January 2028 Options Now Available For Merck (MRK)

Core Insights - New options for Merck & Co Inc (MRK) with a January 2028 expiration have become available, presenting potential opportunities for option sellers to achieve higher premiums due to the long time value [1] Options Analysis - The put contract at the $80.00 strike price has a current bid of $11.05, allowing an investor to effectively purchase shares at a cost basis of $68.95 if sold [2] - The $80.00 strike represents a 2% discount to the current trading price of $81.75, with a 61% chance of expiring worthless, potentially yielding a 13.81% return on cash commitment [3] - The call contract at the $85.00 strike price has a current bid of $11.10, offering a total return of 17.55% if the stock is called away at expiration [6] - The $85.00 strike represents a 4% premium to the current trading price, with a 44% chance of expiring worthless, which could yield a 13.58% boost in returns [8] Volatility Metrics - The implied volatility for the put contract is 29%, while for the call contract it is 28%, compared to an actual trailing twelve-month volatility of 27% [9]