La chaîne d'options affiche les données clés des options sur actions de Merck & Co à différents prix d'exercice et dates d'expiration. Les traders utilisent ces informations pour analyser les transactions potentielles et évaluer le sentiment du marché pour Merck & Co..

Merck & Co (NYSE:MRK) Stock, Chaîne d'Options

MERCK & CO. INC.

Merck & Co

Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent pediatric diseases as well as human papillomavirus, or HPV. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the company's sales are generated in the United States.

Pharmaceutical giants are navigating a complex landscape of fluctuating demand and regulatory hurdles, impacting their financial performance and strategic outlook. Merck &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) is the latest to face these challenges, as its recent earnings report reveals a mixed bag of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46692220/merck-ceo-sees-minimal-eu-tariffs-impact-warns-of-gardasil-challenges">successes and setbacks.</a>
Merck reported a mixed second-quarter earnings picture on Tuesday. Adjusted earnings exceeded analyst consensus, but overall sales declined slightly year-over-year and fell short of revenue expectations.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>MRK is consolidating close to its 52-week bottom. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MRK" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">See real-time price here.</a></li>
</ul>
Investors were concerned about a significant drop in Gardasil vaccine sales, even as its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda continued its strong growth trajectory.
Adjusted earnings per share of $2.13 surpassed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus estimates</a> of $2.04, marking a decline from the $2.28 reported in the prior-year period.
Total sales of $15.81 billion, a 2% year-over-year decrease, narrowly missed analysts&#8217; projections of $15.94 billion.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/25/07/46317822/merck-strikes-10-billion-deal-for-verona-secures-first-in-class-copd-drug" rel="noreferrer noopener">Merck Strikes $10-Billion Deal For Verona, Secures First-In-Class COPD Drug</a>
Bank of America (BofA) Securities lowered the price forecast from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MRK/analyst-ratings">$99 to $98, with a Buy rating</a>.
BofA says its revenue estimates are about 1% to 2% lower, mainly due to weaker Gardasil sales, though this is partly balanced by stronger Keytruda performance. Merck has said it won&#8217;t be shipping Gardasil to China in 2025, and this delay may continue into 2026. BofA&#8217;s core earnings estimates remain mostly the same.
Analyst Tim Anderson noted during the investor call that the primary focus, surprisingly, wasn&#8217;t on Gardasil, even though its slightly weaker Q2 performance likely caused the stock to drop 8% at the open before recovering to close just 2% lower.
Instead, most of the discussion centered on the company&#8217;s cancer drugs, such as Keytruda, and its cardiovascular and kidney treatments, including Winrevair. Overall, the rest of the business appears to be performing well.
MRK Price Action: Merck &amp; Co shares were down 0.53% at $82.19 at the time of publication on Wednesday<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">, according to Benzinga Pro data.</a>
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Photo: Shutterstock

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Cautious Optimism As Merck Leans On Oncology Amid Gardasil Vaccine Concerns

Wells Fargo analyst Mohit Bansal maintains Merck &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $97 to $90.

Price Target

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on Merck & Co, Lowers Price Target to $90

Merck &amp; Co's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) short percent of float has fallen 17.95% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 28.77 million shares sold short, which is 1.28% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.08 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Merck &amp; Co Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1753815626_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Merck &amp; Co has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Merck &amp; Co's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Merck &amp; Co's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.21%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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Is Merck & Co Gaining or Losing Market Support?

