I'm an individual investor looking to grow my wealth over the long term. I've tried many different styles of investing over the last 25 years and have found that buying dividend growth stocks and reinvesting the dividends is one of the easiest ways to grow wealth over the long term. Over the years, I've owned stocks, options, ETFs, treasury notes, and mutual funds. I operate a blog, HarvestingDividends.com, that provides information on the S&P Dividend Aristocrats and other dividend growth stocks.Analyst’s ...

Merck (MRK) announced that it has entered into an exclusive licensing deal with China-based privately-held biotech company LaNova Medicines for the latter’s PD-1xVEGF targeting bispecific antibody candidate, LM-299.Per the terms of the deal, Merck will acquire the global rights to develop and market LM-299. In return, LaNova will receive an upfront cash payment of $588 million. In addition, Merck will have to pay up to $2.7 billion in milestone payments to LaNova.The deal is expected to be closed by the end ...

Company Overview - Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) is projected to increase its revenue by 6-7% in FY 2024 compared to 2023, primarily driven by its oncology product Keytruda, which generates more revenue than the entire company [1]. Investment Focus - The investment strategy emphasizes growth markets, particularly in AI and biotech, while also exploring undervalued stocks with significant potential [1]. - The portfolio includes a diverse range of market capitalizations, from megacap to microcap, with a primary focus on the U.S. market, although European and Canadian stocks may also be considered [1]. Professional Background - The individual has over 20 years of experience working in Brussels within a leading European sector organization and holds a Master's Degree in Law [1].

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) UBS Global Healthcare Conference November 13, 2024 12:30 PM ET Company Participants Jannie Oosthuizen - President of Human Health of the U.S. Joerg Koglin - SVP of Clinical Research Conference Call Participants Trung Huynh - UBS Trung Huynh Okay, great. I think we're at time here. Good morning, everyone. My name is Trung Huynh. I'm the large cap pharma analyst here at UBS. It's my pleasure to welcome today Jannie Oosthuizen, I think that's how you pronounce it, President of Hum ...

If you're patient, these businesses have a lot of promising projects in the works.Much to the chagrin of investors looking to get rich quickly with a biopharma investment, the drug development cycle is, by necessity, a protracted affair. Sometimes, medicines take upwards of a decade to develop. That means the longer your investing time horizon is, the more likely it is that you'll be able to capture the full benefit of all of the catalysts that a company's pipeline delivers throughout the drug development p ...

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK ) is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, and its stock is conservatively valued. The company recently delivered a solid Q3 performance, consistent with its overall long-term trend of strong performance. Its exceptional capitalComing from an IT background, I have dived into the U.S. stock market seven years ago by managing portfolio of my family. Starting managing real money has been challenging for the first time, but long hours of mastering fundamental analysis ...

Core Insights - Merck reported Q3 results with revenues of $16.7 billion and adjusted earnings of $1.57 per share, surpassing consensus estimates of $16.5 billion and $1.50 respectively, primarily driven by Keytruda sales growth [1][2] - The company lowered its full-year earnings outlook due to a one-time charge of $0.24 per share related to deals with Curon Biopharmaceutical and Daiichi Sankyo [1] Financial Performance - Q3 revenue increased by 4% year-over-year, with Keytruda sales rising 17% to $7.4 billion [2] - New drugs Winrevair and Capvaxive are gaining traction, while Gardasil sales fell 11% to $2.3 billion and Januvia and Janumet saw a 42% decline due to competition [2] - Adjusted gross margin expanded by 350 basis points to 80.5% due to a favorable product mix [3] Future Outlook - Merck narrowed its sales outlook to between $63.6 billion and $64.1 billion, with adjusted earnings projected between $7.72 and $7.77 per share [4] - Forecasted sales for full-year 2024 are approximately $63.9 billion, with an expected bottom line of $7.75 [4] Valuation and Stock Performance - Merck's estimated valuation is $130 per share, indicating a 25% upside from the current market price of $102 [5] - The stock is trading at 4.3x trailing revenues, slightly below the 4.5x average P/S ratio over the last five years [5] - Despite a 4% decline in MRK stock this year, it has shown value growth over the past three years, although it has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 [6]

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock ($0.50 par value) MRK New York Stock Exchange 1.875% Notes due 2026 MRK/26 New York Stock Exchange 3.250% Notes due 2032 MRK/32 New York Stock Exchange 2.500% Notes due 2034 MRK/34 New York Stock Exchange 1.375% Notes due 2036 MRK 36A New York Stock Exchange 3.500% Notes due 2037 MRK/37 ...

