Dow Jones Giant Merck Crushes Fourth-Quarter Views And Shakes Off Guidance Scare

Core Insights - Merck has lowered its fourth-quarter expectations despite a strong performance from its Keytruda drug, indicating potential challenges ahead for the company [1] - The company has provided a disappointing earnings guidance for 2026, which may negatively impact its stock performance [1] Financial Performance - For the upcoming year, Merck anticipates adjusted earnings between $5 to $5.15 per share, falling short of analysts' expectations of $5.27 per share [1] Product Challenges - The guidance reflects ongoing difficulties with the Gardasil vaccine, which is affecting the company's overall outlook [1]