Risk appetite took a breather Tuesday, with major U.S. stock indices retreating modestly from record highs as investors braced for a pivotal stretch of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46693997/wall-street-earnings-preview-microsoft-apple-meta-amazon-mastercard-visa">earnings and macro events.</a>
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Roughly $19.5 trillion in market value — led by four Magnificent Seven names: Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) — is set to report earnings by Thursday after market close.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep rates steady at 4.25%-4.5% on Wednesday, though growing market chatter points to possible dissent in favor of early cuts.
A 90-day extension of the U.S.-China trade truce remains on the table, said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
Attention will then shift to Thursday's heavy macro lineup, including second-quarter GDP growth estimates and June's PCE inflation data, followed by July's jobs report on Friday — key inputs for the Fed's next move.
By midday in New York, the S&amp;P 500 slipped 0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.4%, and the Russell 2000 shed 0.7%. The Nasdaq 100 remained flat.
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) surged past $175, breaching a major technical level and marking highs not seen since July 2014, making it one of the day's top tech performers. 
Shares of AMD have now rallied by 134% since April&#8217;s tariff-driven lows, outperforming NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)&#8217;s 105% gain during the same period.
The U.S. dollar extended its rally, on pace for a fourth consecutive gain after Monday's sharp move.
In commodities, oil prices stayed hot. WTI crude rose 1.6% to $67.75 per barrel, extending Monday's 2.4% jump and hitting a two-week high. Precious metals traded sideways as dollar strength continued to limit upside momentum.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) edged down 1% to $117,000, logging a second straight daily decline.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices </td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day % chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>23,364.69</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,380.21</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>44,657.34</td>
<td>-0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,241.90</td>
<td>-0.7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:20 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The&nbsp;Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) was down 0.092% to $584.90.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) slipped 0.4% to $446.42.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;flattened at $567.97.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 0.8% to $222.45.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Industrials&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) underperformed, down 1.3%; the&nbsp;Real Estate&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>) outperformed, up 1.3%.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) plunged 22.5% after the Danish pharma giant slashed guidance on its blockbuster Wegovy weight-loss drug, while also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46688728/novo-nordisk-weight-loss-stock-eli-lilly-wegovy-ozempic">announcing a new CEO.</a></li>
<li>Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SRPT#NASDAQ">SRPT</a>) surged more than 20% after announcing that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration signaled it could resume shipments of Elevidys.</li>
</ul>
Stocks reacting to quarterly results included:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Procter &amp; Gamble Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>) flat at 0.0%</li>
<li>UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) down 5.1%</li>
<li>Merck &amp; Co., Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) down 3.3%</li>
<li>Boeing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) down 3.0%</li>
<li>Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>) down 11.8%</li>
<li>American Tower Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMT#NYSE">AMT</a>) down 3.0%</li>
<li>Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) down 5.0%</li>
<li>United Parcel Service, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>) down 9.7%</li>
<li>Ecolab Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ECL#NYSE">ECL</a>) down 4.7%</li>
<li>PayPal Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) down 9.3%</li>
<li>Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JCI#NYSE">JCI</a>) down 6.9%</li>
<li>Norfolk Southern Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSC#NYSE">NSC</a>) down 3.5%</li>
<li>Carrier Global Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CARR#NYSE">CARR</a>) down 11.0%</li>
<li>Corning Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLW#NYSE">GLW</a>) up 13.2%</li>
<li>CBRE Group, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBRE#NYSE">CBRE</a>) up 9.1%</li>
<li>Sysco Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYY#NYSE">SYY</a>) down 2.5%</li>
<li>DTE Energy Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DTE#NYSE">DTE</a>) up 0.2%</li>
<li>SoFi Technologies, Inc.(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>) up 14.0%</li>
<li>Hubbell Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUBB#NYSE">HUBB</a>) down 2.6%</li>
<li>Incyte Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INCY#NASDAQ">INCY</a>) up 8.6%</li>
<li>Stanley Black &amp; Decker, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWK#NYSE">SWK</a>) down 8.4%</li>
<li>PJT Partners Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJT#NYSE">PJT</a>) down 2.0%</li>
<li>Polaris Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PII#NYSE">PII</a>) up 12.2%</li>
<li>JetBlue Airways Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBLU#NASDAQ">JBLU</a>) up 4.9%</li>
</ul>
Stocks scheduled to report earnings after Tuesday's close include BXP Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BXP#NYSE">BXP</a>), Caesars Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CZR#NASDAQ">CZR</a>), Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EA#NASDAQ">EA</a>), Essex Property Trust Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>), Exelixis Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXEL#NASDAQ">EXEL</a>), Mondelez International Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDLZ#NASDAQ">MDLZ</a>), PPG Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPG#NYSE">PPG</a>), Regency Centers Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REG#NASDAQ">REG</a>), Republic Services Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSG#NYSE">RSG</a>), Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), Seagate Technology Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>), Teradyne Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TER#NASDAQ">TER</a>), Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKNG#NASDAQ">BKNG</a>), The Cheesecake Factory Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAKE#NASDAQ">CAKE</a>), Freshworks Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRSH#NASDAQ">FRSH</a>), Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEB#NYSE">PEB</a>), Qorvo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QRVO#NASDAQ">QRVO</a>) and Red Rock Resorts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RRR#NASDAQ">RRR</a>).
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AMD Rises To 1-Year Highs, Crude Eyes $68: What's Moving Markets Tuesday?

