Stock·NYSE·Healthcare
Merck & Co Inc (MRK)
- Market cap
- $368.89B
- P/E
- 118.67
- Dividend yield
- 2.27%
- Street target
- $165.00median of 27 analysts
- 52-week range
- $82.01 $156.92
MRK stock forecast today
Where MRK stands today, and what CleaRank Financial AI makes of it.
MRK at a glance
Merck & Co Inc (MRK): Buy, 61/100 on CleaRank's AI score.
- Trend Up: the price is above both its 50- and 200-day moving averages ($146.86 and $126.71).
- Earnings MRK beat estimates in 7 of its last 7 quarters, yet fell the next day after 3 of those beats.
- Insiders Insiders sold $72.0M and made no open-market purchases over the last 18 months.
- Valuation P/E of 118.7 against 31.9 for the Healthcare sector: a premium to peers (+272%).
Figures as of October 30, 2026.
CleaRank Financial AI
Merck & Co Inc (MRK) carries a CleaRank rating of Buy and a model score of 61/100.
The trend is the strongest contributor: the price is 18.00% above its 200-day average, 1.81% above its 50-day average, and the 50-day average is 15.91% above the 200-day. Valuation is the main drag, with the P/E of 118.67 272.0% above the sector median (a premium to peers) and the P/S of 5.54 62.9% above the sector median. Current averages are $146.86 for the 50-day and $126.71 for the 200-day. The price rose 73.30% over the past year.
Only on CleaRank
Figures we compute ourselves from MRK's own price, earnings and insider-filing history. Tap one to see it in context.
MRK stock price and trading
The chart, today's range and how far the price has moved over each period.
Trend checks
4/4Price above its 50-day average ›
The price of $149.52 is 1.8% above the 50-day simple moving average of $146.86.Price above its 200-day average ›
The price is 18.0% above the 200-day simple moving average of $126.71.50-day average above the 200-day ›
The 50-day average ($146.86) is 15.9% above the 200-day average ($126.71), the arrangement of a rising longer-term trend.In the upper half of its 52-week range ›
The price sits at 90% of its 52-week range, between $82.01 and $156.92.
MRK share price
Pick a period: each tab shows how far MRK has moved over it, to the last close.
Today's trading
Where MRK sits inside today's range and its 52-week range.
MRK fundamentals and valuation
Valuation against the sector, and the revenue and earnings behind it.
Valuation and quality checks
3/5P/E above the sector median ›
The trailing P/E of 118.67 is 272.0% above the Healthcare median of 31.9.P/S above the sector median ›
The price-to-sales ratio of 5.54 is 63.0% above the sector median of 3.4.Profitable over the last 12 months ›
Net income over the last 12 months was $3.2B on revenue of $66.6B, a net margin of 4.8%.Beat estimates in most recent reports ›
MRK beat the EPS estimate in 7 of its last 7 reports.Pays a dividend ›
The trailing dividend yield is 2.27%, or $3.40 a share a year.
Key statistics
The headline figures for MRK.
As of October 30, 2026, MRK trades at $149.52, with a market value of $368.89B, a P/E ratio of 118.67 and a dividend yield of 2.27%.
What the numbers say
CleaRank Financial AI's reading of MRK's valuation, growth and risks.
Against the 31.9 median P/E of Healthcare stocks, Merck & Co Inc (MRK)'s P/E of 118.67 is 272.0% above that median, which counts as a premium to peers. For scale, MRK carries a market capitalisation of $368.9B and trailing earnings of $1.26 a share.
MRK's revenue growth of 5.10% trails the sector median of 8.1% by 3.0 percentage points. Turning sales into profit, the company posts a net margin of 4.77% and an operating margin of -0.24%. Return on equity, a measure of what shareholders' capital earns, comes in at 6.96%, below the sector median of 7.3%. On the balance sheet, debt-to-equity sits at 1.28, and the trailing dividend yield is 2.27%, or $3.40 a share each year.
The figure topped the analysts' estimate by 19.14%. In the next session, the shares climbed 2.18%.
