Merck & Co., Inc. · Healthcare · Drug Manufacturers - General
Scores & Status Key
AI Summary Scores: Intraday / Swing / Long scores are synthesized from multi-factor analysis for each timeframe. They summarize current conditions discussed in the report and do not constitute trading recommendations.
Intraday Trend Score: A 0–100 composite from the Trend Explorer™ analytics engine used for ranking and comparison. It describes current conditions and is not a forecast.
Trend Status: A rules-based label (Bullish / Mixed / Bearish) derived from signal confluence (trend structure, momentum, and positioning). It indicates alignment, not expected return.
Last
$148.24
−$1.30 (−0.87%) 4:00 PM ET
After hours$148.19
−$0.05 (−0.03%) 5:23 AM ET
Prev closePrevC$149.54
OpenOpen$146.56
Day highHigh$148.94
Day lowLow$146.33
VolumeVol5,532,231
Avg volAvgVol10,075,396
On chart
Interval
Intervals apply to 1D & 5D.
Intervals apply to 1D & 5D.
Scale: Linear
Overlays
Panels
Style
Scale: Linear
Presets
Tools
Tickers only (no ^ indexes). Add up to 5.
Mkt cap
$366.00B
EV/Sales
6.21
P/E ratio
115.35
FY Revenue
$66.57B
EPS
1.29
Gross Margin
72.97%
Div yield
2.27%
Sector
Healthcare
AI report sections
BULLISH
MRK
Merck & Co., Inc.
MRK’s recent price action shows substantial momentum across the one-, three-, six-, and 12-month periods, supported by exceptionally elevated volume and positive daily trend measures. However, an RSI above 83 and a close near the 52-week high indicate extended near-term conditions. Fundamental cash generation remains constructive, while the sharp year-over-year decline in net income and elevated earnings-based valuation multiples create a contrasting longer-duration profile.
AI summarized at 12:36 AM ET, 2026-08-20
AI summary scores
INTRADAY:68SWING:72LONG:45
Volume vs average
Intraday (cumulative)
−37% (Below avg)
Vol/Avg: 0.63×
RSI
64.67(Strong)
Strong (60–70)
0255075100
MACD momentum
Intraday
+0.03 (Strong)
MACD: 0.03 Signal: 0.00
Short-Term
+1.43 (Strong)
MACD: 6.78 Signal: 5.35
Long-Term
+1.74 (Strong)
MACD: 8.64 Signal: 6.90
Intraday trend score
60.66
LOW50.66HIGH71.66
Latest news
MRK•12 articles•Positive: 10Neutral: 2Negative: 0
PositiveGlobeNewswire Inc.• Sns Insider
Breast Cancer Therapeutics Market Size to Reach USD 95.14 Billion at a CAGR of 9.20% from 2035 – SNS Insider
The global breast cancer therapeutics market is projected to grow from USD 39.46 billion in 2025 to USD 95.14 billion by 2035, with a CAGR of 9.20%. Growth is driven by increased adoption of targeted therapies, CDK4/6 inhibitors, immunotherapy, and antibody-drug conjugates. North America leads with 38.61% market share, while Asia Pacific shows the fastest growth. Targeted therapy dominates with 64.85% share, while immunotherapy is the fastest-growing segment at 14.25% CAGR.
RHHBYPFENVSAZNbreast cancer therapeuticstargeted therapyimmunotherapyCDK4/6 inhibitors
Sentiment note
Major player in immunotherapy and checkpoint inhibitors for breast cancer, positioned to benefit from the fastest-growing therapy segment at 14.25% CAGR.
NeutralZacks Investment Research• Na
SMMT Rises on Akeso's Win in Phase III Biliary Tract Cancer Study
Summit Therapeutics' partner Akeso announced positive phase III HARMONi-GI1 study results showing ivonescimab plus chemotherapy achieved superior overall survival compared to AstraZeneca's Imfinzi plus chemotherapy in advanced biliary tract cancer patients. The drug also met key secondary endpoints for progression-free survival and objective response rate. These results strengthen ivonescimab's development case beyond its initial NSCLC focus into colorectal and genitourinary cancers.