Merck &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) shares fell over 6% in early trading Tuesday after the pharmaceutical giant reported a mixed second-quarter earnings picture, with adjusted earnings surpassing analyst consensus but overall sales experiencing a slight year-over-year decline and missing revenue expectations.
The market&#8217;s cautious reaction underscores investor scrutiny of the company&#8217;s performance, particularly a significant drop in Gardasil vaccine sales, even as its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda continued its strong growth trajectory.
While adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.13 surpassed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus estimates</a> of $2.04, it marked a decline from the $2.28 reported in the prior-year period. Similarly, total sales of $15.81 billion, a 2% year-over-year decrease, narrowly missed analysts&#8217; projections of $15.94 billion.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/25/07/46317822/merck-strikes-10-billion-deal-for-verona-secures-first-in-class-copd-drug" rel="noreferrer noopener">Merck Strikes $10-Billion Deal For Verona, Secures First-In-Class COPD Drug</a>
The pharmaceutical segment recorded $14.1 billion in sales, down 2% year over year, primarily due to vaccines and immunology, partially offset by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/07/b46682141/merck-co-inc-rahway-n-j-usa-announces-second-quarter-2025-financial-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">growth in oncology and cardiology</a>.
Keytruda, an immunotherapy for cancer, delivered $7.96 billion in global sales, up 9% year-over-year, reflecting continued uptake across more cancer types and earlier treatment stages.
However, GARDASIL and GARDASIL 9, vaccines to prevent HPV-related diseases, generated $1.1 billion in sales, down 55% compared to last year. The company cited lower demand in China.
Excluding China, sales declined 3%, or 4% excluding the impact of foreign exchange, reflecting lower demand in Japan following a national catch-up immunization program, as well as the timing of public-sector purchases in certain international markets. U.S. sales increased 2% in the quarter.
The diabetes franchise, led by JANUVIA and JANUMET, remained mostly flat at around $623 million, with a slight 1% sales decrease.
Newer products, including Winrevair sales, a therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension (a rare heart-lung condition), saw accelerated sales since its launch, reaching $336 million compared to $70 million a year ago.
CAPVAXIVE, a 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, saw $129 million in sales, representing continued uptake since the third-quarter 2024 launch in the U.S.
Animal Health sales increased 11% to $1.65 billion, primarily due to higher demand for Livestock products, the inclusion of sales from the Elanco aqua business acquired in July 2024, higher pricing, and improved supply.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Restructuring Program</h2>
Merck launched a new multiyear optimization initiative to enable the transformation of its portfolio by generating an expected $3.0 billion in annual cost savings.
The company anticipates cumulative pretax costs related to the program to be approximately $3.0 billion. For the second quarter of 2025, the company recorded charges in its GAAP results of $649 million related to this restructuring program.
Merck expects the actions under the restructuring program to result in annual cost savings of approximately $1.7 billion, which will be substantially realized by the end of 2027.
This restructuring program is part of the multiyear optimization initiative expected to achieve $3.0 billion in annual cost savings by the end of 2027.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Manufacturing and R&amp;D Investment</h2>
Merck continued to make long-term investments in its U.S. manufacturing and R&amp;D capabilities, including the start of construction for a $1.0 billion, 470,000-square-foot state-of-the-art biologics center in Wilmington, Delaware, which will serve as a launch and commercial production facility and the primary U.S. manufacturing site for Keytruda.
In addition, the company announced an $895 million expansion of its Animal Health manufacturing facility in De Soto, Kansas, to increase capacity for Animal Health vaccines and biologic products.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Guidance&nbsp;</h2>
Merck raises its fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings guidance from $8.82-$8.97&nbsp;to&nbsp;$8.87-$8.97&nbsp;compared to the consensus estimate of &nbsp;$8.90.
The company also narrowed its 2025 sales guidance from $64.1 billion-$65.6 billion to $64.3 billion-$65.3 billion versus the consensus of $65.01 billion.
The $200 million of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/04/44983460/mercks-q1-earnings-beat-wall-street-adjusts-2025-profit-outlook-as-tariffs-may-result-in-incremental-cost-of-200-million" rel="noreferrer noopener">costs previously included</a> in the company&#8217;s financial outlook related to the impact of tariffs is unchanged pending the outcome of additional potential government actions.
During the earnings conference call, Merck&#8217;s CEO addressed the potential impact of EU tariffs, stating that immediate implementation would have a minimal effect on 2025 results. However, the timing of these tariffs and their connection to the Section 232 investigation remain unclear.
Simultaneously, Merck revealed it will not resume Gardasil shipments to China through at least the end of this year. This decision comes as Gardasil channel inventories in China remain elevated and demand continues to be soft. Furthermore, the company anticipates that Japan will experience a &#8220;more significant headwind&#8221; in terms of growth for Gardasil in the second half of the year.
Price Action: MRK stock is trading lower by 6.19% to $78.86 at last check Tuesday.
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Photo by Tada Images via Shutterstock

Movers

Merck CEO Sees Minimal EU Tariffs Impact, Warns Of Gardasil Challenges

During Conference Call, Merck CEO Reportedly Says If EU Tariffs Were Implemented Immediately There Would Be Minimal Impact On 2025 Results; Still Unclear About Timing Of EU Tariffs And How They Relate To Section 232 Investigation

During Conference Call, Merck Rerportedly Says Co Will Not Resume Gardasil Shipments To China Through At Least The End Of This Year; Gardasil Channel Inventories In China Remain Elevated And Demand Continues To Be Soft; Japan Will Be A "More Significant Headwind" To Growth For Gardasil In The Second Half Of The Year

WIIM

Merck & Co shares are trading lower after the company reported worse-than-expected Q2 revenue results.

