Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) on Tuesday reported its fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $2.04, surpassing consensus estimates of $2.01, a jump from $1.72 a year ago.Merck reported sales of $16.40 billion, a 5% increase year-over-year, and exceeded the analysts' projections of $16.19 billion.Segment And Drug PerformanceThe pharmaceutical segment recorded $14.84 billion in sales, up 6% year over year, driven by growth in oncology as well as cardiometabolic and respiratory, partially offset by a dec ...

Company Performance - Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) shares decreased by 3.2%, trading at $25.40, despite exceeding earnings and revenue expectations for Q4 [1] - The company is facing weak demand for its Covid-19 vaccine and has reaffirmed a lackluster outlook for 2026 [1] - Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) reported profits of $2.04 per share on sales of $16.4 billion, surpassing analysts' estimates for Q4, with shares up 2.5% to $116.19 [3] Market Trends - Pfizer's stock is experiencing overhead pressure near the $27 level, limiting gains since November, and is on track to end a three-day winning streak with its worst loss since December [2] - Merck is on track to achieve its fourth consecutive win, having surged to its highest level since September, with a notable 46.8% nine-month lead [3] Options Activity - Put volume for Pfizer is running at double the intraday average, with the February 24 put being the most popular option [4] - Merck is also seeing double the overall options volume typically observed, with the 110 call in the same series leading the way [4]

Core Insights - Moderna, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a market cap of $17.2 billion, known for its messenger RNA medicines and COVID-19 vaccine, and is expanding its pipeline in various therapeutic areas [1] Performance Summary - Over the past 52 weeks, Moderna's shares have increased by 19.3%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index, which rose by 15.5%. Year-to-date, the stock is up 47.9%, while the S&P 500 has only gained 1.9% [2] - Despite this, Moderna has underperformed compared to the iShares Biotechnology ETF, which saw a 26.2% increase over the same period, although it has outperformed the ETF's 3.1% year-to-date return [3] Recent Developments - On January 21, shares surged by 15.8% following positive results from a five-year follow-up study of an experimental skin cancer vaccine in collaboration with Merck, showing a 49% reduction in recurrence or death risk for high-risk melanoma patients [5] Financial Outlook - Analysts project that Moderna's loss per share for the current fiscal year will narrow by 10.9% year-over-year to $7.90. The company has consistently exceeded consensus earnings estimates in the last four quarters [6] - The consensus rating among 24 analysts is a "Hold," with two "Strong Buy," 19 "Hold," one "Moderate Sell," and two "Strong Sell" ratings [6] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Edward Tenthoff from Piper Sandler Companies maintains a "Buy" rating with a price target of $63, indicating a potential upside of 44.3%. The current trading price is above the mean price target of $37.40, while the highest price target of $135 suggests a 209.1% premium [8]

