Merck & Company, Inc. (MRK) is currently trading at $148.78. Based on 26 Wall Street analysts, the average target price is $153.65, implying a 3.3% upside. The consensus recommendation is BUY.

Over the past 30 days, the feed records 4 target raises and 0 target cuts for MRK. Over the past 90 days, the feed records 22 target raises and 0 target cuts for MRK.

MRK

Merck & Company, Inc.

HealthcareOpinion: buy

Opinion Criteria: Based on the consensus of Wall Street analysts. Strong Buy (1.0-1.5), Buy (1.5-2.5), Hold (2.5-3.5), Sell (3.5-4.5), Strong Sell (4.5-5.0).

Price (USD)

$148.78

Consensus target price range

Low–high band from analyst PT changes in the last 3 months; median & sample mean vs current price

LowHigh
$113.00$180.00
Current $148.78
Median: $150.00Mean: $153.71Current: $148.78

Recent price target updates (latest 80)

  • HSBCSep 10, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $150.00 → $172.00

  • Leerink PartnersSep 9, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $127.00 → $161.00

  • GuggenheimSep 8, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $146.00 → $170.00

  • Wells FargoSep 4, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $150.00 → $170.00

  • Wolfe ResearchAug 25, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $155.00 → $180.00

  • Argus ResearchAug 25, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $145.00 → $170.00

  • Goldman SachsAug 21, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $140.00 → $160.00

  • BMO CapitalAug 20, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $142.00 → $170.00

  • UBSAug 20, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $145.00 → $175.00

  • RBC CapitalAug 20, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $142.00 → $150.00

  • Morgan StanleyAug 20, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $116.00 → $179.00

  • Daiwa CapitalAug 12, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $120.00 → $143.00

  • Argus ResearchAug 11, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $130.00 → $145.00

  • GuggenheimAug 5, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $145.00 → $146.00

  • BarclaysJul 29, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $140.00 → $150.00

  • JP MorganJul 13, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $135.00 → $140.00

  • BMO CapitalJul 13, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $135.00 → $142.00

  • GuggenheimJul 13, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $140.00 → $145.00

  • Morgan StanleyJul 9, 2026

    PT action: Raises

    $112.00 → $113.00

  • RBC CapitalJul 8, 2026

    PT action: Maintains

    $142.00 → $142.00

Band uses only the revised target (Current column) from firm actions dated within the last 3 months—not the Prior price.

Avg Target

$153.65

Based on 26 analysts

Analyst Recommendations

Buy (20)Hold (8)Sell (0)

Upside

+3.28%

Market Cap

$367.07B

Financial & Investment Metrics

Next Earnings Date
Oct 29, 2026D-33
P/E Ratio (TTM)119.02
Forward P/E15.61
P/B Ratio8.76
Dividend Yield2.29%
Return on Equity (ROE)6.96%
Operating Margin-0.24%
Debt to Equity128.41
Beta (Volatility)0.23
52 Week Range$78.03 - $156.92
LowCurrent: $148.78High

Daily editorial mentioning MRK

Price target moves

Citigroup Reshuffles Materials as FDX Sees Mixed Target Adjustments

The latest round of Wall Street revisions, as of June 25, 2026, highlights a distinct divergence in sentiment within the Materials sector. While Citigroup analysts have been busy adjusting their outlooks, the activity reflects a broader, more surgical approach to valuation that has spilled over into Industrials and Healthcare.

Who moved targets

Citigroup led the charge with a flurry of activity in the Materials space. They raised price targets on SHW to 380 from 355, alongside upward adjustments for PPG (114 to 125), LIN (585 to 600), and ECL (325 to 330). However, the firm simultaneously took a more cautious stance on other industry constituents, slashing targets for IFF, LYB, DOW, and CE. The most significant of these downward revisions was Celanese (CE), which saw its target cut from 80 to 68.

Elsewhere, FedEx (FDX) remains a point of contention among analysts. While Citigroup and B of A Securities issued modest target increases—moving the stock to 359 and 378 respectively—Stifel and UBS opted for substantial downward revisions, pulling their targets back to 326 and 350. This creates a wide variance in how the street views the logistics giant’s near-term trajectory.

Ticker Firm Dir Prior→Current
SHW Citigroup Up 355 → 380
CE Citigroup Down 80 → 68
FDX Stifel Down 442 → 326
BSX Jefferies Down 100 → 67

Reading the revisions

The contrast between the bullish upgrades in Materials and the aggressive downgrades elsewhere is striking. For instance, Jefferies issued a sharp reduction for Boston Scientific (BSX), dropping the target from 100 to 67, a move that starkly contrasts with the steady, incremental upgrades seen in the Financials sector. Within that group, Truist Securities pushed AXP to 375, while Piper Sandler nudged MET up to 90 (an 8.7% implied upside).

These revisions often serve as a reaction to underlying operational shifts rather than just macro sentiment. It is worth tracking these market moves to see if the downward pressure on firms like DOW and LYB—which now show implied upsides of 43.8% and 43.2% respectively—triggers a bottom-fishing response from the broader market. When a firm like Citigroup downgrades a name while simultaneously flagging a large implied upside, it suggests that while the target has been lowered, the valuation may still be viewed as disconnected from the current market price. Monitoring these gaps provides a clearer picture of where analysts are losing patience versus where they are simply recalibrating for volatility.

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Insider Sentiment Index (Last 6 Months)

Counts and listings exclude stock awards, gifts, and option exercises—open-market purchases and sales only.

Buy vs Sell (Count)

Insider Buys: 0Insider Sells: 10

Whale Trades (C-Level Large Buys)

No major insider buying detected recently.

Recent Insider Transactions

DateNamePositionTransactionShares
8/13/2026GUINDO CHIRFIOfficerSale at price 135.00 per share.10,000
8/12/2026ZACHARY JENNIFER LGeneral CounselSale at price 133.46 per share.80,315
8/12/2026DELUCA RICHARD ROBERT JR.OfficerSale at price 130.43 - 132.35 per share.45,320
8/6/2026GUINDO CHIRFIOfficerSale at price 131.00 per share.15,000
8/6/2026DELUCA RICHARD ROBERT JR.OfficerSale at price 130.23 - 131.02 per share.6,050
8/5/2026WILLIAMS DAVID MICHAELChief Technology OfficerSale at price 128.77 per share.52,847
8/5/2026MARALDO DAVID R.OfficerSale at price 128.72 per share.18,706
2/12/2026GUINDO CHIRFIOfficerSale at price 121.46 per share.10,000
2/10/2026LI DEAN YOfficerSale at price 117.52 per share.10,235
2/9/2026GUINDO CHIRFIOfficerSale at price 118.41 per share.10,000

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the current target price and upside for MRK?

A. The current target price for Merck & Company, Inc. is $153.65, which implies a 3.3% upside from the current price of $148.78. This is based on the consensus of 26 Wall Street analysts.

Q. What is the current analyst recommendation for MRK?

A. Currently, there are 5 Strong Buy, 15 Buy, 8 Hold, 0 Sell, and 0 Strong Sell ratings. The overall consensus is BUY.

Q. Are insiders buying MRK stock recently?

A. Over the past 6 months, there have been 0 insider buys and 10 insider sells. Insider selling is more prominent recently.

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