Core Insights - Merck's stock price has increased by 5% over the past four months, indicating positive market sentiment towards the company [1] Company Overview - Allka Research has over two decades of experience in investment, focusing on identifying undervalued assets in various sectors including ETFs, commodities, technology, and pharmaceuticals [2] - The firm emphasizes a conservative investment approach, aiming to deliver substantial returns and strategic insights to clients [2] - Allka Research is committed to simplifying investment strategies, making them accessible to both seasoned and novice investors [2] Mission and Community Engagement - Allka Research aims to empower individuals financially by sharing knowledge and insights through platforms like Seeking Alpha [2] - The organization seeks to inspire confidence in investors, fostering a community that can navigate the financial markets intelligently [2]

Group 1 - Merck's stock price has increased by 5% over the past four months, indicating positive market performance [1] Group 2 - Allka Research has over two decades of experience in investment, focusing on uncovering undervalued assets in various sectors including ETFs, commodities, technology, and pharmaceuticals [2] - The firm emphasizes a conservative investment approach, aiming to deliver substantial returns and strategic insights to clients [2] - Allka Research seeks to simplify investment strategies for both seasoned and novice investors, fostering a community of informed investors [2]

Welcome to Yahoo Finance flagship show, The Morning Brief. I'm Julie Heyman. Let's get the three things you need to know today.President Trump following through on his threats to slap tariffs on heavy trucks, furniture, and pharmaceuticals. For homegoods, two different tariff rates will go into effect next week. A 50% rate on items like kitchen cabinets, and a lower 30% rate on upholstered furniture.The news weighing on furniture companies this morning. But there's a big loophole for the drug makers. As lon ...

Core Insights - Merck & Co. (MRK) and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) are prominent pharmaceutical companies with diverse portfolios and global reach [1][2] - MRK has a strong oncology franchise, particularly with its blockbuster drug Keytruda, while BMY focuses on transformational drugs across various therapeutic areas [1][2] Merck (MRK) Overview - MRK has over six blockbuster drugs, with Keytruda being the primary revenue driver, contributing significantly to top-line growth [3][4] - Keytruda's sales increased approximately 7% in the first half of 2025, benefiting from its approval for various oncology indications and strong uptake in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer [4][10] - The company is expanding its pipeline, with over 1,600 trials for Keytruda and plans to launch around 20 new vaccines and drugs in the coming years [5][7] - MRK's Animal Health business is also a key growth contributor, showing above-market growth [5] - A new optimization initiative aims for $3 billion in annual cost savings by the end of 2027, although Keytruda's loss of exclusivity in 2028 poses a risk to future revenue [8][10] - Declining sales of Gardasil and lower demand in key markets like China and Japan are challenges for MRK [9][11] Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) Overview - BMY's Growth Portfolio includes drugs like Opdivo, Reblozyl, and Camzyos, which have stabilized revenue amid generic competition [12][16] - Opdivo's sales are driven by strong launches in specific cancer indications, with expectations for mid-to-high single-digit growth in 2025 [13][14] - A collaboration with BioNTech enhances BMY's pipeline, focusing on bispecific antibodies for solid tumors [15] - Despite newer drugs boosting sales, BMY faces significant headwinds from generic competition affecting legacy drugs [17] - BMY's restructuring program aims for $2 billion in annual cost savings by the end of 2027, but the company has a high debt-to-capital ratio of 73.8% [18] Financial Estimates and Performance - MRK's 2025 sales are expected to increase by 1.21%, with EPS improving by 16.73%, while BMY's sales are projected to decrease by 2.06%, but EPS is expected to rise significantly due to low prior-year figures [19][20] - Both companies have seen upward revisions in EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 [21] - Year-to-date, MRK and BMY have underperformed the large-cap pharma industry, with losses of 19.7% and 20.5%, respectively [24] - MRK trades at 8.24X forward earnings, while BMY trades at 7.02X, both below the industry average of 14.67X [26] Dividend and Investment Considerations - Both MRK and BMY offer attractive dividend yields, with BMY at 5.61% and MRK at 4% [27] - Current rankings for both companies are Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), making the choice between them complex [28] - MRK is viewed as a better pick due to its diverse portfolio and strong Keytruda sales, despite challenges [30]

At Friedrich Global Research we are searching for what we believe will be the safest and best performing companies in which to buy stocks. We focus on free cash flow, efficient capital allocation, and consistently superior results to identify the highest quality management teams.Founder of Bern Factor LLC, an independent research and publishing firm located in Virginia. I have nearly 40 years of investing and analysis experience. I am a former CPA (1990 -2017) and became a CFA charter holder in 2000. I cons ...

