#4 - Merck & Co. (NYSE:MRK)
Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) is another inflation-fighting stock in the pharmaceutical sector—the bullish narrative with Merck centers around its oncology portfolio and its flagship drug, Keytruda. Keytruda sales grew 22% in the fourth quarter to $6.6 billion. That was a big reason Merck posted positive earnings in the last quarter when analysts forecasted negative EPS of three cents.
Keytruda is only one drug in the company's oncology portfolio. That portfolio is supposed to grow from $10 billion in 2023 to over $20 billion by 2030.
MRK stock is trading near the top of its 52-week range, but analysts have been bidding the stock higher since its earnings report in early February. The stock is also trading at a more attractive forward price-to-earnings ratio of 15x, which is far lower than the 59.6x forward earnings investors are paying for LLY stock.
About Merck & Co., Inc.
Merck & Co, Inc operates as a healthcare company worldwide. It operates through two segments, Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. The Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products in the areas of oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes under the Keytruda, Bridion, Adempas, Lagevrio, Belsomra, Simponi, and Januvia brands, as well as vaccine products consisting of preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines under the Gardasil/Gardasil 9, ProQuad, M-M-R II, Varivax, RotaTeq, Live Oral, Vaxneuvance, Pneumovax 23, and Vaqta names.
Read More - Current Price
- $98.05
- Consensus Rating
- Moderate Buy
- Ratings Breakdown
- 13 Buy Ratings, 7 Hold Ratings, 1 Sell Ratings.
- Consensus Price Target
- $127.13 (29.7% Upside)
