Core Viewpoint - Merck reported an increase in revenue for its fourth quarter but anticipates a slowdown in earnings growth due to increased acquisition activities [1] Group 1 - Merck's revenue for the fourth quarter showed a positive trend, indicating strong sales performance [1] - The company is actively pursuing acquisitions, which is expected to impact its earnings growth negatively in the near term [1] - The strategic focus on acquisitions suggests a shift in the company's growth strategy, potentially leading to long-term benefits despite short-term earnings pressure [1]

Core Viewpoint - Merck & Co has projected 2026 sales and profits to be below Wall Street estimates due to the anticipated impact of losing patent exclusivity on its diabetes drug Januvia and other medications, which is expected to be more significant than analysts had previously estimated [1] Group 1 - The loss of patent exclusivity on Januvia is a major factor contributing to the forecasted decline in sales and profits [1] - Analysts had previously underestimated the impact of patent expirations on Merck's financial performance [1] - The company is facing challenges from increased competition in the diabetes medication market following the expiration of patents [1]

Core Viewpoint - Merck reported strong fourth-quarter earnings driven by demand for its cancer immunotherapy Keytruda, but provided a modest 2026 outlook that fell short of Wall Street expectations due to upcoming patent expirations and generic competition [1][2]. Financial Performance - For the fourth quarter, Merck posted net income of $2.96 billion, or $1.19 per share, compared to $3.74 billion, or $1.48 per share, in the same period last year [4]. - Adjusted earnings for the fourth quarter were $2.04 per share, slightly above the expected $2.01 per share [6]. - Revenue for the quarter was $16.4 billion, a 5% increase from the previous year, and exceeded expectations of $16.19 billion [5][6]. 2026 Outlook - Merck anticipates 2026 revenue between $65.5 billion and $67 billion, lower than analysts' expectations of $67.6 billion [2]. - The company expects adjusted earnings per share to be between $5 and $5.15, compared to the analyst estimate of $5.36 [2]. Acquisition and Charges - The 2026 guidance includes a one-time charge of approximately $9 billion, or around $3.65 per share, related to the acquisition of Cidara, which is developing a flu prevention drug [3]. Cost Management - Merck is implementing a cost-cutting plan aimed at reducing expenses by $3 billion by the end of 2027 to offset revenue losses from the upcoming patent expiration of Keytruda in 2028 [5]. Drug Pricing Deal - Under a "most favored nation" deal, Merck will sell existing treatments to Medicaid patients at the lowest price offered in other developed nations and will receive a three-year reprieve from tariffs [4].

Core Insights - The Nintendo Switch has become the company's best-selling console of all time, with lifetime sales reaching 155.37 million units, surpassing the previous record held by the Nintendo DS [3] - The Switch's success marks a significant turnaround for Nintendo, which faced challenges following the poor performance of the Wii U, leading to a tripling of the company's valuation since the Switch's release [2][3] Product Evolution - The Switch was launched in March 2017, following the Wii U's failure, which sold only 13.56 million units compared to the Wii's 100 million [5] - The Switch combines the features of both handheld and traditional consoles, allowing users to play on a large screen or on the go, thus merging Nintendo's dual product strategy into a single offering [6][7] Market Timing and Strategy - The timing of the Switch's release was crucial, as it countered the rising popularity of mobile gaming, which had negatively impacted the sales of previous consoles like the 3DS and Wii U [8] - Nintendo's strategy included leveraging its popular franchises and characters, with titles like "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" selling over 70 million units, contributing to the console's popularity [9][10] Expansion of Intellectual Property - Nintendo has broadened its intellectual property reach beyond consoles, engaging in collaborations with theme parks, movies, and toys, which helped maintain interest in the Switch [11] - The recent success of the Super Mario movie in 2023 also revitalized interest in the Switch, demonstrating the effectiveness of this strategy [10][11] Future Prospects - Nintendo aims to replicate the success of the Switch with the recently launched Switch 2, which has already sold over 14 million units, making it the fastest-selling console in the company's history [12]

Vancouver, British Columbia - February 3, 2026 ‑ TheNewswire – Harvest Gold Corporation (TSXV: HVG) (“Harvest Gold” or the “Company”) announces that it has met the required exploration expenditure obligation of $1,250,000 through its 2025 exploration program in the Northern and Central portion of the Mosseau property, its flagship property in the Urban Barry Belt in Quebec’s Abitibi region.Harvest Gold President and CEO, Rick Mark, states: “We have come a long way in the last 18 months and are now in an exc ...