Company Overview - Merck & Co. is based in Kenilworth, NJ, and has over six blockbuster products, with Keytruda, a PD-L1 inhibitor, accounting for approximately 50% of its pharmaceutical sales [12] - Keytruda has significantly contributed to Merck's steady revenue growth in recent years, although there are concerns about the company's heavy reliance on this drug and the need for product diversification [12] Zacks Rank and Style Scores - Merck is currently rated 3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B, indicating a solid position but not a strong buy [13] - The company has a Value Style Score of A, supported by attractive valuation metrics such as a forward P/E ratio of 8.92, which may appeal to value investors [13] - In the last 60 days, seven analysts have revised their earnings estimates higher for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.06 to $8.93 per share [13] - Merck has an average earnings surprise of +3.9%, suggesting a positive trend in earnings performance [13] Investment Considerations - With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, Merck is recommended for investors' consideration [14]

Core Insights - Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) is making significant progress in obesity drug development with its investigational drug VK2735, a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist [1] - Pfizer's acquisition of Metsera for $4.9 billion intensifies competition in the obesity market, adding four new clinical-stage programs to Pfizer's pipeline [2] - The recent mixed results from VKTX's mid-stage study raise concerns about the safety and tolerability of VK2735, particularly regarding higher dropout rates [4] Company Developments - VKTX is advancing VK2735 in both oral and subcutaneous forms for obesity treatment, with a focus now shifting to the subcutaneous version following mixed trial results for the oral formulation [5][9] - The company aims to compete with established players like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, which dominate the obesity market with their injectable drugs [5] - Despite challenges, VKTX has achieved its primary and secondary endpoints in clinical studies, indicating potential for market share in the growing obesity sector [6] Industry Landscape - The obesity market in the U.S. is projected to reach $100 billion by 2030, with major players like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk already generating significant revenue from obesity drugs [7] - Amgen, AbbVie, and Merck are also entering the obesity space, with Amgen initiating phase III studies for its investigational drug MariTide [8][10] - The competitive landscape is becoming increasingly crowded, with multiple companies investing in next-generation obesity treatments [7][8] Financial Performance - VKTX shares have underperformed the industry year to date, trading at a premium with a price-to-book value ratio of 3.76 compared to the industry average of 3.22 [11][13] - Estimates for VKTX's loss per share for 2025 and 2026 have widened recently, indicating potential financial challenges ahead [14]

Core Viewpoint - The approval of an injectable version of Kitruda is expected to enhance patient convenience and maintain market share as the IV form approaches patent expiration in 2028 [1][2][3] Company Strategy - The injectable Kitruda can be administered in about one minute in a doctor's office, compared to 30 minutes for the IV version, making it a more attractive option for patients [1] - The company plans to manage the transition as Kitruda's IV form goes off patent in 2028, with expectations of lowering prices as competition increases [2][3] - Kitruda generated nearly $30 billion in sales last year, accounting for about half of the company's overall revenue, but the company aims to diversify its portfolio across various therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiometabolic, ophthalmology, and HIV [3][4] Market Dynamics - The company anticipates that 30-40% of current Kitruda users will switch to the injectable version, which is seen as a more convenient option rather than a significant price reduction strategy [8][10] - The company is preparing for competition from less expensive options entering the market, raising questions about the balance between convenience and cost for insurance companies [10] Vaccine Concerns - The company is a major player in the vaccine market and is concerned about vaccine hesitancy, which could lead to a resurgence of diseases previously thought to be under control [5][6] - Recent CDC recommendations regarding vaccines have raised concerns about the lack of new scientific support for changes, potentially impacting public trust in vaccination [5][12] - The company emphasizes the safety and effectiveness of its vaccines and is focused on combating misinformation that may deter people from getting vaccinated [6][12]

The FDA has approved the injectable version of Merc's cancer therapy, Kruda. That drug accounts for nearly half of Merc's revenue. And joining us right now on set is Robert Davis.He is the chairman and CEO of Merc. Also our very own Angelica Peebles. And welcome.It's good to see both of you. Uh Robert, let's talk about this first of all, the injectable version. Why is this better. Why will patients want this.>> Yeah. Well, well, first, you know, we're we're very excited about this because I do think this is ...

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