Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA Acquires Shares in Merck & Co., Inc.

Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA has recently invested in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by purchasing a significant number of shares, as revealed in their latest filing with the SEC. Specifically, the investment fund acquired 279,338 shares during the fourth quarter, which is estimated to be valued around $26,350,000.

Institutional Investment Changes

Several other institutional investors are also adjusting their holdings in Merck. For instance, Darwin Wealth Management LLC initiated a new stake in Merck in the third quarter, investing roughly $32,000. Similarly, AM Squared Ltd and Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC each bought new stakes valued at about $34,000 during the same period. Peterson Financial Group Inc. made a $36,000 investment, while Quarry LP entered the market in the second quarter with a stake worth approximately $42,000. Collectively, institutional investors currently own 76.07% of Merck's stock.

Insights from Analysts

Wall Street analysts have various opinions on Merck’s stock. HSBC upgraded its rating from "hold" to "buy" with a target price set at $130.00, while Barclays cut its price target from $142.00 to $140.00 while maintaining an "overweight" rating. Wolfe Research issued a "peer perform" rating in their coverage update. Cantor Fitzgerald also reiterated an "overweight" rating with a higher price target of $155.00. Overall, the analytics show a blend of ratings, with one analyst issuing a sell rating, eight holding a neutral stance, nine encouraging buying, and four pushing for a strong buy recommendation. MarketBeat.com indicates Merck holds a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with a target price estimate of $123.00.

Current Market Performance

As of now, Merck shares (NYSE:MRK) are trading at $95.54. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $99.80 and a 200-day average of $108.69. Its debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.79, with a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 1.15. Over the past year, Merck's stock has fluctuated with a low of $94.48 and a high of $134.63, giving it a market capitalization of approximately $241.69 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.03.

Recent Earnings Announced

Merck & Co., Inc. recently shared its financial report on October 31, where it announced earnings of $1.57 per share, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.50 by $0.07. The company reported quarterly revenues of $16.66 billion, which exceeded forecasts of $16.47 billion. Compared to the same quarter last year, the revenue increased by 4.4%. During the previous year, Merck had earnings per share of $2.13. Analysts predict Merck will achieve earnings of about $7.67 per share for the current fiscal year.

Dividend Announcement

Additionally, Merck declared an increase in its quarterly dividend, which was distributed on January 8. Shareholders who were on record as of December 16 received a dividend of $0.81 per share, leading to an annualized dividend of $3.24 and a yield of 3.39%. This is an increase from their previous dividend payout of $0.77 per share, and the company's dividend payout ratio now stands at 67.92%.

About Merck & Co., Inc.

Merck & Co., Inc. is a prominent healthcare company engaged in providing comprehensive health solutions. Their offerings include prescription medications, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer care products. The company operates several segments focusing on pharmaceuticals and animal health.

Merck, Investment, Shares