MRK Merck & Co., Inc. - Fundamental Analysis
BULLISH
MRK Stock | Fundamental Analysis & Investment Insights
NYSE
•
Healthcare
•
Drug Manufacturers - General
Current Price
$92.92
Analyst Target
$102.32
+10.1% Upside
52W High
$105.07
52W Low
$73.31
AI Analysis
Powered by advanced machine learning algorithms
Confidence Score
88%
Analysis Accuracy
Merck (MRK) presents a compelling investment case supported by strong profitability, attractive valuation relative to peers, and robust near-term earnings momentum. Despite a recent 1Y price decline, the stock has rebounded sharply over 6M (+24.6%) and 1M (+10.5%), reflecting renewed investor confidence. Exceptional margins—gross (77.85%), operating (42.54%), and net (29.63%)—and a best-in-class ROE of 39.49% highlight superior capital efficiency and pricing power within the drug manufacturing sector. The stock trades at a significant discount to sector averages on P/E (12.29 vs 23.18) while offering a high, sustainable dividend yield of 3.49% and a consensus target price of $102.32 implying 10% upside.
Key Strengths
ROE of 39.49% significantly exceeds sector average of 29.25% and peer AMGN's 81.71%, indicating strong returns on equity
Operating margin of 42.54% is among the highest in the sector, reflecting pricing power and cost discipline
Attractive valuation: P/E of 12.29 vs sector avg 23.18 and forward P/E of 9.89 suggesting strong earnings growth expectations
Dividend yield of 3.49% is well-covered by a 42.86% payout ratio, offering income stability
Significant earnings growth acceleration: YoY earnings up 87% and Q/Q up 83.2%, far outpacing revenue growth, signaling operating leverage
Key Risks
Insider selling activity: 2 sell transactions totaling $1.34M in last 6 months with no buys, signaling caution at current levels
Revenue growth of 3.7% YoY is below sector average of 12.83%, raising concerns about top-line durability
Missing quarterly earnings data and zero beats in last 4 quarters (0/4) suggest potential reporting opacity or execution issues
High debt/equity of 0.80 is manageable but elevated vs low-leverage peers like BNTX (0.01) and BMRN (0.10)
PEG ratio and EV/EBITDA metrics unavailable, limiting full valuation and growth-adjusted analysis
AI Fair Value Estimate
Based on comprehensive analysis
$102.32
+10.1% above current price
Performance Snowflake
Multi-dimensional AI analysis across 5 key categories
Stock Price & Analyst Targets
Real-time price movements and analyst price targets
Historical Performance Trends
Long-term financial metrics and growth patterns
Valuation Metrics
Key valuation ratios and pricing indicators
Profitability, Growth & Financial Health
Detailed profit margins, ROE, debt ratios, and liquidity metrics
Sector Comparison & Peer Analysis
Compare MRK against industry averages and similar companies
Insider Trading & Analyst Ratings
Track insider transactions and Wall Street analyst recommendations