Key facts, as of
As of October 11, 2026, Merck & Co. (MRK) trades at $145.60, up 66.4% over the past year. Its 52-week range runs from $82.01 to $156.92; the price is 7.2% below that high. It is 7.2% below its all-time high of $156.92, reached in August 2026. Over the 10 years to the end of September 2026, with dividends reinvested, it returned +231.1%, against +312.9% for the S&P 500 (SPY). It sits 17.5% above its 200-day average of $123.90, the usual sign of a long-term uptrend. Its 30-day volatility is 21.9% annualized, which we rate medium risk. It has a trailing P/E of 115.6 and a dividend yield of 2.34%.
Cite: Portfolio Terminal, "Merck & Co. (MRK) stock analysis", 2026-10-11. https://portfolio-terminal.com/analyse/mrk
Where it trades today
trading 85% of the way up its 52-week range
How the price has moved
How far it is from its record
Merck & Co. (MRK) is 7.2% below its all-time high of $156.92, reached in August 2026. Over the 10 years to the end of September 2026, with dividends reinvested, it returned +231.1%, against +312.9% for the S&P 500 (SPY).
What to weigh before acting
What Matters Now
- The read on the stock is often driven by pipeline durability, reimbursement pressure, and whether new launches can offset patent cliffs.
- MRK trades at 115.6x earnings, well above the healthcare average of 22.0x, so the market is already pricing in above-consensus execution.
- MRK carries a beta of 0.22, which means the stock should be judged on how it affects total portfolio swings, not just on standalone upside.
- Relative performance versus UNH, JNJ, PFE matters here because leadership inside healthcare rarely stays static for long.
Portfolio Use Case
- MRK is more relevant for investors who want some income support alongside price appreciation, not just pure growth exposure.
- The beta profile suggests it can fit a quality or lower-volatility sleeve more naturally than a high-octane tactical basket.
- The stock becomes more useful when paired with an explicit catalyst watchlist, because sector sentiment can shift quickly around policy, rates, or pipeline news.
What Would Change the View
- A reset in earnings expectations or a faster peer catch-up could compress the premium valuation currently embedded in MRK.
- The view would need revisiting if peers such as UNH, JNJ, PFE start winning the marginal flow or posting cleaner operating momentum.
Methodology
- Price, market cap, beta, yield, and liquidity fields for MRK come from Yahoo Finance quote and summary data.
- 30-day volatility is calculated from recent daily returns and annualized using a 252-trading-day convention.
- Sector context uses stored benchmark averages for Healthcare so each page compares the ticker against a stable peer baseline rather than against the whole market.
- Peer comparisons use the Portfolio Terminal coverage set and highlight nearby listed alternatives such as UNH, JNJ, PFE.
Sources
- Yahoo Finance quote dataopen →
Live quote, valuation, beta, yield, and volume fields used for MRK. Last refresh: Oct 11, 2026, 11:16 PM.
- Portfolio Terminal methodologyopen →
Explains how analytics, refresh cadence, and portfolio interpretation work across the product.
- Peer set and coverage context
Comparative context for this page is anchored around nearby tracked names such as UNH, JNJ, PFE.
What Merck & Co. does
Merck & Co., Inc. operates as a healthcare company worldwide. It offers human health pharmaceutical for various areas under the Keytruda, Keytruda Qlex, Welireg, Gardasil, ProQuad, M-M-R II, Varivax, Vaxneuvance, Capvaxive, RotaTeq, Pneumovax 23, Bridion, Prevymis, Dificid, Zerbaxa, Winrevair, Adempas/ Verquvo, Ohtuvayre, Lagevrio, Isentress/Isentress HD, Delstrigo, Pifeltro, Belsomra, Januvia, and Janumet brands. The company also provides veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services, such as livestock products under the Nuflor, Bovilis/Vista, Bovilis Cryptium, Banamine, Estrumate, Matrix, Resflor, Zuprevo, Revalor, Safe-Guard, M+Pac, Porcilis,…
Employees
73,000
Industry
Drug Manufacturers - General
Headquarters
Rahway, United States
What analysts expect
MRK carries a buy consensus from 25 analysts, with an average price target of $158.08 versus $145.60 today (+8.6%). Targets are estimates and can move quickly after earnings.
Consensus aggregated by Yahoo Finance. Targets are estimates, not forecasts.
How the business is doing
MRK generated $66.57B in trailing revenue (5.1% year over year), with a 4.8% net margin, and $15.17B of free cash flow, against $46.77B of net debt.
The numbers, year by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Gross profit | Operating income | Net income | EPS | Free cash flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65.01B | $48.63B | $22.11B | $18.25B | $7.38 | $12.36B |
| 2024 | $64.17B | $48.98B | $20.22B | $17.12B | $6.77 | $18.10B |
| 2023 | $60.12B | $43.99B | $2.95B | $365.00M | $0.14 | $9.14B |
| 2022 | $59.28B | $41.87B | $18.28B | $14.52B | $5.73 | $14.71B |
When it reports next
Estimates aggregated by Yahoo Finance. Dates move and estimates change until the report lands.
Which ETFs hold it
MRK is in 11 of the 30 ETFs we track. It weighs most in XLV: 5.91% of the fund, holding #4 of 62.
How it sits in healthcare
Defensive sector including pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, and healthcare services.
The companies it competes with
MRK beside the healthcare names it is usually measured against.
What the chart is saying
In an uptrend, pressing toward $153.19 resistance.
uptrend- Price is 1.5% above its 50-day average and 17.5% above its 200-day.
- RSI at 52 is neither stretched nor washed out.
- The nearest ceiling is $153.19 (+5.2%), the nearest floor $131.01 (-10.0%).
A description of the chart, not advice. Indicators describe what the price has done; none of them knows what it does next.
Questions people ask about it
Is MRK a good investment in 2026?
Merck & Co. trades at a P/E ratio of 115.6, with medium volatility (21.9% annualized). The stock is in a consolidation phase.
What is the risk level of MRK?
Based on 30-day volatility of 21.9%, MRK has MEDIUM risk. Beta of 0.22 indicates lower sensitivity to market movements than average.
Does MRK pay dividends?
Yes, Merck & Co. has a dividend yield of 2.34%.
How far is MRK from its all-time high?
Merck & Co. is 7.2% below its all-time high of $156.92, reached in August 2026. Over the 10 years to the end of September 2026, with dividends reinvested, it returned +231.1%, against +312.9% for the S&P 500 (SPY).
Which ETFs hold MRK?
11 of the 30 popular ETFs we track hold Merck & Co.. The largest weights: XLV (5.91%), SCHD (4.06%), DIA (1.71%), VIG (1.56%) and VYM (1.47%). Measured on each issuer's full holdings file, dated August 31 to September 24, 2026.
How much of VOO is MRK?
0.55%, as of August 31, 2026: MRK is holding #29 of 505 in Vanguard's file for VOO. $1,000 in VOO puts about $5.51 in Merck & Co..
What is the analyst price target for MRK?
The average analyst price target for Merck & Co. (MRK) is $158.08 based on 25 analyst estimates, about 8.6% above the current price of $145.60. The published range runs from $105.00 to $186.00.
How much revenue does MRK generate?
Merck & Co. reported $66.57B in trailing twelve-month revenue. Revenue growth is running at 5.1% year over year. Net margin sits at 4.8%. Figures are aggregated from company filings by Yahoo Finance and refresh on an hourly cadence.
Compare MRK with anything
Five years side by side: what $10,000 became, how far each fell, whether they move together.