Merck & Co Inc (NYSE: MRK) is -13.01% lower on its value in year-to-date trading and has touched a low of $86.27 and a high of $134.63 in the current 52-week trading range. The question becomes, what are the chances the stock will make a comeback and enjoy potential growth. Why not look at analysts view on what the future holds for the stock. The MRK stock was last observed hovering at around $86.40 in the last trading session, with the day’s gains setting it 0.14%.
Currently trading at $86.54, the stock is -9.02% and -12.00% below its SMA20 and SMA50 respectively. However, with a daily trading volume of 19.49 million and changing 0.16% at the moment leaves the stock -23.52% off its SMA200. MRK registered -31.65% loss for a year compared to 6-month loss of -24.45%. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average (SMA 50) of $98.6374 and a 200-day simple moving average (SMA200) of $113.35705.
The stock witnessed a -12.81% gain in the last 1 month and extending the period to 3 months gives it a -14.46%, and is -4.63% down over the last 5 days. If we measure the stock’s price variations over the week and the month, we find that the volatility rates stand at 2.05% over the week and 2.11% over the month.
Merck & Co Inc (MRK) has around 72000 employees, a market worth around $218.91B and $64.30B in sales. Current P/E ratio is 12.85 and Fwd P/E is 8.83. Profit margin for the company is 26.62%. Distance from 52-week low is 0.31% and -35.72% from its 52-week high. The company has generated returns on investments over the last 12 months (21.54%).
with sales reaching $15.67B over the same period.The EPS is expected to grow by 17.53% this year, but quarterly earnings will post 1.95% year-over-year. Quarterly sales are estimated to shrink -0.64% in year-over-year returns.
Merck & Co Inc (MRK) Top Institutional Holders
4347.0 institutions hold shares in Merck & Co Inc (MRK), with institutional investors hold 79.50% of the company’s shares. The shares outstanding are 2.53B, and float is at 2.51B with Short Float at 1.36%. Institutions hold 79.46% of the Float.
The top institutional shareholder in the company is VANGUARD GROUP INC with over 244.68 million shares valued at $30.29 billion. The investor’s holdings represent 9.6596% of the MRK Shares outstanding. As of 2024-06-30, the second largest holder is BLACKROCK INC. with 207.3 million shares valued at $$25.66 billion to account for 8.1838 of the shares outstanding. The other top investors are STATE STREET CORP which holds 117.49 million shares representing 4.6384% and valued at over $14.63 billion, while WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT GROUP LLP holds 2.8615 of the shares totaling 72.48 million with a market value of $8.97 billion.
Merck & Co Inc (MRK) Insider Activity
The most recent transaction is an insider purchase by THULIN INGE G,the company’sDirector. SEC filings show that THULIN INGE G bought 2,833 shares of the company’s common stock on Feb 06 ’25 at a price of $88.25 per share for a total of $0.25 million. Following the purchase, the insider now owns 2933.0 shares.
Merck & Co Inc disclosed in a document filed with the SEC on Feb 06 ’25 that Downing Cristal N (Chief Comm. & Public Afrs Ofcr) sold a total of 2,361 shares of the company’s common stock. The trade occurred on Feb 06 ’25 and was made at $88.76 per share for $0.21 million. Following the transaction, the insider now directly holds 7085.0 shares of the MRK stock.
Still, SEC filings show that on Feb 05 ’25, BAKER DOUGLAS M JR (Director) acquired 15,000 shares at an average price of $88.50 for $1.33 million. The insider now directly holds 16,000 shares of Merck & Co Inc (MRK).
