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Merck & Company (MRK)
NYSE:MRK
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Merck & Company (MRK) AI Stock Analysis

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MRK

Merck & Company

(NYSE:MRK)

Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$93.00
▲(12.31% Upside)
Merck's strong financial performance and attractive valuation are key strengths, supported by a strategic focus on innovation and cost optimization. However, challenges in revenue growth and competitive pressures in certain markets temper the overall outlook.
Positive Factors
Strong Oncology Pipeline
Merck's robust oncology pipeline, including KEYTRUDA's approvals, positions the company for sustained growth in the high-demand cancer treatment market.
Successful Product Launches
The successful launch of ENFLONSIA into new therapeutic areas demonstrates Merck's capability to innovate and expand its product offerings, supporting long-term growth.
Capital Structure Strengthening
The $6 billion notes offering enhances Merck's capital structure, providing financial flexibility to support growth initiatives and operational stability.
Negative Factors
Decline in Revenue Growth
A decline in revenue growth suggests challenges in market expansion and product sales, potentially affecting long-term profitability and market position.
Competitive Pressures from Biosimilars
Competitive pressures from biosimilars can erode market share and pricing power, impacting revenue from key products like pembrolizumab.
Challenges in China Market
Significant sales decline in China for GARDASIL highlights market-specific challenges that could hinder growth in a key international market.

Merck & Company (MRK) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Merck & Company Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMerck & Co., Inc. operates as a healthcare company worldwide. It operates through two segments, Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. The Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products in the areas of oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes, as well as vaccine products, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. The Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and health management solutions and services, as well as digitally connected identification, traceability, and monitoring products. It serves drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, and government agencies; managed health care providers, such as health maintenance organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, and other institutions; and physicians and physician distributors, veterinarians, and animal producers. The company has collaborations with AstraZeneca PLC; Bayer AG; Eisai Co., Ltd.; Ridgeback Biotherapeutics; and Gilead Sciences, Inc. to jointly develop and commercialize long-acting treatments in HIV. Merck & Co., Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Kenilworth, New Jersey.
How the Company Makes MoneyMerck & Company's revenue model is primarily based on the sales of its pharmaceutical products and vaccines. The Human Health segment generates the majority of its revenue, driven by sales of blockbuster drugs such as Keytruda (for cancer treatment) and Gardasil (a vaccine for HPV). The company also earns revenue from its Animal Health segment, which includes pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and diagnostic products for livestock and pets. Additionally, Merck engages in strategic partnerships and collaborations with other pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and healthcare organizations, which can provide milestone payments, royalties, and shared revenues. The company further invests in research and development to innovate and expand its product pipeline, which is critical for sustaining long-term growth and profitability.

Merck & Company Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Operating Expense Breakdown
Operating Expense Breakdown
Details core costs like R&D, marketing, and admin, offering insight into how efficiently the company runs and where it’s prioritizing investment.
Chart InsightsMerck's operating expenses have shown volatility, particularly in R&D, which spiked in mid-2023, possibly due to strategic investments in new product launches like WINREVAIR. The recent earnings call highlights a multiyear optimization program aimed at redirecting $3 billion from lower-growth areas into high-potential ones, reflecting a strategic shift to bolster growth in oncology and Animal Health. Despite challenges like declining GARDASIL sales in China, Merck's focus on innovation and cost optimization could enhance long-term profitability.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Merck & Company Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 30, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Oct 30, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call highlighted Merck's strong performance with new product launches and a robust pipeline, particularly in oncology and cardiopulmonary. However, challenges in China with GARDASIL and competitive pressures from biosimilars were notable lowlights.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
WINREVAIR Achieves Significant Milestone
WINREVAIR achieved $1 billion of cumulative sales in just over a year since approval, demonstrating strong market penetration and impact on patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Positive Oncology Pipeline Developments
KEYTRUDA marked its 10th earlier-stage approval, and the company presented encouraging data across multiple novel candidates at ASCO, reinforcing the potential of its oncology portfolio.
Strong Animal Health Growth
Animal Health sales increased by 11%, reflecting higher demand across all species and improved supply.
Successful Launch of ENFLONSIA
ENFLONSIA, a monoclonal antibody for RSV prevention, received FDA approval and ACIP recommendation, showcasing Merck's expansion into new therapeutic areas.
Negative Updates
Decline in GARDASIL Sales
GARDASIL sales decreased by 55%, primarily due to a $1.3 billion decline in China, highlighting challenges in that market.
Revenue Impact from Foreign Exchange
Total company revenues decreased by 2%, affected by foreign exchange impacts and a decline in sales of GARDASIL in China.
Early Biosimilar Entry
An early entrant of a biosimilar for pembrolizumab in Argentina impacted revenues, reflecting competitive pressures in international markets.
Company Guidance
During the Merck & Co., Inc. Q2 2025 conference call, the company reported revenue of $15.8 billion, reflecting a 2% decrease from the previous year, both nominally and excluding foreign exchange impacts. Key growth drivers included oncology and Animal Health, with notable contributions from new products like WINREVAIR, which achieved $1 billion in cumulative sales since its approval. Sales of KEYTRUDA increased by 9% to $8 billion, driven by demand in metastatic and earlier-stage cancers. The company announced a multiyear optimization initiative aiming to reallocate $3 billion from lower-growth areas to support burgeoning growth drivers. They maintained their full-year revenue guidance between $64.3 billion and $65.3 billion, representing 1% to 2% growth, and adjusted their EPS guidance to $8.87 to $8.97. The call highlighted Merck’s strategic focus on expanding its innovative pipeline, with over 80 Phase III studies underway, and confidence in overcoming the upcoming patent expiration of KEYTRUDA.

