Merck stock trades at USD 148.01 after Q2 earnings beat

Published on 09/25/2026 at 12:47 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Merck stock follows Q2 revenue of USD 16.61 billion on August 4, 2026. Adjusted EPS beat consensus by USD 0.13, while 2026 guidance fell to USD 2.66-2.76.

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Merck & Co. (ISIN US58933Y1055) stood at USD 148.01 on the NYSE on September 24, 2026, down 0.05 percent from the previous close. The stock is 5.68 percent below its 52-week high of USD 156.92, while Merck's second-quarter earnings beat consensus despite acquisition costs.

Q2 revenue beats expectations

Merck reported Q2 2026 results on August 4, 2026. According to Yahoo Finance, revenue increased 5 percent year over year to USD 16.61 billion, exceeding the USD 16.33 billion consensus estimate.

The adjusted loss was USD 0.13 per share, compared with a consensus loss of USD 0.26 per share. That produced a USD 0.13 adjusted EPS beat, although Merck also booked a USD 2.31 per share charge tied to its Terns Pharmaceuticals acquisition.

Guidance shifts after Terns deal

Merck raised its 2026 revenue guidance to USD 66.3-67.3 billion from USD 65.8-67.0 billion, according to Yahoo Finance. At the same time, adjusted EPS guidance fell to USD 2.66-2.76 from USD 5.04-5.16 because the revised range includes a one-time USD 2.43 per share Terns charge.

The operating picture is mixed by product. Q2 Keytruda and Keytruda Qlex sales reached USD 8.37 billion, up 4 percent, while Winrevair sales climbed 75 percent to USD 588 million. Gardasil and Gardasil 9 sales rose 3 percent to USD 1.17 billion, but Vaxneuvance sales fell 36 percent to USD 148 million.

Analyst target moves above price

Guggenheim raised its Merck price target from USD 146 to USD 170 and maintained a Buy rating on August 25, 2026, as reported by MarketScreener. The USD 170 target is 14.86 percent above the September 24 price of USD 148.01.

MarketScreener also listed a consensus target of USD 153.65 and identified October 28, 2026, as the next Q3 earnings release date. That target is 3.81 percent above the reference price, leaving the Terns-related earnings reset as the central valuation counterweight.

Merck stock stays below yearly high

Merck stock stood at USD 148.01 on September 24, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET on the NYSE. Its market capitalization was USD 365,558,058,200, and volume reached 10,305,137 shares on that date.