Merck Announces Multiyear Optimization Initiative Anticipated To Result in Approximately $3B of Annual Cost Savings by the End of 2027

Full-Year 2025 Financial Outlook The following table summarizes the Company's full-year financial outlook.
<figure class="table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1">Full Year 2025</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Updated</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Prior</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Sales&#x2A;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$64.3 billion to $65.3 billion</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$64.1 billion to $65.6 billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Non-GAAP Gross margin3</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Approximately 82%</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Approximately 82%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Non-GAAPOperating expenses3&#x2A;&#x2A;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$25.6 billion to $26.4 billion</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$25.6 billion to $26.6 billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Non-GAAPOther (income) expense, net3</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$300 million to $400 million expense</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$300 million to $400 million expense</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Non-GAAPEffective tax rate3</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">15.0% to 16.0%</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">15.5% to 16.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Non-GAAPEPS3&#x2A;&#x2A;&#x2A;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$8.87 to $8.97</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$8.82 to $8.97</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Share count (assuming dilution)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Approximately 2.51 billion</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Approximately 2.51 billion</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>

Merck & Co Raises FY2025 Adj EPS Guidance from $8.82-$8.97 to $8.87-$8.97 vs $8.90 Est; Narrows FY2025 Sales Guidance from $64.100B-$65.600B to $64.300B-$65.300B vs $65.012B Est

Merck & Co Q2 2025 Adj. EPS $2.13 Beats $2.04 Estimate, Sales $15.806B Miss $15.941B Estimate

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Earnings Scheduled For July 29, 2025

Chinese biotech company Hengrui Pharma partnered with GSK plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSK#NYSE">GSK</a>) on Monday to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">develop up to 12 medicines</a>.
These agreements will add significant value to Hengrui&#8217;s globalization strategy and provide GSK with significant new growth opportunities beyond 2031.
The programs were selected to complement GSK&#8217;s extensive Respiratory, Immunology &amp; Inflammation (RI&amp;I) and Oncology pipeline.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/fda/25/07/46607015/gsks-blood-cancer-drug-review-extended-as-fda-seeks-more-data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GSK&#8217;s Blood Cancer Drug Review Extended As FDA Seeks More Data</a>
GSK will pay $500 million in upfront fees across the agreements.
The agreements include an exclusive worldwide license (excluding mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan region) for (HRS-9821) in clinical development for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as an add-on maintenance treatment, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/07/n46651745/hengrui-pharma-and-gsk-enter-agreements-to-develop-up-to-12-innovative-medicines-across-respirator" rel="noreferrer noopener">irrespective of background therapy</a>.
HRS-9821 has demonstrated potent PDE3 and PDE4 inhibition, leading to increased bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory effects in early clinical and preclinical studies.
In addition, HRS-9821 provides the opportunity for a convenient dry-powder inhaler (DPI) formulation that strategically fits GSK&#8217;s established inhaled portfolio.
The agreements also include a scaled collaboration to generate up to 11 programs in addition to HRS-9821, each with its financial structure.
Hengrui Pharma will lead the development of these programs up to completion of phase I trials. Patients outside of China will participate.
GSK may commercialize each program, except for those in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, at the end of phase 1.
Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK, said: &#8220;This deal reflects our strategic investment in programs that address validated targets, increasing the likelihood of success, and with the option to advance those assets with the greatest potential for patient impact.&#8221;
The collaboration enables scale and speed to proof-of-concept to develop up to 11 additional innovative medicines.&#8221;
If all programs are optioned and all milestones are achieved, the potential total value of future success-based development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments to Hengrui Pharma is approximately $12 billion.
In addition, Hengrui Pharma will be eligible to receive tiered royalties on global product net sales (excluding mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan region).
In March, Merck &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) and Hengrui Pharma entered into an exclusive license agreement for HRS-5346, an investigational oral small molecule Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), inhibitor currently being evaluated in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/03/44477157/merck-partners-with-hengrui-pharma-in-177-billion-deal-for-cardiovascular-treatment" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phase 2 trial in China</a>.
Under the agreement, Hengrui Pharma has granted Merck exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize HRS-5346 worldwide, excluding the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44470230/merck-enters-exclusive-license-agreement-for-hrs-5346-an-investigational-oral-lipoprotein-a-inhibi" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greater China region</a>.
Hengrui Pharma will receive an upfront payment of $200 million and is eligible to receive milestone payments associated with certain development, regulatory, and commercial milestones up to $1.77 billion and royalties on net sales of HRS-5346 if approved.
Price Action: GSK stock is down 0.74% at $37.69 at the last check on Monday.
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Image: Shutterstock

