Bernstein Maintains a Hold Rating on Merck & Co. (MRK)

Group 1 - Merck & Co., Inc. reported total worldwide sales of $15.8 billion in fiscal Q2 2025, which is a 2% decrease compared to fiscal Q2 2024, both nominally and excluding foreign exchange impact [2] - The GAAP EPS for the quarter was $1.76, while the non-GAAP EPS was $2.13, which included a charge of $0.07 per share for the closing of the Hengrui Pharma License Agreement [2] - Merck operates in two main segments: the Pharmaceutical segment, which offers vaccines and human health pharmaceutical products, and the Animal Health segment, which develops and markets vaccines and veterinary pharmaceutical products [3] Group 2 - Bernstein analyst Courtney Breen maintained a Hold rating on Merck without assigning a price target, indicating a cautious outlook on the stock [1] - The company is recognized as a reliable dividend player within the Dogs of the Dow lineup, suggesting a stable income potential for investors [2] - There is a belief that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential compared to Merck, highlighting a competitive investment landscape [4]