Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is included among the 15 Best Boring Dividend Stocks to Buy.
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On November 24, Wells Fargo upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) to Overweight from Equal Weight, raising its price target to $125 from $90, according to a report by The Fly. The firm cited recent business developments, pipeline advancements, and new product launches, noting that Merck is well-positioned to offset the expected loss of exclusivity for Keytruda and grow revenue into the early 2030s. Wells also highlighted that the company is entering a “catalyst-rich period” over the next 12–18 months, with multiple pipeline readouts expected.
In related news, Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) announced on November 14 that it will acquire Cidara Therapeutics in an approximately $9.2 billion deal. The acquisition gives Merck access to an experimental flu treatment as part of its strategy to diversify ahead of Keytruda’s patent expiration. Since 2021, the company has nearly tripled its late-stage pipeline through internal development and major acquisitions, including the $11.5 billion purchase of Acceleron for the pulmonary arterial hypertension drug Winrevair.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)’s management estimates its 20-drug developmental pipeline could collectively generate up to $50 billion in annual revenue at peak, though full realization is expected by the mid-2030s.
On November 18, Merck also announced a 4.9% increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.85 per share, marking the 15th consecutive year of dividend growth.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is a pharmaceutical company recognized for its strong oncology portfolio, and it also produces diabetes treatments, an HPV vaccine, and a chickenpox vaccine.
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