Contracts

After Merck, Chinese Biotech Hengrui Pharma Collaborates With GSK In Worth $12 Billion Pact

Merck &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) is set to give its latest quarterly earnings report on Tuesday, 2025-07-29. Here's what investors need to know before the announcement.
Analysts estimate that Merck &amp; Co will report an earnings per share (EPS) of $2.01. 
Investors in Merck &amp; Co are eagerly awaiting the company's announcement, hoping for news of surpassing estimates and positive guidance for the next quarter.
It's worth noting for new investors that stock prices can be heavily influenced by future projections rather than just past performance.
<h3>Past Earnings Performance</h3>
In the previous earnings release, the company beat EPS by $0.08, leading to a 3.63% increase in the share price the following trading session.
Here's a look at Merck &amp; Co's past performance and the resulting price change:

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Quarter</th>
<th>Q1 2025</th>
<th>Q4 2024</th>
<th>Q3 2024</th>
<th>Q2 2024</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>EPS Estimate</td>
<td>2.14</td>
<td>1.68</td>
<td>1.51</td>
<td>2.15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EPS Actual</td>
<td>2.22</td>
<td>1.72</td>
<td>1.57</td>
<td>2.28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Price Change %</td>
<td>4.0%</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
<td>-0.0%</td>
<td>-2.0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1753714870_0.png" alt="eps graph" />
<h3>Merck &amp; Co Share Price Analysis</h3>
Shares of Merck &amp; Co were trading at $84.71 as of July 25. Over the last 52-week period, shares are down 26.9%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are likely upset going into this earnings release. 
<h3>Analyst Opinions on Merck &amp; Co</h3>
Understanding market sentiments and expectations within the industry is crucial for investors. This analysis delves into the latest insights on Merck &amp; Co.
Analysts have given Merck &amp; Co a total of 2 ratings, with the consensus rating being Neutral. The average one-year price target is $91.0, indicating a potential 7.43% upside.
<h3>Comparing Ratings Among Industry Peers</h3>
In this comparison, we explore the analyst ratings and average 1-year price targets of Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Zoetis, three prominent industry players, offering insights into their relative performance expectations and market positioning.
<ul>
<li>Analysts currently favor an Neutral trajectory for Pfizer, with an average 1-year price target of $25.0, suggesting a potential 70.49% downside.</li>
<li>Analysts currently favor an Underperform trajectory for Bristol-Myers Squibb, with an average 1-year price target of $34.0, suggesting a potential 59.86% downside.</li>
<li>Analysts currently favor an Neutral trajectory for Zoetis, with an average 1-year price target of $173.75, suggesting a potential 105.11% upside.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Insights: Peer Analysis</h3>
Within the peer analysis summary, vital metrics for Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Zoetis are presented, shedding light on their respective standings within the industry and offering valuable insights into their market positions and comparative performance.

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Consensus</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
<th>Gross Profit</th>
<th>Return on Equity</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Merck &amp; Co</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>-1.56%</td>
<td>$12.11B</td>
<td>10.73%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pfizer</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>-7.82%</td>
<td>$10.87B</td>
<td>3.32%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bristol-Myers Squibb</td>
<td>Underperform</td>
<td>-5.60%</td>
<td>$8.17B</td>
<td>14.57%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Zoetis</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>1.37%</td>
<td>$1.60B</td>
<td>13.39%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Key Takeaway:
Merck &amp; Co ranks highest in Gross Profit and Return on Equity among its peers. It is in the middle for Revenue Growth.
<h3>All You Need to Know About Merck &amp; Co</h3>
Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent pediatric diseases as well as human papillomavirus, or HPV. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the company's sales are generated in the United States.
<h3>Merck &amp; Co: A Financial Overview</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: With an elevated market capitalization, the company stands out above industry averages, showcasing substantial size and market acknowledgment.
Decline in Revenue: Over the 3 months period, Merck &amp; Co faced challenges, resulting in a decline of approximately -1.56% in revenue growth as of 31 March, 2025. This signifies a reduction in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Health Care sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive net margin of 32.71%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 10.73%, the company showcases effective utilization of equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Merck &amp; Co's ROA stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 4.37%, the company demonstrates effective utilization of assets and strong financial performance.
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 0.72.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MRK/earnings">To track all earnings releases for Merck &amp; Co visit their earnings calendar on our site.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Merck & Co's Earnings Outlook

