Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) stock traded in a volatile session on Thursday following its third-quarter earnings report and updated fiscal 2025 outlook.The pharma giant reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.58, surpassing consensus estimates of $2.35, a jump from $1.57 reported a year ago.Merck reported sales of $17.28 billion, a 4% increase year-over-year, and exceeded the analysts’ projections of $16.96 billion.Also Read: Merck’s New Cancer Therapy Combo Shows Significant Edge Over Rivals In Renal Ca ...

Core Viewpoint - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is investigating potential claims against Merck & Co., Inc. due to allegations of misleading statements regarding the demand for Gardasil in China, which may have led to inflated stock prices [2][4]. Group 1: Legal Investigation - The law firm is encouraging investors who suffered losses in Merck from February 3, 2022, to February 3, 2025, to discuss their legal options [1]. - There is an April 14, 2025, deadline for investors to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action against Merck [2]. - The firm has a history of recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995 [3]. Group 2: Allegations Against Merck - The complaint alleges that Merck and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false statements about the expected revenue of $11 billion from Gardasil sales by 2030 [4]. - It is claimed that Merck misled investors about the demand for Gardasil in China, leading to an inflated inventory with its distributor, Zhifei [4]. - Following the announcement of a 3% decline in Gardasil sales to $8.6 billion and a temporary pause in shipments to China, Merck's stock price fell by $9.05, or 9.1%, to close at $90.74 per share on February 4, 2025 [5][6].