Core Viewpoint - Merck is expected to report Q1 2024 results with revenue of $15.2 billion and adjusted earnings of $1.97, driven primarily by Keytruda and Gardasil sales growth [1][4]. Financial Performance - Merck's stock has increased by 55% from $80 in January 2021 to approximately $125 currently, outperforming the S&P 500's 35% increase during the same period [1]. - The stock performance has been inconsistent, with returns of -6% in 2021, 45% in 2022, and -2% in 2023, underperforming the S&P 500 in 2021 and 2023 [2]. - The previous quarter's revenue was $14.6 billion, a 6% year-over-year increase, primarily due to Keytruda and Gardasil sales [4]. Key Growth Drivers - Keytruda is projected to generate around $7 billion in quarterly sales, reflecting high teens year-over-year growth, while Gardasil is expected to see mid-teens sales growth [1][5]. - Keytruda has received five new U.S. FDA approvals since October, which is anticipated to support its sales growth [5]. - Gardasil is experiencing strong demand in China, a trend expected to continue [5]. Valuation and Market Position - Merck's current valuation is estimated at $134 per share, closely aligned with its market price of $127, trading at 5x revenues compared to a 4.5x average over the last five years [3]. - The company expects full-year 2024 revenue to be between $62.7 billion and $64.2 billion, with earnings projected between $8.44 and $8.59 per share [4].

Core Viewpoint - Merck is expected to report first-quarter 2024 results on April 25, with a consensus estimate for total revenues at $15.34 billion, driven by strong sales of its key products, particularly Keytruda and Gardasil [1][2]. Group 1: Revenue Estimates and Key Products - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Merck's Pharmaceutical unit is $13.53 billion, with an estimate of $6.80 billion for Keytruda sales, which accounts for approximately 42% of the company's pharmaceutical sales [2][3]. - Keytruda's sales growth is attributed to increased uptake in earlier-stage indications and its recent approval for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer [2][3]. - Gardasil sales are expected to reach $2.28 billion, with growth driven by strong international demand and higher pricing in the U.S. [4][5]. Group 2: Strategic Initiatives and Product Pipeline - Merck is pursuing innovative strategies to enhance Keytruda's long-term growth, including combinations with other immuno-oncology agents and a partnership with Moderna for a personalized mRNA therapeutic cancer vaccine [4][5]. - The company is expanding its manufacturing capacity for Gardasil and targeting broader age cohorts for vaccination [5]. - Merck has eight potential new product approvals expected between 2025 and 2030, with V116 and Winrevair identified as significant revenue generators [6]. Group 3: Earnings Performance and Market Position - Merck has consistently beaten earnings expectations, with an average earnings surprise of 38.17% over the last four quarters [8]. - The stock has increased by 8.5% over the past year, compared to a 13.0% increase for the industry [8]. - Despite a strong product lineup, concerns remain about Merck's dependency on Keytruda and the need for diversification ahead of its patent expiration post-2028 [3][6].

Core Viewpoint - Analysts forecast Merck (MRK) to report quarterly earnings of $2.01 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 43.6%, with revenues expected to reach $15.34 billion, a 5.9% increase compared to the previous year [1] Group 1: Earnings and Revenue Estimates - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised upward by 7% over the last 30 days, indicating analysts' reassessment of their initial forecasts [1] - The anticipated quarterly earnings of $2.01 per share and revenues of $15.34 billion highlight positive growth expectations for Merck [1] Group 2: Specific Sales Projections - Analysts project 'Sales- Oncology- Alliance revenue- Reblozyl' at $68.77 million, a year-over-year increase of 59.9% [2] - The consensus estimate for 'Sales- Vaccines- Pneumovax' is $70.63 million, indicating a decline of 26.4% from the prior year [2] - 'Sales- Vaccines- ProQuar/M-M-R II/Varivax' is estimated at $544.16 million, reflecting a 3.1% increase year over year [2] Group 3: Additional Sales Metrics - 'Sales- Alliance revenue- Lenvima' is expected to reach $265.43 million, showing a year-over-year increase of 14.4% [3] - 'Sales- Hospital Acute Care- Bridion - U.S.' is projected at $301.76 million, indicating a 9.3% increase from the previous year [3] - 'Sales- Oncology- Keytruda - U.S.' is anticipated to be $4.12 billion, reflecting an 18.2% increase year over year [3] Group 4: Animal Health and Vaccine Sales - 'Sales- Animal health - International' is forecasted at $1.05 billion, a 4.2% increase from the prior year [4] - 'Sales- Animal health - U.S.' is expected to be $495.47 million, indicating a 2.8% year-over-year increase [4] - 'Sales- Vaccines- Pneumovax - U.S.' is projected at $28.41 million, reflecting a decline of 29% from the previous year [4] Group 5: Market Performance - Over the past month, Merck shares have returned +1.6%, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -4% change [4]

CNBC's Jim Cramer on Friday noted that major quarterly results from players like Verizon, Meta, Microsoft and Alphabet will be coming next week, but he zeroed in on the importance of the Personal Consumption Expenditures index because it is the real gauge of inflation.Cramer said the Federal Reserve prefers to use the PCE index, not the consumer price index, to best evaluate inflation. If the number comes in too hot, Cramer said any market gains may prove to be short-lived. But if the number is cool, it cou ...

The most recent trading session ended with Merck (MRK) standing at $125.37, reflecting a +0.25% shift from the previouse trading day's closing. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.58%. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 0.12%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 1.15%.Shares of the pharmaceutical company witnessed a gain of 2.34% over the previous month, beating the performance of the Medical sector with its loss of 6.07% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.09%.Investors will be eagerly watchin ...

There's a new reason to believe that their joint projects are going well.According to some new data revealed by Moderna (MRNA -0.12%) at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting on April 8, the biotech responsible for the Spikevax coronavirus vaccine may have another blockbuster drug in the works, this time a personalized cancer vaccine (PCV) for head and neck cancers that it's developing in conjunction with Merck (MRK -0.47%).It's a no-brainer that favorable data makes for favorable sent ...

Merck (MRK) closed the most recent trading day at $126.15, moving -0.47% from the previous trading session. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.74%. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.01%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 1.68%.The pharmaceutical company's stock has climbed by 3.76% in the past month, exceeding the Medical sector's loss of 4.72% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.8%.Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Merck in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The compan ...

Merck (MRK) announced that a phase II/III study has been initiated on its CDH6-directed DXd antibody-drug conjugate, raludotatug deruxtecan (R-DXd), in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The first patient has been dosed in the phase II/III study called REJOICE-Ovarian01. Merck is developing R-DXd in partnership with Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo.The initiation of the REJOICE-Ovarian01 study is based on data from the ongoing phase I study in which R-DXd showed promising activity in patients with advan ...

Merck (MRK) closed at $127.99 in the latest trading session, marking a +0.26% move from the prior day. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.11%. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.8%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 1.24%.The pharmaceutical company's shares have seen an increase of 2.96% over the last month, surpassing the Medical sector's loss of 2.46% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.48%.The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Merck in its forthcomi ...

Merck (MRK) has initiated phase III study on its oral KRAS G12C inhibitor candidate, MK-1084, for first-line treatment of certain patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).The study will evaluate MK-1084 in combination with Merck’s blockbuster PD-L1 inhibitor Keytruda in patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors harbor KRAS G12C mutations and express PD-L1 (tumor proportion score [TPS] ≥50%). In some early studies, MK-1084, in combination with Keytruda, has demonstrated some promising an ...