Merck & Company Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Merck & Company demonstrates strong profitability with high margins and a solid balance sheet. However, challenges include a decline in revenue growth and free cash flow, which could impact long-term financial health.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Merck & Company demonstrates strong profitability with a high gross profit margin of 76.6% and a net profit margin of 25.8% in the TTM period. However, the revenue growth rate has declined by 0.48% in the TTM, indicating potential challenges in revenue expansion. The EBIT and EBITDA margins remain robust at 32.1% and 39.4%, respectively, showcasing efficient operational management.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The company maintains a healthy balance sheet with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, indicating moderate leverage. The return on equity is strong at 34.9%, reflecting effective use of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio stands at 41.7%, suggesting a solid equity base relative to total assets.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cash flow analysis reveals a decline in free cash flow growth by 13.6% in the TTM, which could be a concern. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.71, and the free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.79, indicating good cash generation relative to net income.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue63.62B64.17B60.12B59.28B48.70B41.52B
Gross Profit48.73B48.98B43.99B41.87B35.08B27.90B
EBITDA25.04B25.71B6.91B21.32B17.90B10.18B
Net Income16.41B17.12B365.00M14.52B13.05B7.07B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets117.52B117.11B106.67B109.16B105.69B91.59B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments8.62B13.69B7.09B13.19B8.10B8.05B
Total Debt35.40B38.27B36.27B31.98B34.63B33.42B
Total Liabilities68.46B70.73B69.04B63.10B67.44B66.18B
Stockholders Equity48.99B46.31B37.58B45.99B38.18B25.32B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow14.72B18.10B9.14B14.71B9.66B5.57B
Operating Cash Flow18.53B21.47B13.01B19.09B14.11B10.25B
Investing Cash Flow-7.55B-7.73B-14.08B-4.96B-16.55B-9.44B
Financing Cash Flow-14.74B-7.03B-4.81B-9.12B2.59B-2.83B

Merck & Company Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price82.81
Price Trends
50DMA
82.84
Negative
100DMA
80.75
Positive
200DMA
86.29
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.43
Positive
RSI
46.52
Neutral
STOCH
40.71
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MRK, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 82.81 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 84.61, below the 50-day MA of 82.84, and below the 200-day MA of 86.29, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of 0.43 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 46.52 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 40.71 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for MRK.

Merck & Company Risk Analysis

Merck & Company disclosed 31 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Merck & Company reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Merck & Company Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
79
Outperform
$251.27B30.1019.76%1.97%15.08%29.15%
78
Outperform
$243.17B18.2032.82%3.22%12.38%-12.67%
75
Outperform
$212.69B12.9635.44%3.86%2.00%20.01%
73
Outperform
$141.34B13.0612.16%7.16%14.72%
72
Outperform
$115.53B11.858.39%4.70%-9.32%120.62%
68
Neutral
$146.24B22.9333.26%2.72%3.69%501.26%
51
Neutral
$8.02B-0.31-43.38%2.24%22.31%-2.14%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MRK
Merck & Company
82.81
-32.06
-27.91%
AZN
AstraZeneca
79.56
2.14
2.76%
GILD
Gilead Sciences
114.55
33.24
40.88%
NVS
Novartis
124.12
10.61
9.35%
PFE
Pfizer
23.87
-4.23
-15.05%
SNY
Sanofi
47.03
-8.53
-15.35%

Merck & Company Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Merck & Co. Closes $6 Billion Notes Offering
Positive
Sep 9, 2025

On September 9, 2025, Merck & Co., Inc. successfully closed a significant public offering of various notes totaling $6 billion, with maturities ranging from 2027 to 2055. This strategic financial move is expected to strengthen the company’s capital structure and support its ongoing operations and growth initiatives.

The most recent analyst rating on (MRK) stock is a Buy with a $120.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Merck & Company stock, see the MRK Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Sep 13, 2025