The P/E of 118.67, 272.0% above the sector median, puts MRK at a premium to peers, so weaker results would meet a higher bar. Day-to-day volatility is the first thing to plan around: MRK has moved 1.90% on an average session with a beta of 0.22 against the S&P 500. Insiders sold $72.0M over the last 18 months and bought none on the open market, though sales of this kind are often planned in advance and say less than purchases would.
MRK against the Healthcare sector
How MRK compares with the median Healthcare stock CleaRank tracks.
Price to earnings vs sector: MRK trades at a significant premium to sector peers (+272%), suggesting market expectations for superior growth or market position.
Return vs XLV: Since May 20, 2025, MRK has gained 91.8% against a gain of 37.3% for XLV.
Performance against XLV
MRK and the Healthcare sector fund over the same days.
Revenue and earnings
How much MRK sells, and how much of it becomes profit.
Revenue growth: Revenue grew 1.3% in FY2025 to $65.0B, from $64.2B a year earlier.
Profit margin: The net margin was 28.1% in FY2025, up from 26.7% the year before.
Profitable: MRK earned $18.3B in FY2025.
Earnings reality check
Did MRK beat what analysts expected, and how did the stock react?
Earnings record: MRK beat the analyst estimate in 7 of the last 7 quarters.
Market reaction: The stock fell in the first session after 3 of those 7 beats, so a beat has not been enough on its own.
| Report | Estimate | Actual | Surprise | First session | 5 sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2026after close | -$0.26 | -$0.13 | +50.00% | +0.26% | +1.89% |
| Apr 30, 2026after close | -$1.47 | -$1.28 | +12.93% | +2.73% | +2.86% |
| Feb 3, 2026after close | $2.01 | $2.04 | +1.49% | +2.15% | +1.13% |
| Oct 30, 2025after close | $2.35 | $2.58 | +9.79% | -0.35% | -0.58% |
| Jul 29, 2025after close | $2.03 | $2.13 | +4.93% | -1.06% | -2.23% |
| Apr 24, 2025after close | $2.14 | $2.22 | +3.74% | +3.63% | +4.28% |
| Feb 4, 2025after close | $1.67 | $1.72 | +2.99% | -1.18% | -4.63% |
The October 29, 2026 report is not shown: the figures our data provider supplied for it failed our checks.
As of October 30, 2026, MRK has beaten the analyst EPS estimate in 7 of its last 7 reported quarters and fell in the first trading session after 3 of those beats; its most recent report with reliable figures, on August 4, 2026, came in 50.00% above the estimate and the stock moved +0.26% in the first session.
The first session is the first full trading day on the news: the report day itself for a report before the open, the next day for one after the close. Surprise is actual EPS against the consensus estimate.
MRK AI analysis and technical indicators
CleaRank's score and reasoning, the indicators behind it, and what the price moves with.
Momentum checks
2/2RSI not overbought or oversold ›
The 14-day RSI is 56.9, in neutral territory.RSI above 50 ›
An RSI of 56.9 is above the 50 midpoint, so buyers have had the upper hand over the last 14 days.
CleaRank Financial AI analysis of MRK
The score, the reasoning behind it, and what could move the price next.
Merck & Co Inc (MRK) is trading at $149.52, above both of its main moving averages. The price is 1.81% above its 50-day average of $146.86 and 18.00% above its 200-day average of $126.71. Within its 52-week range, the stock sits near the top: 4.72% below the high of $156.92 and 82.32% above the low of $82.01. The 50-day average is 15.91% above the 200-day, a pattern that supports the recent advance rather than cutting against it.
Returns have been positive across every window shown. Over the past three months the price climbed 14.84%, over six months it gained 33.31%, and over the past year it rose 73.30%. Momentum is steady rather than stretched, with the 14-day RSI at 56.9, a reading in the neutral zone.
Rating reaffirmed ›
Barclays kept its Overweight rating on October 26, 2026.
Source: Analyst action, Barclays, October 26, 2026
- Two levels matter most right now: the 52-week high at $156.92, which sits above the price, and the 50-day SMA at $146.86, which sits below it.
- A 14-day RSI of 56.9 places the stock in the neutral zone. Readings above 70 or below 30 would signal stretched momentum.
The uptrend rests on MRK staying above its 50-day average at $146.86 and its 200-day average at $126.71; a close below the 50-day would be the first crack in it. On a pullback, the first level the price would meet is the 50-day SMA at $146.86.