SMMTAZNMRKivonescimabbiliary tract cancerHARMONi-GI1overall survivalphase III trial
Sentiment note
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is mentioned as a comparator in an ongoing phase II/III genitourinary cancer study. No results are available yet, so sentiment is neutral pending future trial outcomes.
PositiveZacks Investment Research• Na
Can Eli Lilly's Oncology Portfolio Drive Growth Beyond GLP-1 Drugs?
Eli Lilly's oncology revenues grew 11% to $4.84 billion in H1 2026, with newer drugs like Jaypirca (up 66%) and Inluriyo driving diversification beyond its flagship Verzenio. The company strengthened its blood-cancer pipeline through acquisitions of Ajax Therapeutics and Kelonia. However, Lilly faces intense competition from AstraZeneca, Merck, and Pfizer in the oncology space. The stock trades at a premium valuation (28.03x forward P/E) but holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating.
LLYAZNMRKPFEoncologyJaypircaVerzenioInluriyo
Sentiment note
Largest oncology player with $19.53B in revenues. Keytruda franchise remains dominant at $16.4B (up 8% YoY), with additional growth from Welireg (up 57%) and alliance revenues.
PositiveGlobeNewswire Inc.• Bcc Research
AI Poised to Reshape Blood Cancer Therapeutics as Investment Surges Past $2 Billion Across Leading Biotech and Pharma Players
Artificial intelligence is transforming blood cancer drug discovery and development, with over $2 billion in investment from major biotech and pharma companies. AI is reducing clinical trial timelines by up to 50%, improving patient selection, and enabling next-generation therapies like CAR-T and antibody-drug conjugates. North America leads with 40% of global market share, while Asia-Pacific emerges as a significant growth region.
MRKRHHBYBMYCELGRartificial intelligenceblood cancer therapeuticsclinical trial accelerationCAR-T cell engineering
Sentiment note
Listed as a key competitive player in AI-enabled blood cancer therapeutics, benefiting from industry-wide structural tailwinds in AI adoption for oncology.
PositiveThe Motley Fool• Keith Noonan
Why Tempus AI Skyrocketed This Week
Tempus AI stock surged 39.5% this week following positive Phase 3 trial results from Merck and Moderna for a jointly developed mRNA cancer vaccine combined with Keytruda immunotherapy. The gains were driven by Tempus's pending acquisition of Personalis, which developed the genomic tumor-profiling technology central to the vaccine's development. Despite the rally, Tempus remains down roughly 10% over the past year.
Phase 3 trial results for its Keytruda immunotherapy combined with Moderna's mRNA vaccine showed significant benefits in cancer treatment, demonstrating clinical validation and potential for expanded market applications.
PositiveThe Motley Fool• Jonathan Ponciano
A Tempus AI Director Sold Stock Four Days Before a 24% Rally. Here's What to Know
Nadja West, a director at Tempus AI, sold 3,000 shares for $161,700 on August 14 under a pre-established Rule 10b5-1 trading plan set up in May. Four days later, the stock rallied 24% following news that Moderna and Merck's cancer vaccine succeeded in late-stage trials. West retained 34,981 shares worth ~$1.8 million. The sale timing appears coincidental as it was scheduled months in advance, and the company reported strong Q2 results with 22% revenue growth and its first GAAP profit.
As co-developer of the cancer vaccine that hit its late-stage trial goals, Merck's positive clinical results contributed to market enthusiasm in the precision medicine and genomic testing space.
PositiveThe Motley Fool• Jonathan Ponciano
Is Tempus AI Stock a Buy After Its 75% Rally? Here's What to Know as the Firm's Legal Chief Files a Trade
Tempus AI's Chief Legal Officer Andrew Polovin sold 30,075 shares worth $1.5 million in a non-discretionary transaction to cover tax withholding obligations from RSU vesting. The sale occurred during a 75% stock rally driven by positive results from a Moderna-Merck cancer vaccine trial validating Tempus's genomic sequencing technology. The company reported 22% revenue growth to $382.5 million last quarter and achieved its first GAAP profit, though it remains unprofitable on a TTM basis with -$254.4 million net income.
