Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund increased its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK – Free Report) by 48.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,182,179 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 385,150 shares during the period. Merck & Co., Inc. accounts for about 0.8% of Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $142,204,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of MRK. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 108.9% in the first quarter. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116,727 shares of the company’s stock valued at $14,099,000 after acquiring an additional 60,846 shares during the last quarter. Platform Technology Partners raised its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 15.6% during the 1st quarter. Platform Technology Partners now owns 14,432 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,736,000 after acquiring an additional 1,945 shares during the last quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 35,473 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,267,000 after purchasing an additional 928 shares during the period. Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking S.P.A. lifted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 49.1% in the 1st quarter. Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking S.P.A. now owns 293,491 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,304,000 after purchasing an additional 96,637 shares during the period. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 5,774 shares of the company’s stock worth $699,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. 76.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance
MRK opened at $129.34 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $319.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.19. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1 year low of $76.66 and a 1 year high of $130.29. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $117.04 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $115.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.06.
Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 15th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. Merck & Co., Inc.’s dividend payout ratio is presently 95.77%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
MRK has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, April 13th. Weiss Ratings cut Merck & Co., Inc. from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Friday, May 15th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, June 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $142.00 target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Monday, March 30th. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Wednesday, May 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $125.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Merck & Co., Inc. has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $131.83.
Read Our Latest Research Report on MRK
About Merck & Co., Inc.
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.
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