Core Insights - Significant investors have adopted a bearish stance on Merck & Co, with 53% of trades being bearish and 46% bullish [1] - The predicted price range for Merck & Co over the last three months is between $90.0 and $110.0 [2] Options Trading Activity - A total of 13 trades were detected for Merck & Co, with 6 puts amounting to $623,040 and 7 calls totaling $278,124 [1] - Noteworthy options activity includes several bearish trades, with significant put options at strike prices of $90.00, $95.00, and $105.00, indicating a bearish sentiment among traders [7] Market Position and Analyst Ratings - Merck & Co's current market position is supported by expert opinions, with an average target price of $119.4 from 5 analysts [9] - Analysts from various firms have differing ratings, with Morgan Stanley maintaining an Equal-Weight rating at $102, while BMO Capital upgraded to Outperform with a target of $130 [10] Company Overview - Merck & Co specializes in pharmaceutical products across various therapeutic areas, including cancer and cardiometabolic diseases, with Keytruda being a major sales contributor [8] - The company generates 47% of its sales from the US human health sector, which includes pharmaceuticals and vaccines [8] Trading Metrics - The trading volume for Merck & Co stands at 7,080,902, with the stock price at $104.99, reflecting a 0.26% increase [12] - The upcoming earnings announcement is expected in 42 days, indicating a potential catalyst for stock movement [12]

>> WELCOME BACK. WE'RE HUNTING FOR YIELD WITH JENNY HARRINGTON. HER TOP DIVIDEND PLAYS FOR THE NEW YEAR.OKAY. YOU HAVE FOR FOR OUR VIEWERS. LET'S GO THROUGH THEM.>> OKAY I TRIED TO DO IT LIKE A CHRISTMAS PRESENT. SO I'M GIVING YOU A WIDE VARIETY, A REIT, A MATERIAL AND ENERGY AND A HEALTHCARE STOCK. WE'VE GOT AMCOR, BRISTOL-MYERS, ENBRIDGE AND VICHY.MOST OF THEM HAVE ABOUT A 6% YIELD OTHER THAN BRISTOL-MYERS, WHICH IS ABOUT 4.5%. THEY'RE ALL IN THAT KIND OF TEN TIMES EARNINGS RANGE. THEY ALL HAVE DECENT EAR ...

Ah, the stock market. A bastion of rational thought, predictable trends, and calm, measured reactions. Or, if you’ve been paying attention to the last few years, a chaotic pinball machine where the flippers are controlled by presidential tweets and the ball bounces wildly between “historic deals” and “massive tariffs.” Welcome back to the exhilarating, if slightly whiplash-inducing, world of the Trump economy, where policy pronouncements often serve as the opening bell for a fresh round of market gymnastics ...

Core Viewpoint - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is highlighted as an ideal investment for income-focused investors, offering a combination of high yield and potential capital gains through a diversified portfolio of stocks [2][4]. Group 1: ETF Overview - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has been established for 14 years and is managed by Charles Schwab, boasting over $71 billion in net assets, making it one of the largest high-yield ETFs [4]. - The ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.06%, ensuring that investors are not overpaying for its benefits [5]. - It pays quarterly dividends with a 30-day SEC yield of 3.8%, which is close to the 10-year Treasury rate of 4.2%, providing a competitive passive income option [6]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - The ETF targets large-cap, high-yield stocks, with approximately 90% of its investments in companies with market capitalizations exceeding $15 billion, appealing to investors seeking diversification [8]. - Over half of the ETF's investments are concentrated in three sectors: energy, consumer staples, and healthcare, which are known for prioritizing dividend growth [9]. Group 3: Sector and Holdings - Key energy holdings include major companies like Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and EOG Resources, which help manage risk across the oil and gas value chain [10]. - The top healthcare holdings, such as Merck and Amgen, offer high yields and favorable valuations, while leading consumer staples like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have consistently raised dividends for over 50 years, earning the title of Dividend Kings [11]. Group 4: Performance and Value - Since its inception in October 2011, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has more than tripled in value, demonstrating its potential for capital gains alongside dividend income [13]. - The ETF is positioned as a foundational holding for value-focused portfolios or as a means to balance portfolios that have become overly concentrated in growth stocks [12].

Core Insights - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted national priority vouchers to Merck's cholesterol pill and cancer therapy, marking them as the latest additions to the fast-track program [1] Group 1: Company Developments - Merck's cholesterol pill and cancer therapy have received national priority vouchers from the FDA, which may expedite their development and approval process [1] Group 2: Industry Implications - The granting of national priority vouchers indicates a supportive regulatory environment for innovative therapies in the pharmaceutical industry, potentially leading to faster market access for new treatments [1]

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about recently. Cramer mentioned the stock during the episode and said: “These groups were the salvation of this market when the year of magical investing ended, and the super speculative stocks started coming back to earth, they’re still doing it, followed by the data center plays. These were the groups that saved you. We don’t talk about this migration much, but all you need to know is just to look at the stocks of Merck and Johnson & J ...

RAHWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck Reaches Agreement With U.S. Government to Expand Access to Medicines and Lower Costs for Americans. ...

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) will not exercise its option for Evaxion A/S (NASDAQ:EVAX) Gonorrhea vaccine candidate EVX-B2.Gonorrhoea is a common, sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.Consequently, Evaxion retains global rights to EVX-B2 and will look for another potential licensing partner.Gonorrhea infects more than 80 million people worldwide each year. Despite decades of research, no vaccine has been approved to date. Preclinical studies demonstrate that EVX-B2 protects against ...

Key Takeaways MRK faces major headwinds as Keytruda, its top revenue driver, nears the loss of exclusivity in 2028.Declining Gardasil sales due to weak China demand and lower vaccine uptake in Japan ail MRK.MRK is counting on Capvaxive, Winrevair and strategic cost savings to help counter patent/pricing headwinds.Merck (MRK) is expected to face some notable headwinds over the next few years that could affect its long-term growth outlook, the most significant being the upcoming loss of exclusivity (“LOE”) fo ...

We recently published 12 Stocks on Jim Cramer’s Radar.  Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer's radar. Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) factored into the discussion after Cramer and his co-hosts discussed Pfizer and Merck. The firm’s shares are up by 46% year-to-date and have had a good December so far. During this time period, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has reported several important developments. For instance, the firm announced on December 12th that it had secur ...