The next level overhead for MRK is its 52-week high of $156.92.
Technical indicators
Momentum and trend for MRK, from its daily closes.
As of October 30, 2026, with MRK at $149.52, its 14-day RSI is 56.9 (neutral territory), its 50-day simple moving average is $146.86 and its 200-day is $126.71.
Calculated by CleaRank on daily closes as of October 30, 2026: Wilder's 14-day RSI, 50- and 200-day simple moving averages, MACD line (12, 26). How we calculate these
What MRK moves with
Correlation of daily returns over one year: +1 moves in step, 0 has no link, -1 moves the opposite way.
As of October 30, 2026, MRK's 1-year correlation of daily returns is +0.16 with S&P 500 (SPY), +0.03 with Nasdaq 100 (QQQ), -0.02 with Bitcoin (BTC) and +0.04 with gold (XAU).
MRK price target and analyst forecast
The analysts' target range and how their ratings split.
Analysts checks
3/3Most analysts rate it a buy ›
19 of 27 analysts rate it a buy or strong buy, 8 a hold and 0 a sell.Median target above the price ›
The median 12-month target of $165.00 is 10.4% above the price.More buy ratings than three months ago ›
19 of 27 rate it a buy now, against 19 of 28 three months ago.
MRK Wall Street View
12-month price targets
Ratings
Recent rating actions
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Overweight |
| Oct 12, 2026 | Citigroup | Maintains | Neutral |
| Oct 12, 2026 | RBC Capital | Maintains | Sector Perform |
| Oct 8, 2026 | Cantor Fitzgerald | Maintains | Neutral |
| Oct 7, 2026 | Morgan Stanley | Maintains | Overweight |
| Oct 5, 2026 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Overweight |
As of October 30, 2026, 27 Wall Street analysts cover MRK: 19 rate it a buy or strong buy, 8 a hold and 0 a sell or strong sell. Their 12-month price targets range from $105.00 to $186.00. The median MRK price target is $165.00, 10.4% above the price of $149.52.
Source: TwelveData analyst consensus. Targets and ratings belong to the analysts, not to CleaRank.
MRK trade plan: entry, stop loss and targets
Entry, stop and target levels from the moving averages and recent volatility. Educational, not advice.
MRK trade plan
Entry, stop and target levels, sized to your account. Change the bias or the risk and every level updates.
Long entry pick an entry style
Risk management
Profit targets (Based on Conservative Entry)
These levels come from MRK's moving averages and recent volatility, not from a forecast. Educational levels, not financial advice; the full disclaimer is at the foot of the page.
Risk profile
How much MRK tends to move, against the market and on its own.
MRK price history and drawdowns
MRK's worst falls and recoveries, what $10,000 became, and which months have been kind to it.
Track record checks
3/4Average daily move under 2% ›
The price has moved 1.90% on an average day (30-day standard deviation of daily returns).Recovered from its worst fall ›
The worst fall was 42.2%, from May 2024 to May 2025, regained by February 2026.Most 1-year holds ended higher ›
70% of 1-year holding periods in the last 10 years ended with a gain.Trailed the S&P 500 since the chart begins ›
$10,000 invested in October 2016 is now worth $36,117, against $41,607 in the S&P 500 (SPY).
MRK Drawdowns & Recovery
As of October 30, 2026, MRK's worst peak-to-trough fall over the last 10 years with dividends reinvested was -42.2% (May 2024 to May 2025); it regained that peak by February 2026, 9 months after the low, and 70% of 1-year holding periods ended with a gain.
From weekly closing values with dividends reinvested. A drawdown is the fall from the highest value reached so far to a later low.
Growth of $10,000
What $10,000 put into MRK in October 2016 is worth now, against the same amount in the S&P 500.
Against the market: MRK trailed the S&P 500 over this period: $36,117 against $41,607.
A $10,000 investment in MRK in October 2016 would be worth about $36,117 today with dividends reinvested, compared with about $41,607 for the same investment in the S&P 500 benchmark (also with dividends reinvested).
Seasonal patterns
Which calendar months have been kind to MRK, and which have not.
Strongest month, November: an average of +4.29%, up in 7 of 10 years.