On Thursday, Merck & Co Inc MRK reported third-quarter sales of $16.66 billion, up 4% year over year, beating the consensus of $16.47 billion.Merck reported a decline of 11% in sales of Gardasil to $2.31 billion, a vaccine that prevents cancer from HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S., due to lower demand in China, partially offset by higher sales in the U.S., driven by public-sector buying patterns, higher pricing and demand, and higher demand in most international regions.Beyond ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics - Total company revenues for Q3 2024 were $16.7 billion, an increase of 4% or 7% excluding foreign exchange impact [23] - Gross margin increased by 3.5 percentage points to 80.5%, driven by reduced royalty rates for KEYTRUDA and GARDASIL, as well as favorable product mix [33] - Earnings per share (EPS) for Q3 2024 were $1.57 on a non-GAAP basis [34] - Full-year 2024 revenue guidance narrowed to $63.6 billion to $64.1 billion, representing 6% to 7% year-over-year growth [35] - Full-year 2024 EPS guidance is $7.72 to $7.77, including a negative impact of $0.30 from foreign exchange [37] Business Line Performance - Human Health business sales increased by 8%, primarily driven by oncology [23] - Animal Health business delivered strong growth with sales increasing 11%, driven by companion animal sales growth of 17% and livestock sales growth of 7% [32] - KEYTRUDA sales grew 21% to $7.4 billion, driven by increased uptake in earlier-stage cancers and robust global demand for metastatic indications [24] - GARDASIL sales declined by 10% to $2.3 billion, primarily due to a decline in China, but saw double-digit growth in almost every other region [26] - WINREVAIR global sales reached $149 million, with approximately 1,700 new patients receiving prescriptions in Q3, bringing the total to over 3,700 since launch [28] Market Performance - KEYTRUDA growth in the U.S. was driven by increased use in resectable non-small cell lung cancer and first-line advanced urothelial cancer [24] - Outside the U.S., KEYTRUDA growth was driven by earlier-stage cancers, including high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, and inflation-related price increases in Argentina [25] - GARDASIL achieved strong double-digit growth in almost every major region outside of China, with inventory levels decreasing in China but remaining high at Zhifei [10][11] - CAPVAXIVE sales increased by 13% to $239 million, driven by ongoing launches in international markets [27] Strategic Direction and Industry Competition - The company's Phase 3 pipeline has nearly tripled over the past three years to more than 20 unique assets, with the majority having blockbuster potential [8] - Merck is advancing novel clinical programs across diversified therapeutic areas and modalities, including oncology, infectious diseases, and immunology [7][18] - The company is leveraging business development to broaden its pipeline, including the acquisition of a novel bispecific T-cell engager from Curon and the acquisition of EyeBio and Elanco's aqua business [19] - Merck remains focused on maintaining durable leadership in oncology, with KEYTRUDA being the only PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor to demonstrate significant overall survival benefits in four earlier-stage cancer settings [49] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to achieve long-term success and create sustainable value for patients and shareholders, driven by strong progress across the business [6] - The company expects GARDASIL sales in China to decline in 2025 but remains confident in achieving over $11 billion in sales by 2030, driven by long-term growth opportunities globally [13][65] - Merck is focused on driving demand for GARDASIL in China through increased promotional resources and patient education efforts, although this will take time [11] - The company is optimistic about the launch of WINREVAIR, CAPVAXIVE, and clesrovimab, which are expected to contribute to future growth [71] Other Important Information - The company completed the acquisition of CN201, a novel CD3/CD19 T-cell engager, now known as MK-1045, which has potential applications in B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases [61] - Merck initiated the Phase 2b/3 BRUNELLO trial for MK-3000, an investigational tetravalent trispecific antibody for diabetic macular edema, following the acquisition of EyeBio [60] - The company received FDA approval for KEYTRUDA in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of unresectable advanced or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma [52] Q&A Session Summary Question: GARDASIL inventory and demand dynamics in China [64] - Management expects GARDASIL shipments to China to decline in 2025, with sales projected to be in the $2 billion to $3 billion range over the next several years, including potential growth from male vaccination approval [65][82] Question: WINREVAIR safety and dosing [67] - No significant safety issues have been observed with WINREVAIR, and adherence has been strong with fewer discontinuations than expected [68] Question: Outlook for 2025 [69] - Management plans to provide 2025 guidance with Q4 earnings, expecting solid growth driven by KEYTRUDA, WINREVAIR, CAPVAXIVE, and Animal Health, offset by headwinds from GARDASIL in China and the expiration of agreements for REMICADE and SIMPONI [71] Question: Capital allocation and therapeutic areas of interest [74] - Merck remains focused on business development in oncology, immunology, and cardio-metabolic areas, with a preference for transactions in the $1 billion to $15 billion range [76] Question: Pneumococcal vaccine opportunity [78] - The ACIP recommendation for CAPVAXIVE in adults aged 50-64 represents a significant opportunity, with 60 million potential patients in the U.S. alone [79] Question: GARDASIL sales in China and inventory dynamics [81][91] - GARDASIL sales in China were approximately $500 million in Q3 and are expected to be similar in Q4, with inventory levels decreasing but still high at Zhifei [82][92] Question: Global GARDASIL growth in 2025 [93] - Management expects it will take time to work down inventory and build demand in China, but remains confident in the long-term growth potential of GARDASIL globally [94] Question: V940 in lung cancer [96] - The Phase 3 trial for V940 in lung cancer is based on data from KEYNOTE-671, which showed an overall survival benefit, and targets patients without a pathological complete response after surgery [97]