In a report released yesterday, Evan Seigerman from BMO Capital maintained a Hold rating on Merck & Company (MRK – Research Report), with a price target of $89.00.
Evan Seigerman has given his Hold rating due to a combination of factors impacting Merck & Company’s stock. One of the primary concerns is the ongoing challenges with the Gardasil vaccine. The recent discussions by the ACIP regarding potential reductions in the recommended dosing schedule for Gardasil could significantly impact long-term U.S. revenues. This is particularly concerning as the completion of Japan’s catch-up immunization program has already slowed growth outside of China.
Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding the future growth of Merck’s portfolio, especially with the looming loss of exclusivity for Keytruda, adds to the cautious outlook. While there is some positive momentum with the Winrevair product, which has exceeded expectations, the overall pressure on Merck’s shares due to these uncertainties justifies the Hold rating. The analyst’s fundamental analysis suggests that these factors will continue to weigh on Merck’s market performance.
Seigerman covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as Novo Nordisk, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. According to TipRanks, Seigerman has an average return of 3.6% and a 44.17% success rate on recommended stocks.
In another report released yesterday, Bernstein also maintained a Hold rating on the stock with a $95.00 price target.