Merck KGaA (OTCMKTS:MKKGY) Short Interest Down 80.2% in August

Merck KGaA (OTCMKTS:MKKGY) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totaling 1,771 shares, a decrease of 80.2% from the August 15th total of 8,948 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the company’s stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 98,007 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days.

Merck KGaA Stock Performance

Shares of MKKGY stock traded down $0.27 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $30.59. The stock had a trading volume of 3,477 shares, compared to its average volume of 91,712. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.51 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.77 billion, a PE ratio of 15.77, a PEG ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.96. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $32.22 and its 200 day moving average is $29.57. Merck KGaA has a twelve month low of $23.73 and a twelve month high of $34.19.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on MKKGY. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Merck KGaA in a research report on Tuesday, May 26th. They set a “hold” rating on the stock. HSBC upgraded shares of Merck KGaA to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Merck KGaA from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 20th. Finally, UBS Group cut shares of Merck KGaA from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 20th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold”.

Merck KGaA Company Profile

Merck KGaA is a Germany-based science and technology company headquartered in Darmstadt. Founded in 1668, it is one of the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical businesses. Merck KGaA operates independently from the U.S.-based Merck & Co, Inc, which uses the name MSD in markets outside the United States and Canada.

The company operates through three primary business sectors: Life Science, Healthcare and Electronics. Its Life Science business supplies laboratory products, research tools, bioprocessing equipment and services used by academic institutions, pharmaceutical manufacturers and other industrial customers.