Merck &amp; Co., Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) will release earnings results for the second quarter before the opening <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MRK/earnings">bell on Tuesday, July 29.</a>
Analysts expect the health care company to report quarterly earnings at $2.03 per share, down from $2.28 per share in the year-ago period. Merck projects to report quarterly revenue at $15.87 billion, compared to $16.11 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
With the recent buzz around Merck, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the company's dividends. Merck offers an annual dividend yield of 3.82% — a quarterly dividend amount of 81 cents per share ($3.24 a year).
To figure out how to earn $500 monthly from Merck, we start with the yearly target of $6,000 ($500 x 12 months).
Next, we take this amount and divide it by Merck's $3.24 dividend: $6,000 / $3.24 = 1,852 shares.
So, an investor would need to own approximately $156,883 worth of Merck, or 1,852 shares to generate a monthly dividend income of $500.
Assuming a more conservative goal of $100 monthly ($1,200 annually), we do the same calculation: $1,200 / $3.24 = 370 shares, or $31,343 to generate a monthly dividend income of $100.
Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis; the dividend payment and the stock price fluctuate over time.
The dividend yield is calculated by dividing the annual dividend payment by the current stock price. As the stock price changes, the dividend yield will also change.
For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and its current price is $50, its dividend yield would be 4%. However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield would decrease to 3.33% ($2/$60).
Conversely, if the stock price decreases to $40, the dividend yield would increase to 5% ($2/$40).
Further, the dividend payment itself can also change over time, which can also impact the dividend yield. If a company increases its dividend payment, the dividend yield will increase even if the stock price remains the same. Similarly, if a company decreases its dividend payment, the dividend yield will decrease.
MRK Price Action: Shares of Merck rose by 0.7% to close at $84.71 on Friday.
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Image: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Dividends

Markets

How To Earn $500 A Month From Merck Stock Ahead Of Q2 Earnings

Imagine this: a hospital conference room, lights low, filled with decision-makers. A sales representative clicks through slides driven by Palantir Technologies&#8217; (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) Foundry platform, highlighting real-time data integration and pinpoint analytics that would <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46640145/how-palantir-tempus-nvidia-backed-recursion-are-disrupting-big-pharma">make Pharma R&amp;D from the past</a> look like it&#8217;s still sending lab results by fax. Down the same hallway, Tempus AI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEM#NASDAQ">TEM</a>) is making its pitch: a genomics-driven diagnostics pipeline that has the potential to condense drug development months into weeks. Down the street, Recursion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RXRX#NASDAQ">RXRX</a>), connected to Nvidia&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) AI muscle, is whipping up molecules more quickly than most of the major pharma companies can convene a patent meeting.
Track Palantir's stock moves <a href="https://archive.ph/o/RcesA/https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.
This isn&#8217;t a sci-fi movie. It&#8217;s 2025. And it&#8217;s the future of medicine.
But what if you peek under the hood of most <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">healthcare ETFs</a>, and find the list still dominated by old-school giants: Pfizer (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), Merck (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), all good revenue machines, yes, but now stalled in terms of stock momentum and innovation hype. So the elephant-in-the-room question hangs: are ETF issuers missing the real excitement in AI-native biotech?
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The ETF Landscape: Are We Still Wearing 2015 Goggles?</h2>
Even with this tectonic shift in where innovation is really occurring, the world of ETFs hasn&#8217;t yet caught up. The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) remains top-heavy in UnitedHealth (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), and Eli Lilly (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>). The iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>) is laser-beamed on the usual suspects. 
However, very few thematic funds such as the ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>) have piled into Tempus AI and Recursion — although Cathie Wood&#8217;s ARK is infamous for dipping its toes into Palantir waters.
It raises the question: if AI is reshaping healthcare at its source — the molecule, the diagnosis, the trial protocol — why are investors still paying for exposure to the output, rather than the architects?
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/07/46639976/3-pharma-stocks-that-arent-sweating-the-coming-200-drug-tariffs">3 Pharma Stocks That Aren&#8217;t Sweating the Coming 200% Drug Tariffs</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI-Native Pharma Is Already A Thing And It&#8217;s Moving Fast</h2>
Let&#8217;s begin with the numbers. Palantir is up more than 11% in the past month and has already shown a phenomenal YTD performance as investors prepare for its Q2 earnings. The company&#8217;s expansion into healthcare is no side gig, it&#8217;s quietly establishing itself as the digital scaffolding for hospital systems and military-grade medical planning, too.
Tempus AI, though experiencing a modest 6% retreat in the last month, has remained firm at around $64, indicating market faith in its capability to use AI to industrialize cancer diagnosis. And Recursion Pharmaceuticals has been up 15% since late June, while remaining in loss for the year, a classic biotech early-stage pattern, but now infused with algorithmic drug discovery.
NVIDIA, whose chips reside at the center of Recursion&#8217;s wet-lab-meets-silicon-brain hybrid model, remains the underlying facilitator of this whole thing.
And Big Pharma, meanwhile? Pfizer languishes at around $24, while Merck hovers at around $85, not exactly the material for breakout tales.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The ETF Opportunity</h2>
The pressure is obvious. Conventional drugmakers still control manufacturing, regulation, and distribution. But AI-first companies are beginning to own the upstream, the concepts, the iterations, the trial designs. And in a space where delays in R&amp;D can run into billions and cost patient lives, speed and accuracy are no longer niceties — they&#8217;re necessities.
ETF providers now have a choice. Are they going to keep tracking yesterday&#8217;s winners in healthcare, or pre-emptively shift portfolios towards the players really shaping tomorrow&#8217;s innovation?
There is an open invitation here to innovating. A specially designed &#8220;AI &amp; Next-Gen Healthcare ETF&#8221; that combines genomics-based diagnostics, machine learning-assisted discovery, and healthtech infrastructure could grab the very growth that conventional pharma ETFs are not seeing.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Bottom Line</h2>
Palantir, Tempus AI, and Recursion are not merely healthcare-adjacent technology companies. They&#8217;re the leading edge of a very lucrative spear — one that already has pieced biotech&#8217;s old armor. And although Big Pharma is still, well, pharma, it&#8217;s the AI-born upstarts who are flexing the future.
The ETF business might need to begin paying attention, because the actual biotech bull cycle may not be occurring in corner offices, but in server racks, sequencing labs, and real-time data dashboards.
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Sector ETFs

