Scotiabank Reiterates Buy Rating on Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK)
Scotiabank maintains its Buy rating on Merck, setting a $155 price target, a 20.62% upside from the current price.
Key Points
- Scotiabank reiterated its Buy rating on Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) with a price target of $155 on June 30, 2026.
- Scotiabank's $155 price target implies 20.62% upside from Merck & Co., Inc.'s ($MRK) current $128.50 share price.
- Merck's shares traded at $129.38 on Tuesday, with a market cap of $317.8 billion and a P/E ratio of 36.24.
- Insiders bought shares on May 29, 2026, and other analysts like Wells Fargo and UBS maintain Buy ratings.
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Scotiabank has reiterated its Buy rating on Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), setting a price target of $155. This decision was announced on June 30, 2026, by analyst Louise Chen. On the same day, Merck's shares traded around $129.38.
Other Institutional Activity in Merck & Co., Inc.
Among Merck's major shareholders, BlackRock, Inc. increased its holdings by 6,734,865 shares, bringing its total to 225,830,330 shares valued at about $27.17 billion, marking a 3.1% increase. Vanguard Capital Management LLC opened a new position with 160,987,624 shares worth approximately $19.37 billion. Meanwhile, State Street Corp reduced its stake by 714,495 shares, ending with 119,325,673 shares valued at $14.45 billion, a 0.6% decrease. Wellington Management Group LLP also trimmed its holdings by 2,120,487 shares to 84,314,971 shares, worth $10.14 billion, representing a 2.5% decrease.
Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Down 13.4%
On Tuesday, shares of NYSE:MRK traded near $129.38. Merck & Co., Inc. has a market capitalization of $317.8 billion and a P/E ratio of 36.24, with a forward P/E of 13.46. Its beta is relatively low at 0.218, suggesting less volatility compared to the market. The stock has seen a 52-week range between $76.66 and $128.78. Merck's 50-day moving average is $115.84, while its 200-day moving average stands at $106.33. The company's current ratio is 1.299, with a quick ratio of 0.696, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 106.936.
$MRK price target
Past daily closes and this analyst's 12-month price target. Not investment advice.
Recent Earnings
Merck reported revenue of about $65.77 billion, with a growth rate of 4.9%. The company's earnings per share (EPS) is $3.55, and it has a net margin of 13.59%. The return on equity (ROE) is 18.94%. Merck is scheduled to announce its next earnings on August 4, 2026.
Dividend
Merck & Co., Inc. offers an annual dividend rate of $3.40, yielding 2.64%. The company's dividend payout ratio is 93.52%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Merck & Co., Inc.
Several insiders, including Kathy Warden, Paul Rothman, Christine Seidman, Douglas Baker Jr, Patricia Russo, and Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, each purchased 1,853 shares at an average price of $118.72 on May 29, 2026. These transactions were not part of any pre-planned trading programs.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
On June 30, 2026, Scotiabank maintained its Buy rating for Merck with a $155 price target. Previously, CICC initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a $138 target on June 24, 2026. Wells Fargo, UBS, and JP Morgan have also maintained Buy ratings with targets of $145 and $135 respectively.
About Merck & Co., Inc.
Merck & Co., Inc. is a major healthcare company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. It operates globally, providing pharmaceuticals for human health, including well-known brands like Keytruda and Gardasil. The company also offers veterinary products and has various strategic partnerships in drug development. Led by CEO Robert M. Davis, Merck employs about 73,000 people worldwide.
Bottom Line
Scotiabank's reaffirmation of a Buy rating with a $155 target highlights confidence in Merck's prospects. Investors track these analyst updates closely, as they can influence market perceptions. Remember, analyst opinions are just part of the puzzle, and the actual stock performance can differ as market conditions change.
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