TEMMRNAMRKinsider tradingstock saletax withholdinggenomic sequencingprecision medicine
Sentiment note
Cancer vaccine trial with Moderna achieved positive endpoints, demonstrating progress in precision medicine and oncology treatment development.
PositiveThe Motley Fool• Joe Tenebruso
Why Moderna Stock Skyrocketed Today
Moderna and Merck announced positive Phase 3 clinical trial results for intismeran, an mRNA-based cancer therapy designed to activate anti-tumor immune responses in melanoma patients. The experimental treatment met its primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival when combined with Merck's Keytruda immunotherapy. The companies plan to present additional data and seek regulatory approval, positioning them to capture a larger share of the $275 billion global oncology market by 2030.
MRNAMRKmRNA cancer therapyPhase 3 trialmelanomaintismeranpersonalized cancer treatmentimmunotherapy
Sentiment note
Stock gained 12.6% on the positive Phase 3 trial results for the co-developed intismeran therapy combined with its Keytruda immunotherapy. The successful trial validates the combination approach and expands the commercial potential of Keytruda across multiple cancer types.
PositiveThe Motley Fool• Bram Berkowitz
Moderna and Merck Just Made History With the First mRNA Cancer Vaccine to Succeed in a Phase 3 Trial. Here's What That Means for Investors.
Moderna and Merck announced successful Phase 3 trial results for a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine combined with Merck's Keytruda immunotherapy. The treatment showed melanoma patients experienced longer periods before cancer recurrence and reduced spread compared to Keytruda alone. This marks the first Phase 3 success for mRNA cancer therapy and individualized neoantigen therapy, with both companies planning to present findings to regulators.
MRNAMRKmRNA cancer vaccinePhase 3 trialmelanomapersonalized medicineimmunotherapyregulatory approval
Sentiment note
Stock rose 1% and hit all-time high; combined treatment addresses critical patent cliff on Keytruda in 2028 by creating new revenue opportunity; larger, more diversified company reduces risk compared to Moderna
NeutralThe Motley Fool• Sara Appino
AbbVie vs. Bristol-Myers Squibb: Which Healthcare Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
AbbVie and Bristol-Myers Squibb are compared as dividend-paying pharmaceutical investments. AbbVie shows stronger revenue growth (8.6% YoY) driven by Skyrizi and Rinvoq, while Bristol-Myers Squibb faces patent cliff headwinds despite trading at a significant valuation discount. The article recommends AbbVie for long-term investors due to its focused operations, accelerating neuroscience portfolio, and attractive dividend, despite Bristol-Myers Squibb's recovery potential.
Mentioned as a competitor in the highly competitive oncology space, but no detailed analysis provided in the article.
PositiveThe Motley Fool• Neil Patel
1 Unstoppable Dividend ETF Up 26% in 2026 to Buy and Hold for the Next 20 Years
The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) has delivered a 26% return year-to-date in 2026, significantly outperforming the S&P 500. The ETF focuses on 100 high-quality dividend-paying companies with at least 10 years of consecutive dividend payments, featuring a low 0.06% expense ratio and 3.3% dividend yield. Its portfolio emphasizes healthcare and consumer staples sectors, making it suitable for long-term buy-and-hold investors seeking stability and passive income.
Third-largest holding (4.33%) in SCHD, representing the healthcare sector's prominence in the portfolio. Exemplifies the type of resilient, dividend-paying company the ETF targets for long-term investors.
PositiveThe Motley Fool• James Brumley
Prediction: This Dividend ETF Will Thrive After 20 Years No Matter What the Market Does
The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is recommended as the best dividend ETF for long-term investors seeking a 20-year income strategy. Unlike the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) and iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO), SCHD maintains better sector balance and prioritizes dividend yield and fundamental value, with top holdings in stable consumer staples like Coca-Cola, Merck, Chevron, and Procter & Gamble that will remain relevant over decades.
Listed as a top holding in SCHD with established dividend history and fundamental strength, though healthcare sector faces some long-term cost challenges.
News and sentiment labels describe article tone and are provided for research purposes only. They are not trading recommendations or forecasts.
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