Resilience in Healthcare: How Merck (MRK) Maintains Consistent Dividends Through Market Uncertainty

Group 1 - Merck & Co., Inc. is recognized as one of the best consistent dividend stocks, having increased its dividends for 16 consecutive years [4] - The company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.81 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.88% as of September 12 [4] - Despite challenges such as key patents nearing expiration and reliance on the cancer drug Keytruda, Merck's strong R&D capabilities and acquisition strategy provide stability and support long-term growth [2][3] Group 2 - In its Q2 2025 earnings update, Merck announced the acquisition of Verona Pharma, aimed at strengthening its portfolio and pipeline [3] - The company is implementing a multiyear optimization program to reallocate resources from mature segments to emerging growth areas, facilitating portfolio transformation and innovation-led expansion [3]