Kerusso Capital Management LLC Has $3.41 Million Position in Merck & Co., Inc. $MRK

Kerusso Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 32.3% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 32,399 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,908 shares during the quarter. Kerusso Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $3,410,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Spectrum Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. in the 4th quarter worth about $214,000. WPG Advisers LLC increased its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 34.5% in the 4th quarter. WPG Advisers LLC now owns 1,490 shares of the company’s stock worth $157,000 after purchasing an additional 382 shares in the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC increased its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 17.2% in the 4th quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 37,249 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,030,000 after purchasing an additional 5,472 shares in the last quarter. Quent Long Short Global Small Cap Fund LP acquired a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. in the 4th quarter worth about $859,000. Finally, Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 36.1% in the 4th quarter. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 20,734 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,182,000 after purchasing an additional 5,505 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Merck & Co., Inc.

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

• Positive Sentiment: FDA granted Priority Review for two supplemental BLA filings for KEYTRUDA in combination regimens for muscle‑invasive bladder cancer — this could expand a high‑value label for KEYTRUDA if approved, supporting future revenue. Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Gains FDA Priority Review for KEYTRUDA Regimen in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
• Positive Sentiment: Merck announced a multi‑year partnership with Google Cloud (up to $1B) to deploy agentic AI across R&D, manufacturing and commercial functions — a strategic investment that could boost long‑term productivity, R&D efficiency and digital transformation. Merck and Google Cloud Partner to Accelerate Agentic AI Enterprise Transformation
• Positive Sentiment: FDA approved IDVYNSO, a once‑daily two‑drug, non‑INSTI, tenofovir‑free HIV regimen — a new approved product can contribute incremental sales and diversify Merck’s commercial portfolio. Merck Weighs New HIV Approval Against Mixed Oncology Trial Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports say Merck and other drugmakers are eyeing a deal for Inhibrx’s experimental cancer drug tied to KEYTRUDA — strategic M&A/licensing interest is a potential longer‑term positive but remains speculative and valuation‑dependent. Exclusive: Merck, rivals eye deal in Inhibrx experimental cancer drug tied to Keytruda, sources say
• Neutral Sentiment: Market research notes expansion in the polycythemia vera field and lists Merck’s bomedemstat as one of several emerging entrants — a potential long‑term opportunity but competitive and years from wide commercial impact. Polycythemia Vera Market Set for Transformation: Key 9 Companies Expected to Enter by 2036
• Negative Sentiment: Merck and partner Eisai reported a late‑stage Keytruda‑based triplet in first‑line advanced renal cell carcinoma failed to meet primary endpoints — this clinical setback has already pressured the stock and raises near‑term uncertainty around that program and investor confidence in certain oncology readouts. MRK Down as Triplet Therapy Fails to Meet Goal in Kidney Cancer Study
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts expect Merck to report a year‑over‑year earnings decline and note Merck lacks the key factors typically associated with an earnings beat — weaker near‑term EPS guidance/expectations can cap upside and prompt short‑term selling. Analysts Estimate Merck (MRK) to Report a Decline in Earnings: What to Look Out for

Insider Buying and Selling at Merck & Co., Inc.

In related news, EVP David Michael Williams sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.91, for a total transaction of $609,550.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 30,838 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,759,460.58. This trade represents a 13.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Jennifer Zachary sold 121,573 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the executive vice president directly owned 68,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,211,341.40. This represents a 63.82% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 320,176 shares of company stock valued at $38,281,735 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MRK has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $116.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Citigroup increased their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, March 20th. Wolfe Research raised Merck & Co., Inc. from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $135.00 price target for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Merck & Co., Inc. from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price target for the company in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Merck & Co., Inc. from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, March 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $128.47.

Merck & Co., Inc. Trading Up 1.6%

Shares of MRK stock opened at $114.68 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $283.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.75, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.26. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $118.80 and a 200-day moving average of $106.58. The company has a current ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1-year low of $73.31 and a 1-year high of $125.14.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $2.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.01 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $16.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $16.19 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 44.57% and a net margin of 28.08%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.72 earnings per share. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.000-5.150 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 4.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 7th. Investors of record on Monday, March 16th were paid a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 16th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. Merck & Co., Inc.’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.70%.

Merck & Co., Inc. Profile

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.