Weakest month, September: an average of -1.23%, up in 3 of 10 years.
This month, October: has averaged +0.79%, up in 4 of 9 years. Past seasonality does not repeat on schedule.
Over the last 10 years, MRK's strongest calendar month has been November (average +4.29%, up in 7 of 10 years) and its weakest September (average -1.23%, up in 3 of 10 years).
Average return for each calendar month over the last 10 years, from weekly closing prices with dividends included.
MRK stock price prediction 2030
Thousands of simulated paths from the price history. A range of outcomes, not a forecast.
Monte Carlo projection
Thousands of simulated paths for $10,000 in MRK, from its own past volatility. The shaded area holds 80% of them.
CleaRank's 4-year Monte Carlo simulation, based on 10 years of price history, projects that a $10,000 investment in MRK today could grow to about $13,533 by 2030 in the base case, with a 90th-percentile outcome near $24,709 and a 10th-percentile outcome around $7,412. The simulation models price only; at today's 2.27% yield, dividends would add to these figures. Projections are statistical simulations, not guarantees.
MRK Stock Price Prediction 2030: Simulated Scenarios
The same simulation in share prices, year by year.
CleaRank's simulation projects a price near $202 for MRK by 2030 in the base case, from $150 today (1.4x over 4 years). The 10th-percentile path ends near $111. These are outcomes of a Monte Carlo simulation run on MRK's historical return distribution, not price targets, and they assume no dividends are reinvested.
| Year | 10th percentile | Base case | 90th percentile | range base today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | $119 | $161 | $218 | |
| 2028 | $114 | $174 | $266 | |
| 2029 | $111 | $188 | $316 | |
| 2030 | $111 | $202 | $369 |
Method: a lognormal simulation of MRK's own volatility and capped historical trend, re-run daily; base case is the median path, the outer columns the 10th and 90th percentiles. How the simulation works
MRK insider trading
What the people running the company have bought and sold.
MRK insider trading
Shares the company's directors and officers bought and sold, from their own filings.
Month by month
Open-market purchases above the line, sales below.
Net insider selling: No insider bought MRK shares on the open market in the last 18 months. Sales are often planned in advance or cover tax on vesting shares, so they say less than purchases would.
As of October 30, 2026, MRK insiders reported 21 open-market sales worth $72.0M and no open-market purchases over the last 18 months; grants and option exercises are not counted.
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2026 | Chirfi Guindo
Officer
|
Sell | 10.0K | $1.4M |
| Aug 12, 2026 | Jennifer L Zachary
General Counsel
|
Sell | 80.3K | $10.7M |
| Aug 12, 2026 | Richard Robert Deluca Jr.
Officer
|
Sell | 45.3K | $5.9M |
| Aug 12, 2026 | Jennifer L Zachary
General Counsel
|
Option | 54.9K | $6.0M |
| Aug 6, 2026 | Chirfi Guindo
Officer
|
Sell | 15.0K | $2.0M |
| Aug 6, 2026 | Richard Robert Deluca Jr.
Officer
|
Sell | 6.1K | $788.8K |
| Aug 5, 2026 | David Michael Williams
Chief Technology Officer
|
Sell | 52.8K | $6.8M |
| Aug 5, 2026 | David R. Maraldo
Officer
|
Sell | 18.7K | $2.4M |
| Aug 5, 2026 | David R. Maraldo
Officer
|
Option | 18.7K | $1.5M |
| Aug 5, 2026 | David Michael Williams
Chief Technology Officer
|
Option | 52.8K | $3.9M |
| May 1, 2026 | David R. Maraldo
Officer
|
Option | 552 | $61.9K |
| May 1, 2026 | Dalton E. Smart III
Officer
|
Option | 383 | $43.0K |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Betty D Larson
Officer
|
Grant | 13.4K | - |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Dalton E. Smart III
Officer
|
Option | 1.4K | $155.3K |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Sanat Chattopadhyay
Officer
|
Grant | 2.6K | - |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Robert M Davis
Chief Executive Officer
|
Grant | 13.3K | - |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Richard Robert Deluca Jr.
