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In a recent transaction, Johannes Oosthuizen, President of the U.S. Market at Merck (NSE:PROR) & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), sold 8,500 shares of the company’s common stock. The shares were sold at a weighted average price of $84.0876, resulting in a total transaction value of approximately $714,744. Following this sale, Oosthuizen retains ownership of 30,705.474 shares in the pharmaceutical giant.
The sale was executed on February 19, 2025, with the transaction details disclosed in a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The shares were sold in multiple transactions, with prices ranging from $84.0700 to $84.1000 per share. Oosthuizen has committed to providing detailed pricing information upon request to Merck, its security holders, or the SEC staff. The company maintains a strong dividend track record, having paid dividends for 55 consecutive years with a current yield of 3.79%. For deeper insights into Merck’s valuation and 12+ exclusive ProTips, visit InvestingPro.
In other recent news, Merck’s financial outlook has seen several adjustments following the release of their fourth-quarter earnings. Guggenheim maintained a Buy rating for Merck but lowered the price target to $115, citing revised sales estimates for Gardasil. Similarly, Bernstein SocGen reduced Merck’s price target to $95, pointing to concerns about Gardasil’s approaching loss of exclusivity. TD Cowen also downgraded Merck from Buy to Hold, with a reduced price target of $100, due to uncertainties surrounding Gardasil and the upcoming loss of exclusivity for Keytruda.
In addition to these financial assessments, Merck is involved in a legal matter concerning their HPV vaccine, Gardasil, which has been postponed. The trial, linked to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will resume in September. On a positive note, Merck has initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial for MK-1167, aimed at treating Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, resulting in a $15 million milestone payment to Neuphoria Therapeutics. This payment underscores Merck’s ongoing collaborations and potential future financial benefits in the neuropsychiatric field. These developments collectively highlight the dynamic landscape Merck is navigating, with both challenges and opportunities on the horizon.
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