Quantum Financial Advisors LLC Grows Stock Holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)

Quantum Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 10.9% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,590 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 450 shares during the quarter. Quantum Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $457,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 7.4% during the 4th quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 31,523 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,136,000 after buying an additional 2,177 shares in the last quarter. Global Financial Private Client LLC lifted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Global Financial Private Client LLC now owns 20,743 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,064,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Johnson & White Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 7.0% in the 4th quarter. Johnson & White Wealth Management LLC now owns 9,677 shares of the company’s stock worth $960,000 after purchasing an additional 637 shares in the last quarter. Horizon Bancorp Inc. IN lifted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 2,087.8% in the 4th quarter. Horizon Bancorp Inc. IN now owns 10,414 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,036,000 after purchasing an additional 9,938 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cullen Investment Group LTD. lifted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Cullen Investment Group LTD. now owns 98,061 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,755,000 after purchasing an additional 2,084 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.07% of the company’s stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MRK opened at $99.70 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $252.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.90, a PEG ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.39. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 12 month low of $94.48 and a 12 month high of $134.63. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $100.13 and its 200 day moving average is $110.19. The company has a current ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $1.57 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $16.66 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.47 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 19.23% and a return on equity of 36.42%. The firm’s revenue was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.13 EPS. Research analysts predict that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 7.73 EPS for the current year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 16th were paid a $0.81 dividend. This is an increase from Merck & Co., Inc.’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.77. This represents a $3.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.25%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 16th. Merck & Co., Inc.’s dividend payout ratio is currently 67.92%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have commented on MRK shares. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $142.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Guggenheim decreased their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $137.00 to $130.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $155.00 price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. BMO Capital Markets cut shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $136.00 to $105.00 in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $130.00 to $123.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and four have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $123.67.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company Profile

Merck & Co, Inc is a health care company, which engages in the provision of health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceutical, Animal Health, and Other. The Pharmaceutical segment includes human health pharmaceutical and vaccine products.