Merck & Co. stock gets a USD 400 million oncology bet
Published on 10/03/2026 at 23:37 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Merck & Co. (ISIN US58933Y1055) was last at USD 144.30 on the NYSE on October 2, 2026, at 4:02 p.m. ET, with a daily gain of 0.34 percent. The latest catalyst is a global oncology license for SPR2015, a preclinical KRAS G12D inhibitor.
USD 400 million pipeline bet
According to Merck.com on September 28, 2026, Merck agreed to pay SciBrunch Therapeutics USD 400 million upfront for exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize SPR2015.
The transaction has a potential aggregate value of USD 2.13 billion, including development, regulatory and commercial milestones. Merck also said the deal will create a USD 400 million pretax charge, or USD 0.13 per share, in third-quarter 2026 GAAP and non-GAAP results, making the pipeline move financially visible before clinical proof arrives.
Q2 revenue beats consensus
Merck's second-quarter 2026 revenue reached USD 16.61 billion against a USD 16.37 billion consensus estimate, while adjusted EPS was a loss of USD 0.13 versus an expected loss of USD 0.26, according to MarketBeat. Revenue rose 5.1 percent from the same quarter a year earlier, although the company also reported a GAAP diluted loss of USD 0.54 per share for Q2 2026.
The comparison matters because the oncology pipeline must support growth while Merck manages near-term charges and future product-cycle pressure. The USD 16.61 billion quarterly sales figure therefore offers a stronger operating signal than the GAAP loss alone, but the charge keeps reported profitability under pressure.
Analysts lift the ceiling
MarketBeat reported on September 29, 2026, that Scotiabank raised its Merck price target from USD 155 to USD 180 while keeping a sector outperform rating. MarketBeat's analyst page lists 16 Buy ratings and 11 Holds, with a consensus target of USD 145.76 from 27 analysts.
That target spread places the Scotiabank view above the broader consensus, while the market capitalization stood at USD 356.4 billion on October 2, 2026. The next scheduled checkpoint is Merck's third-quarter 2026 sales and earnings call at 9:00 a.m. ET on October 29, 2026, according to Merck.com.
Merck stock stays below its yearly high
Merck stock was last at USD 144.30 on the NYSE on October 2, 2026, with a 52-week range of USD 82.01 to USD 156.92 and trading volume of 9,159,620 shares. The reference price was 8.02 percent below the 52-week high, keeping the pipeline deal and the October earnings date central to the next valuation discussion.
Merck & Co. stock facts
- Company: Merck & Co., Inc.
- ISIN: US58933Y1055
- Ticker: MRK
- Trading venue: NYSE
- Price (as of October 2, 2026, 4:02 p.m. ET): USD 144.30, last at
- Market capitalization: USD 356.4 billion (as of October 2, 2026)
- 52-week range: USD 82.01-156.92 (as of October 2, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Healthcare / Drug Manufacturers - General
- Next earnings date: October 29, 2026
