its pipeline, positioning it for sustained growth. With a relatively low P/E ratio of 16.45 for the sector, MRK offers potential value for long-term investors. Additionally, its 2.7235% dividend yield adds an appeal for income-focused portfolios. With a beta of 0.2966, MRK exhibits lower volatility, which is attractive in an uncertain market environment.
Bear case
The pharmaceutical industry is fraught with risks, including regulatory hurdles and drug approval uncertainties. Despite Merck's current success, competition from biotech firms and other pharmaceutical giants remains fierce, potentially impacting future sales of key drugs like Keytruda. The company's reliance on a few blockbuster drugs presents a concentration risk, and failure in clinical trials could significantly hit its stock. Current valuation, while lower than some peers, still reflects optimism that could be dampened by unfavorable trial results or policy changes. Furthermore, macroeconomic factors such as rising interest rates could negatively affect the stock price, squeezing margins in the long term.
Who should buy MRK
Merck is ideally suited for conservative investors looking for a blend of income and growth in the healthcare sector. It's attractive for long-term dividend investors with a moderate risk tolerance, seeking stability and moderate capital appreciation over a 5-10 year horizon.
Key risks
- Significant dependency on revenue from a small number of drugs, notably Keytruda. - Regulatory and policy changes affecting drug approval and pricing. - Increased competition from small biotech firms and big pharma companies. - Economic downturns or interest rate hikes negatively impacting stock performance.
Where to buy MRK
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Recent MRK news
A recent paper by Merck details the industrial synthesis of enlicitide. Just looking at the structure tells you that this must be a ferociously active molecule with huge commercial potential
Tracey Beth Hoeg was fired as FDA drug division chief amid a broader Trump administration shake-up at the health department.
U.S. drugmaker Bristol Myers Squibb inked a partnership with a Chinese company that some say could mark the next wave of collaboration across continents.
Merck (NYSE:MRK) plans to present more than 100 oncology abstracts at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting. The company will share five year outcomes from pivotal trials of KEYTRUDA combinations in melanoma and triple negative breast cancer. Merck will also highlight data on next generation antibody drug conjugates and individualized neoantigen therapies. For investors following NYSE:MRK, this ASCO 2026 update is at the center of Merck's core oncology focus. KEYTRUDA is a key part of its cancer...
Recently, Zacks.com users have been paying close attention to Merck (MRK). This makes it worthwhile to examine what the stock has in store.
Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) will showcase the future of agentic commercial in biopharma at Veeva Commercial Summit, May 19-20 in Boston. Leaders from argenx, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, Gilead, GSK, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Takeda, Vertex, and more will share AI successes and explore new approaches to commercial engagement.
The new solar farms boost Matrix’s Spanish portfolio, supporting grid reliability and long-term clean power supply.
Precigen's PAPZIMEOS wins early FDA approval with rapid insurer/physician uptake, a strong growth outlook, and improving EPS. Click to read more on PGEN stock.
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