Market Update (NYSE:MRK): [video] Stocks Rise on Solid Earnings: Merck ...
Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK), valued at $172.67B, started the session at $57.50. Looking at today's trading action, the company's one day range from $57.27 to $58.86 with a trailing 52-week range being $44.60 to $58.86. MRK shares are currently priced at 16.48x this year's forecasted earnings, which makes them relatively expensive compared to the industry's 11.73x earnings multiple. And for passive income investors, the company pays shareholders $1.76 per share annually in dividends, yielding 3.10%. Consensus earnings for the current quarter by the 15 sell-side analysts covering the stock is an estimate of $0.79 per share, which would be $0.06 worse than the year-ago quarter and a $0.04 sequential decrease. In looking at the bigger picture, the full-year EPS estimate of $3.44 would be a $0.05 worse when compared to the previous year's annual results. The quarterly earnings estimate is predicated on a consensus revenue forecast of $10.44 Billion. If reported, that would be a 2.16% decrease over the year-ago quarter. Recently, MKM Partners upgraded MRK from Neutral to Buy (Nov 20, 2012). Previously, MP Advisors upgraded MRK from Market Perform to Outperform. The average price target for MRK shares by the analysts covering it is $58.11, which is 1.06% above where the stock opened. Summary (NYSE:MRK) : Merck & Co., Inc. provides various health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products worldwide. The company's Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products, such as therapeutic and preventive agents for the treatment of human disorders in the areas of cardiovascular, diabetes and obesity, respiratory, women's health and endocrine, inflammatory and infectious diseases, oncology, ophthalmology, immunology, infectious diseases, and others. This segment also provides vaccines, including preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. Its Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets animal health products comprising vaccines, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs for respiratory diseases, as well as products for the treatment of fertility disorders. The company's Consumer Care segment develops, manufactures, and sells over-the-counter products consisting of non-drowsy antihistamines; decongestant-free cold/flu medicine for people with high blood pressure; nasal decongestant sprays; and products for occasional constipation, frequent heartburn, and overactive bladder in women; foot care products, including topical antifungal, and foot and sneaker odor/wetness products; and sun care products, such as sun care lotions, sprays, and dry oils. The company serves drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, government agencies, physicians, physician distributors, veterinarians, animal producers, food chain and mass merchandiser outlets, club stores, and specialty channels, as well as managed health care providers, such as health maintenance organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, and other institutions. It has collaborations with AstraZeneca LP, Pfizer Inc., Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd., and Sanofi Pasteur S.A. The company was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Tag Helper ~ Stock Code: MRK | Common Company name: Merck | Full Company name: Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) .
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