Officer
|
Grant | 2.5K | - |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Chirfi Guindo
Officer
|
Option | 2.0K | $216.4K |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Dean Y Li
Officer
|
Grant | 4.7K | - |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Caroline Litchfield
Chief Financial Officer
|
Grant | 3.9K | - |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Johannes Jacobus Oosthuizen
Officer
|
Grant | 1.4K | - |
| Apr 29, 2026 | David Michael Williams
Chief Technology Officer
|
Grant | 1.4K | - |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Jennifer L Zachary
General Counsel
|
Grant | 3.0K | - |
| Feb 12, 2026 | Chirfi Guindo
Officer
|
Sell | 10.0K | $1.2M |
| Feb 10, 2026 | Dean Y Li
Officer
|
Sell | 10.2K | $1.2M |
| Feb 9, 2026 | Jennifer L Zachary
General Counsel
|
Sell | 121.6K | $14.5M |
| Feb 9, 2026 | Chirfi Guindo
Officer
|
Sell | 10.0K | $1.2M |
| Feb 9, 2026 | Jennifer L Zachary
General Counsel
|
Option | 121.6K | $14.5M |
| Feb 6, 2026 | Richard Robert Deluca Jr.
Officer
|
Sell | 37.7K | $4.6M |
| Feb 6, 2026 | Johannes Jacobus Oosthuizen
Officer
|
Sell | 15.0K | $1.8M |
| Feb 6, 2026 | David Michael Williams
Chief Technology Officer
|
Sell | 5.0K | $609.5K |
| Feb 6, 2026 | David Michael Williams
Chief Technology Officer
|
Option | 5.0K | $388.1K |
| Feb 5, 2026 | Chirfi Guindo
Officer
|
Sell | 20.0K | $2.4M |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Robert M Davis
Chief Executive Officer
|
Sell | 47.4K | $5.6M |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Caroline Litchfield
Chief Financial Officer
|
Sell | 42.0K | $5.0M |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Dean Y Li
Officer
|
Sell | 15.1K | $1.8M |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Dalton E. Smart III
Officer
|
Sell | 6.4K | $765.9K |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Dean Y Li
Officer
|
Option | 15.1K | $845.5K |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Caroline Litchfield
Chief Financial Officer
|
Option | 42.0K | $2.2M |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Dalton E. Smart III
Officer
|
Option | 4.0K | $248.3K |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Sanat Chattopadhyay
Officer
|
Grant | 13.9K | $1.5M |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Robert M Davis
Chief Executive Officer
|
Grant | 47.4K | $5.1M |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Richard Robert Deluca Jr.
Officer
|
Grant | 12.3K | $1.3M |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Chirfi Guindo
Officer
|
Grant | 9.9K | $1.1M |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Dean Y Li
Officer
|
Grant | 20.5K | $2.2M |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Caroline Litchfield
Chief Financial Officer
|
Grant | 15.9K | $1.7M |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Johannes Jacobus Oosthuizen
Officer
|
Grant | 5.0K | $539.8K |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Joseph Edward Romanelli
Officer
|
Grant | 5.7K | $612.5K |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Dalton E. Smart III
Officer
|
Grant | 1.1K | $114.5K |
| Jan 26, 2026 | David Michael Williams
Officer
|
Grant | 6.1K | $656.4K |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Jennifer L Zachary
General Counsel
|
Grant | 11.6K | $1.2M |
| Nov 10, 2025 | Cristal N. Downing
Officer
|
Sell | 7.1K | $616.4K |
| Nov 3, 2025 | David Michael Williams
Chief Technology Officer
|
Sell | 8.6K | $720.0K |
| Aug 4, 2025 | Chirfi Guindo
Officer
|
Option | 36.9K | $2.9M |
| Aug 4, 2025 | David Michael Williams
Chief Technology Officer
|
Option | 17.1K | $1.4M |
| May 2, 2025 | Joseph Edward Romanelli
Officer
|
Option | 4.3K | $363.1K |
| May 2, 2025 | Dalton E. Smart III
Officer
|
Grant | 845 | - |
| May 2, 2025 | Dalton E. Smart III
General Counsel
|
Option | 2.1K | $170.5K |
Source: TwelveData, from SEC Form 4 filings
MRK stock forecast: questions people ask
Answered from the figures on this page, as of October 30, 2026.