Stocks / MRK
MRK stock forecast
MERCK & CO INC · Healthcare · Drug Manufacturers - General
The model's rating
Greatly Outperform
MRK is rated Greatly Outperform as of September 29, 2026: its medium-term return forecast is in the top fifth of the stocks the model scores.
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MRK is not among the 20 largest holdings published for 2026 Q4. See the portfolio
MRK against the S&P 500
| Period | MRK | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -1.1% | -0.3% |
| 3 months | +16.6% | +2.5% |
| Year to date | +40.9% | +12.7% |
| 1 year | +78.2% | +15.7% |
Total return, dividends included.
Key numbers
| Price | $145.31 |
| Market cap | 358.5 Billion |
| P/E (trailing 12 months) | 114.4 |
| P/S (trailing 12 months) | 5.4 |
| P/B (latest quarter) | 7.6 |
| Gross margin | 73.0% |
| Net profit margin | 4.8% |
| Return on equity | 6.6% |
| Beta | 0.2 |
As of August 7, 2026.
MRK and its closest peers
| Stock | Company | Market cap | Model rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABBV | ABBVIE INC | 462.26 Billion | Outperform | ABBV vs MRK |
| AMGN | AMGEN INC | 227.88 Billion | Outperform | MRK vs AMGN |
| GILD | GILEAD SCIENCES INC | 184.82 Billion | Outperform | MRK vs GILD |
| PFE | PFIZER INC | 162.55 Billion | Greatly Outperform | |
| BMY | BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB CO | 127.47 Billion | Outperform | |
| JNJ | JOHNSON & JOHNSON | 638.0 Billion | Outperform | JNJ vs MRK |
Questions
What does the Upfront Investment model say about MRK?
The model rates MERCK & CO INC (MRK) "Greatly Outperform" as of September 29, 2026, which means its medium-term return forecast is in the top fifth of the stocks the model scores. The rating is a statistical forecast, not a recommendation to buy or sell.
How is the MRK rating produced?
A machine-learning model forecasts each stock's return over the coming months and ranks the forecasts against each other. The label says where this stock's forecast falls in that ranking. It is refreshed whenever the model's data updates, normally every trading day.
Is MRK in the Upfront Investment model portfolio?
MRK is not among the 20 largest holdings published for 2026 Q4.
The rating is the output of a statistical model and can be wrong. It is not investment advice and takes no account of your circumstances. Past performance does not guarantee future results.