Core Insights - Merck & Co., Inc. reported financial results for Q4 and full year 2025, highlighting a 5% increase in Q4 sales to $16.4 billion and a 1% increase in full-year sales to $65.0 billion, driven by strong demand for its innovative portfolio, particularly KEYTRUDA and new product launches [3][11][14] Financial Performance - Q4 2025 sales reached $16.4 billion, up from $15.6 billion in Q4 2024, marking a 5% increase [3] - Full-year sales for 2025 were $65.0 billion, compared to $64.2 billion in 2024, reflecting a 1% growth [11] - Non-GAAP EPS for Q4 2025 was $2.04, a 19% increase from $1.72 in Q4 2024, while full-year non-GAAP EPS was $8.98, up 17% from $7.65 in 2024 [30][11] Product Performance - KEYTRUDA sales in Q4 2025 were $8.4 billion, a 7% increase from $7.8 billion in Q4 2024, driven by strong global uptake in oncology [7] - GARDASIL sales declined by 34% in Q4 2025 to $1.0 billion, primarily due to lower demand in China and Japan [7] - Animal Health sales grew by 8% in 2025 to $6.4 billion, supported by higher demand for livestock products [16] Strategic Developments - The company completed the acquisition of Cidara Therapeutics for approximately $9.2 billion, enhancing its portfolio [37] - Merck announced positive late-stage trial results from 18 Phase 3 trials and initiated 21 new Phase 3 studies across various therapeutic areas [33] Regulatory and Pipeline Updates - The FDA approved KEYTRUDA and KEYTRUDA QLEX for the perioperative treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer [33] - The company is advancing its pipeline with significant regulatory milestones and ongoing studies in oncology, infectious diseases, and cardiometabolic areas [33][36] Future Outlook - For full-year 2026, Merck anticipates sales between $65.5 billion and $67.0 billion, with a non-GAAP effective tax rate expected between 23.5% and 24.5% [41][45] - Non-GAAP EPS for 2026 is projected to be between $5.00 and $5.15, including a one-time charge related to the acquisition of Cidara [46]

Core Insights - Snowflake is enhancing its platform to make enterprise data AI-ready, focusing on interoperability, governance, and resilience to support AI deployment in real-world applications [1] Group 1: Snowflake Postgres and Data Integration - Snowflake Postgres will unify transactional, analytical, and AI capabilities on a single platform, allowing enterprises to reduce data silos and complex data pipelines [1] - Leading companies like BlueCloud and Sigma Computing are adopting Snowflake Postgres to streamline their data architectures and enhance AI and analytics capabilities [1] - The integration of pg_lake allows enterprises to manage and query Apache Iceberg tables using standard SQL within a familiar Postgres environment, eliminating costly data movement [1] Group 2: Data Governance and Resilience - Snowflake is enhancing data protection features, including Snowflake Backups, to ensure business-critical data is resilient against disruptions and regulatory requirements [1] - The platform supports seamless data collaboration across open formats, extending its zero-ETL sharing model to include formats like Apache Iceberg and Delta Lake [1] - Snowflake Horizon Catalog enables customers to enforce governance policies across different engines, facilitating secure access to data stored in Apache Iceberg tables [1] Group 3: Partnership with OpenAI - Snowflake has entered a multi-year, $200 million partnership with OpenAI to co-innovate and develop AI agents for global enterprises, enhancing the value derived from proprietary data [2]

Group 1 - Palantir Technologies Inc. reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results and issued FY26 sales guidance above estimates, leading to a 7% increase in shares to $158.05 in after-hours trading [1] - Advanced Micro Devices Inc. is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.32 per share on revenue of $9.67 billion, with shares gaining 1.9% to $250.84 in after-hours trading [1]

ROMAINE: A BOUNCEBACK AND U.S. MANUFACTURING LEADS TO REBOUND IN U.S. EQUITIES. HERE AT BLOOMBERG HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK, I'M ROMAINE BOSTICK. KATIE: WE'RE KICKING YOU OFF TO THE CLOSING BELL HERE IN THE U.S., THE S&P 500 HEADING FOR RECORD HIGH.HIGHER BY ABOUT .5% RIGHT NOW. WE HAD U.S. ISM MANUFACTURING COME IN STRONG AS MORNING, YOU SEE THAT IN THE NASDAQ 100, GIVING A LIFT TO YIELDS. FOR KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF 4.30%, THEN YOU LOOK AT THE DOLLAR, CONTINUING TO RALLY.BLOOMBERG DOLLAR SPOT INDEX HIGHER ...

Merck & Co. reports Q4 2025 earnings on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, before market open. Wall Street expects earnings of $2.01 per share on revenue of $16.12 billion, representing 3.1% year-over-year growth. Shares have gained 13% over the past year, outperforming the healthcare sector's broader returns. Here's what investors should watch for. This infographic outlines Wall Street's expectations for MRK's Q4 2025 earnings report on February 3, 2026, alongside analyst price targets and historical beat rates. The N ...