Saudi Central Bank Boosts Stake in Merck & Co., Inc.

Saudi Central Bank has increased its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 22.7% in the second quarter, according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund now owns approximately 440,465 shares of the company's stock, making it the bank's 28th largest holding.

The value of Saudi Central Bank's holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. was $56,332,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. This represents about 0.7% of the bank's total holdings. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MRK during the second quarter.

Merck & Co., Inc. recently reported its quarterly earnings data on August 4th, beating analyst expectations with a loss of $0.13 per share. The company's revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same period last year, and it has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.660-2.760 EPS.

Wall Street analysts have been bullish on Merck & Co., Inc., with a Moderate Buy rating among analysts and an average target price of $148.60. Top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys, however, including Zscaler, Duolingo, and others.