MRK's Quality Score rose 1 point on Fri, Nov 6, to 16. Its typical score of the last 20 days reached 10.
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Up 3.8% on Oct 29, and still 4% over its Oct 28 close.
| Outperforming | Up 74% in a year vs the S&P's +9% |
| Latest filing | 10-Q, Nov 4 |
Merck shares rise on Q3 beat, raised 2026 profit outlook
MRK closed +3.8% that day.
Wed Nov 11: BioPharma Cell & Gene Therapy Nexus 2026Industry event · date confirmed.
After its last 4 reports it closed +1.1% on average, higher 3 of 4 times.
An officer, Chirfi Guindo, sold 10,000 shares on Aug 13. 18 more insider trades this year.
Decision dates and advisory committee meetings the companies have announced in their filings, soonest first and small companies first.
Excellentfor quality, not price, 6 of 14 chart checks firingWhat the Quality Score means
Well above its recent run. MRK scores 16 today, against a median of 11 over its last 20 recorded sessions.
MRK is #6 of 90 by Quality Score.
| Rank | Stock | Quality Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 3 | ||
| Open for its score | ||
| Open for its score | ||
| Open for its score | ||
| Open for its score | ||
| 6 |
Net income over four quarters: MRK $2.45B, BMY $9.24B, REGN $4.82B, PFE $4.03B.
Reports Tue Feb 2, before the open (in 85 days). Confirmed.
What an earnings report is: every 3 months, a company tells everyone how much it sold and earned. We read the figures, the outlook, and how the stock moved after.
Sales of $18.1B.
“The increase was primarily due to a $400 million charge related to a global license agreement with SciBrunch and higher clinical development spending, partially offset by lower restructuring costs and a $200 million reduction in R&D expenses as part of a funding agreement with Blackstone Life Sciences (Blackstone).”
| Line | Q3 2026 | Q2 2026 | Q3 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical segment | $16B | $15B | $16B |
Each quarter's sales and their share of its total. Figures as filed (SEC filing, Nov 4)
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Worldwide sales | $66.8B to $67.3B |
“The decrease was primarily due to higher production costs.”
From its results filing (SEC filing · Oct 29)
Sales grew 9.4% a year over 5 years, fiscal 2020 to 2025.
Pays $3.40 a share a year.
| Reported | Gap | Reaction | 5 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2026 | +2.6% | +3.8% | +6.7% |
| Aug 4, 2026 | +0.5% | +0.2% | +2.5% |
| Apr 30, 2026 | -1.4% | -1.6% | +2.4% |
Sales grew in six of the last seven years, to $65B in 2025. It made a profit in each of the eight years.
RSI 51.3, MACD above signal, above both averages. Not scored.
Its dividends come to 57% of its free cash flow.
| Dividend | $3.40 a share a year |
| Paid out | About $8.4B a year |
| Free cash flow | $15B |
| Record | Raised every year since 2010 |
5 insiders sold $30M across 17 filings in the last 6 months. No open-market buys on record. The newest:
22 trades disclosed in the last six months. The newest:
Officers and directors with a Form 4 in the last 12 months.
In ETFs: MRK is 4.7% of SCHD, 2.1% of DGRO, and 1.5% of VIG, the most of the 24 funds Breakaway covers, by each fund's latest filing, Jul 31 to Aug 31, 2026.
Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. In cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform, led by Keytruda, is a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business aimed at preventing pediatric diseases, as well as Gardasil for human papillomavirus. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, 53% of the company's 2025 sales were generated from US human health (pharmaceuticals and vaccines).
“The markets in which the Company conducts its business and the pharmaceutical industry in general are highly competitive and highly regulated.”
MRK scores 16 today, which Breakaway calls Excellent. It is #6 of 90 in Pharma by Quality Score, with 6 of 14 chart checks firing. Up 3.8% on Oct 29, and still 4% over its Oct 28 close. Breakaway does not say whether to buy any stock: the score does not know your situation, and it is not a recommendation to buy or sell anything. Please do your own research.
MRK scores 16 today, which Breakaway calls Excellent (15 to 19). That is #6 of 90 in Pharma by Quality Score. The score adds up the chart checks, the trend, the company's filed sales, its profits, the news, insider trades, and Congress trades. The section above lists the lines behind MRK's 16.
5 insiders sold $30M across 17 filings in the last 6 months. No open-market buys on record. The newest is Jennifer Zachary, EVP, General Counsel, who sold $10.7M on Aug 12. Every filing, with the scored weight, for Pro members.
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Insider and Congress trades, the chart, and the financials, in one score.
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