Merck Stock Hits Record High on Positive Melanoma Vaccine Data
Merck & Co.'s stock has reached an all-time high of $149 on the New York Stock Exchange, driven by positive Phase 3 melanoma cancer vaccine data. The company's partner reported that the combination treatment significantly extended recurrence-free survival and reduced the risk of melanoma progression or recurrence compared to Keytruda alone.
The stock surged 12.6% to an opening level of $152.21 on August 20, 2026, marking Merck's best single-day performance in years. The data release also supported a combination approach that could extend Keytruda's commercial lifespan and open new revenue streams in adjuvant cancer settings.
The updated guidance has raised and narrowed Merck's full-year 2026 revenue forecast after assessing the pipeline and the impact of current launches. Management set its full-year 2026 adjusted earnings per share in a range of $2.660 to $2.760, which is slightly below the prevailing consensus expectation of $2.77 EPS.