ARKG

iShares Dow Jones US Pharmaceuticals Index Fund

PLTR

RXRX

Palantir, Nvidia & Tempus AI Could Be Pharma ETF Darlings That Don't Make Pills

Imagine you stepped into the dimly lit hospital meeting room to pitch a new cancer‑diagnostic deal. You flick through slides powered by Palantir Technologies Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) Foundry platform, showcasing data transparency and precision that would make <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care">legacy pharma pipelines</a> look prehistoric.
Track Palantir&#8217;s stock moves <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR">here</a>.
Down the hall, Tempus AI Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEM#NASDAQ">TEM</a>) had its own room, where genomics-powered diagnostics promised to cut months off drug development timelines. Across the corridor, Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RXRX#NASDAQ">RXRX</a>), bolstered by NVIDIA Corp's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) AI horsepower, quietly toiled in labs, churning out molecules faster than traditional researchers.
This isn't science fiction — it's a 2025 investment frontier, and the numbers tell the story.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46612985/palantir-won-pentagon-next-target-fortune-500">Palantir Won Pentagon—Next Target: Fortune 500</a>
Palantir's stock is up nearly 10 % month-to-date and has gone even higher year-to-date, as bullish sentiment surges ahead of its second quarter earnings. 
Tempus AI shares, currently at about $64, have held firm despite a roughly 6 % pullback over the past month, reflecting investor confidence in its diagnostics platform. 
Recursion, trading around $6, has surged nearly 15 % since late June, even while still down roughly 10 % year-to-date, signaling renewed optimism in its AI‑assisted drug discovery pipeline.
Meanwhile, Big Pharma remains stuck in neutral. Pfizer Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) trades around $24.70 and Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) at $84.49, both meandering with little buzz from investors. Despite coughing up solid revenue, legacy firms are fighting uphill battles with patent cliffs, rising price scrutiny and slowing innovation cycles.
In contrast, these AI-native players are redefining the narrative: Palantir sells the data architecture hospitals didn't know they needed; Tempus packages AI into actionable diagnostics; Recursion blends machine learning and molecular libraries faster than old-school pharma can. Together, they're disrupting drug discovery, trial design, and clinical decision-making — and attracting capital accordingly.
Big Pharma's comeback story may yet unfold — but right now, the buzz is all in AI-lab corridors, not corner offices.
The question for investors: are traditional drugmakers merely behind schedule — or destined to become the dinosaur era in healthcare?
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Photo: jittawit21 via Shutterstock

How Palantir, Tempus, Nvidia-Backed Recursion Are Disrupting Big Pharma

In the current market session, Merck &amp; Co Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) share price is at $83.80, after a 0.21% decrease. Over the past month, the stock spiked by 6.65%, but over the past year, it actually fell by 32.88%. With good short-term performance like this, and questionable long-term performance, long-term shareholders might want to start looking into the company's price-to-earnings ratio.

