RBC cuts target for Merck & Co. stock to USD 145
Published on 10/13/2026 at 12:11 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS- RBC cut its Merck target from USD 150.00 to USD 145.00 on October 12, 2026.
- Second-quarter 2026 sales reached USD 16.61 billion, up 5.10 percent year over year.
- Merck stock was at EUR 131.25 at Lang & Schwarz, plus 0.84 percent versus the Xetra close.
Merck & Co. (ISIN US58933Y1055) stock was trading at EUR 131.25 at Lang & Schwarz on October 13, 2026 at 12:07 p.m. CEST, up 0.84 percent versus the Xetra close of October 12, 2026 at EUR 130.16. RBC Capital cut its price target from USD 150.00 to USD 145.00 on October 12, 2026, while maintaining a Sector Perform rating, as Investing.com reported.
What does the target cut change?
The revised USD 145.00 target sits below the USD 151.12 consensus target cited by MarketBeat. RBC's third-quarter 2026 sales estimate is USD 17.30 billion, matching consensus, while its earnings-per-share estimate of USD 2.12 trails the USD 2.15 consensus.
The numbers point to a narrow near-term debate. Merck's valuation depends on whether pipeline launches can offset slower 2027 growth, which RBC models at 2.40 percent against a 5.00 percent market estimate, according to Investing.com.
Three milestones shape the setup
On August 4, 2026, Merck reported USD 16.61 billion in second-quarter sales, up 5.10 percent year over year, with earnings per share of minus USD 0.13 versus a consensus loss of USD 0.26, according to Merck. On September 28, 2026, Merck entered an exclusive global license agreement for SPR2015, with a USD 400.00 million upfront payment and total potential transaction value of USD 2.13 billion, as Business Wire reported. On October 12, 2026, RBC reduced its target from USD 150.00 to USD 145.00, according to Investing.com.
Two dates keep the pipeline in view
Merck's investor-relations calendar lists an investor event at ESMO 2026 on October 26, 2026, while the company scheduled its third-quarter 2026 sales and earnings conference call for October 29, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET, according to Merck. Those dates place the next operating update after the target reset and make third-quarter sales and earnings the next concrete test of the 2027 growth assumptions.
Stock sits 2.40 percent below yearly high
At EUR 131.25, Merck stock stood 2.40 percent below the EUR 134.48 52-week high and above the EUR 71.00 low as of October 13, 2026. The quote at Lang & Schwarz was EUR 131.25 at 12:07 p.m. CEST, up 0.84 percent versus the Xetra close of October 12, 2026 at EUR 130.16.
The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of Merck & Co. stock.
Merck & Co. stock facts
- Company: Merck & Co., Inc.
- ISIN: US58933Y1055
- Ticker: MRK
- Primary exchange: NYSE
- Price Lang & Schwarz (as of October 13, 2026, 12:07 p.m. CEST): EUR 131.25
- Change versus Xetra close (October 12, 2026): plus 0.84 percent
- Xetra close (October 12, 2026): EUR 130.16
- Market capitalization: EUR 324.5 billion (as of October 13, 2026)
- 52-week range: EUR 71.00-134.48 (as of October 13, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Healthcare / Drug Manufacturers - General
- Next earnings date: October 29, 2026
Market context: Market report S&P 500.
