Merck & Co. stock gains as DBS lifts price target and Q2 2026 revenue grows
Published on 09/13/2026 at 14:36 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Merck & Co., Inc. stock (ISIN US58933Y1055) is trading higher after a fresh analyst call that keeps the shares rated Buy with a notably raised price target, while the drug maker’s latest quarterly figures show revenue growth in Q2 2026 as of September 12, 2026. According to The Globe and Mail on September 12, 2026, DBS analyst Nico Chen reaffirmed a Buy stance on Merck & Co. and set a price target of USD 180.00 for the stock.
Analyst support and valuation debate
According to The Globe and Mail, DBS’s new USD 180.00 target for Merck & Co. reflects confidence in the company’s pipeline and earnings trajectory and implies meaningful upside from the current trading range as of September 12, 2026.
The recent debate around the stock’s valuation is highlighted by commentary such as the analysis on Merck’s growth prospects relative to its earnings multiple, as discussed by Kalkine Media on September 12, 2026, which points out that cancer therapies remain central to Merck’s growth story and that the company’s expanding pipeline is reshaping its longer term narrative.
Q2 2026 revenue growth and pipeline risks
Fundamentally, Merck & Co. delivered higher sales in its most recent reported quarter. As Quiver Quantitative reports, Merck generated revenue of USD 16.6 billion in Q2 2026, an increase of 5.07 percent compared with the same quarter a year earlier, underscoring steady top line growth in the current year.
The same analysis from Quiver Quantitative also notes that multiple analysts have issued price targets for Merck over the last six months with a median target of USD 139.50, while individual calls include a USD 113.00 target from Morgan Stanley on July 9, 2026 and a USD 150.00 target from Wells Fargo on July 8, 2026, illustrating a spread of views around the company’s valuation and upside.
At the same time, pipeline risks remain part of the investment narrative. As London Insider reported on September 13, 2026, the publication of full phase 3 data from a failed Trodelvy lung cancer trial conducted by Merck and Gilead has sparked fresh debate regarding the validity of some Chinese clinical research in Western markets, a reminder that late stage trial outcomes can both create and erode future revenue opportunities.
Stock performance and recent price levels
Merck & Co. shares have also been supported by investor commentary. According to Yahoo Finance on September 12, 2026, Merck’s stock has gained 41 percent year to date, reflecting strong investor demand for its defensive growth profile.
In recent trading, Merck & Co. stock showed further gains. A live snapshot cited by TechGraph on September 13, 2026 indicated a Merck price of USD 112.80 with a daily increase of 2.62 percent on its New York Stock Exchange listing, suggesting that the shares were moving higher in tandem with broader healthcare names on that trading day.
Latest price and investor takeaway
As of September 13, 2026, Merck & Co. stock on the New York Stock Exchange recently traded around USD 112.80 in United States dollars, reflecting a single day move of 2.62 percent in that snapshot, while investors weigh the company’s 5.07 percent year over year revenue increase in Q2 2026 against trial related risks and a broad range of analyst price targets.
Merck & Co. stock key data
- Company: Merck & Co., Inc.
- ISIN: US58933Y1055
- Ticker: MRK
- Trading venue: NYSE
- Price (as of September 13, 2026): 112.80 USD
- Market capitalization: 148.14 billion USD (as of September 13, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Health Care / Pharmaceuticals
- Index membership: S&P 500