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1753365659_0_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>A Look at Merck &amp; Co P/E Relative to Its Competitors</h3>
The P/E ratio measures the current share price to the company's EPS. It is used by long-term investors to analyze the company's current performance against it's past earnings, historical data and aggregate market data for the industry or the indices, such as S&amp;P 500. A higher P/E indicates that investors expect the company to perform better in the future, and the stock is probably overvalued, but not necessarily. It also could indicate that investors are willing to pay a higher share price currently, because they expect the company to perform better in the upcoming quarters. This leads investors to also remain optimistic about rising dividends in the future. 
Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of the 30.03 in the Pharmaceuticals industry, Merck &amp; Co Inc. has a lower P/E ratio of 12.21. Shareholders might be inclined to think that the stock might perform worse than it's industry peers. It's also possible that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1753365659_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In conclusion, the price-to-earnings ratio is a useful metric for analyzing a company's market performance, but it has its limitations. While a lower P/E can indicate that a company is undervalued, it can also suggest that shareholders do not expect future growth. Additionally, the P/E ratio should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as industry trends and business cycles can also impact a company's stock price. Therefore, investors should use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative analysis to make informed investment decisions.

Intraday Update

P/E Ratio Insights for Merck & Co

<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/23/healthy-returns-researchers-move-closer-to-a-universal-cancer-vaccine.html" title="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/23/healthy-returns-researchers-move-closer-to-a-universal-cancer-vaccine.html">https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/23/healthy-returns-researchers-move-closer-to-a-universal-cancer-vaccine.html</a>

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'Researchers Move Closer To A Universal Cancer Vaccine' - CNBC

Approval is based on the results from phase III KEYNOTE-A18/ENGOT-cx11/GOG-30472
KIRKLAND, QC, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ -- Merck (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that Health Canada has granted approval for KEYTRUDA&#xAE; (pembrolizumab), Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for the treatment of FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) 2014 Stage III-IVA cervical cancer.1,2 The approval is based on data from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-A18 trial, also known as ENGOT-cx11/GOG-3047, which demonstrated statistically significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients randomized to KEYTRUDA&#xAE; in combination with CRT compared with patients randomized to placebo plus CRT.3

Global

Merck Receives Health Canada Approval For KEYTRUDA With Chemoradiotherapy In Stage III–IVA Cervical Cancer

Press Releases

Merck to Acquire Verona Pharma, Expanding its Portfolio to Include Ohtuvayre® (ensifentrine), a First-In-Class COPD Maintenance Treatment for Adults and Expected to Drive Growth into the Next Decade

U.S. FDA Accepts New Drug Application for Merck's Doravirine/Islatravir, an Investigational, Once-Daily, Oral, Two-Drug Regimen for Treatment of Adults with Virologically Suppressed HIV-1 Infection

FDA Approves BRAVECTO® QUANTUM (Fluralaner for Extended-Release Injectable Suspension) from Merck Animal Health

VERONA PHARMA INVESTOR ALERT by the Former Attorney General of Louisiana: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Adequacy of Price and Process in Proposed Sale of Verona Pharma plc - VRNA

Merck to Initiate Phase 3 Trials for Investigational Once-Monthly HIV Prevention Pill

Legal

MERCK ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is Investigating Merck & Co., Inc. on Behalf of Long-Term Stockholders and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

Merck Commits to Veeva Vault CRM

Health Canada Approves KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of adult patients with FIGO 2014 Stage III-IVA cervical cancer, in combination with chemoradiotherapy (CRT)¹

Merck Announces Fourth-Quarter 2025 Dividend

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA Announces Second-Quarter 2025 Financial Results

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Elanco Animal Health Incorporated Common Stock

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GSK plc American Depositary Shares (Each representing two Ordinary Shares)

HUTCHMED (China) Limited - American Depositary Shares

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Haleon plc American Depositary Shares (Each representing two Ordinary Shares)

Haleon

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Jazz Pharmaceuticals

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Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. Common Stock

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Dr Reddy's Laboratories

Regencell Bioscience Holdings Limited - Ordinary Shares

Regencell Bioscience

Royalty Pharma plc - Class A Ordinary Shares

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Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited American Depositary Shares (each representing 1/2 of a share of Common Stock)

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Verona Pharma plc - American Depositary Shares

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Screenshot 2025-07-10 at 8.34.03 PM

When it comes to unmet needs in the nephrology space, acute kidney injury remains a significant concern.

SeaStar Medical&#39;s QUELIMMUNE Wins Prestigious Award From The National Kidney Foundation, Former Winners Include Names Like Janssen, Merck and Otsuka

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