默沙东(MRK.US)涨约4.5%，最高触及118.45美元，创2024年9月以来新高。消息面上，默沙东第四季度 总销售额同比增长5%至约164亿美元，高于分析师平均预期的约162亿美元；调整后净利润同比增长 16%至约50.88亿美元，调整后每股收益为2.04美元，略高于分析师预期。期内，Keytruda销售额同比增 长7%至约84亿美元，亦超预期。(格隆汇) ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenues for Q4 2025 were $16.4 billion, reflecting a 5% increase, or 4% excluding foreign exchange impact [14] - Earnings per share (EPS) were reported at $2.04, with guidance for 2026 EPS expected to be between $5.00 and $5.15 [21][22] - Gross margin decreased to 79.7%, down 1.1 percentage points due to higher inventory reserves [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Oncology sales, particularly from the Keytruda family, increased by 5% to $8.4 billion, driven by strong demand in earlier-stage cancers [15] - Sales of Welireg grew 37% to $220 million, primarily due to increased use in advanced renal cell carcinoma [16] - Vaccine sales for Gardasil decreased by 35% to $1 billion, attributed to lower demand in China and Japan [16] - The animal health business saw a 6% increase in sales, with livestock sales growing by 9% [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S., Keytruda sales were negatively impacted by approximately $200 million due to timing of purchases [15] - Capvaxive sales reached $279 million, driven by demand from retail pharmacies and increased seasonal immunization activity [17] - Winrevair achieved global sales of $467 million, reflecting strong demand for pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to deliver transformative medicines and vaccines, with a focus on breakthrough science and innovation [6] - A significant commercial opportunity of over $70 billion is projected by the mid-2030s, bolstered by new product launches and acquisitions [7] - The company is committed to investing in its innovative pipeline and business development to drive long-term growth [23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustainable growth post-Keytruda LOE, emphasizing a robust pipeline and potential for new product launches [6][66] - The company anticipates challenges from generic competition and price setting but expects to achieve growth driven by new launches and strong performance in oncology and animal health [23][66] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation and business development [24] Other Important Information - The company completed the acquisition of Cidara Therapeutics, enhancing its portfolio in infectious diseases [9] - Positive results were reported for several investigational drugs, including Islatravir for HIV and MK-1406 for influenza prevention [30][29] - The company is focused on executing multiple product launches and advancing its clinical pipeline [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on CD388 asset and interim trial data - Management acknowledged the importance of the flu season and emphasized the need for robust data across multiple populations before interim disclosures [42][44] Question: Plans for sac-TMT in first-line settings - Management defended the ambitious development strategy for sac-TMT, highlighting ongoing phase III studies and the potential for best-in-class status [47][49] Question: Keytruda's intellectual property runway - Management clarified the patent situation for Keytruda, indicating potential extensions beyond 2028 and strategies for QLEX adoption [53][55] Question: Importance of dual regimen for HIV treatment - Management expressed excitement about Islatravir's potential as a next-generation treatment option, emphasizing the need for diverse treatment regimens [58][60] Question: Long-term growth expectations for Merck - Management projected confidence in sustainable growth driven by a robust pipeline and significant commercial opportunities, countering concerns about modest growth [63][66] Question: Updates on Winrevair and related indications - Management highlighted Winrevair's impact on the standard of care in pulmonary arterial hypertension and ongoing advancements in related therapies [82][84]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenues for Q4 2025 were $16.4 billion, reflecting a 5% increase, or 4% excluding foreign exchange impact [14] - Earnings per share (EPS) were reported at $2.04, with guidance for 2026 EPS expected to be between $5.00 and $5.15 [21][22] - Gross margin decreased to 79.7%, down 1.1 percentage points due to higher inventory reserves [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Oncology sales, particularly from the Keytruda family, increased by 5% to $8.4 billion, driven by strong demand in earlier-stage cancers [15] - Sales of Welireg grew 37% to $220 million, primarily due to increased use in advanced renal cell carcinoma [16] - Vaccines sales, specifically Gardasil, decreased by 35% to $1 billion, attributed to lower demand in China and Japan [16] - The animal health business saw a 6% increase in sales, with livestock sales growing by 9% [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S., Keytruda's growth was negatively impacted by approximately $200 million due to the timing of purchases [15] - Sales of Capvaxive in pneumococcal vaccines reached $279 million, driven by increased seasonal immunization activity [17] - Winrevair's global sales were $467 million, reflecting strong demand for pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to deliver transformative medicines and vaccines, with a focus on breakthrough science and innovation [6] - A significant commercial opportunity of over $70 billion is projected by the mid-2030s, bolstered by new product launches and pipeline expansion [7] - The company is committed to business development and strategic acquisitions, including Verona Pharma and Cidara Therapeutics, to enhance its portfolio [9][36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustainable growth post-Keytruda LOE, emphasizing a robust pipeline and potential for new product launches [6][66] - The company anticipates challenges from generic competition and price setting but expects to achieve growth driven by new launches and strong performance in oncology and animal health [23][66] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation and investments in innovation [24] Other Important Information - The company completed the acquisition of Cidara Therapeutics, enhancing its infectious disease portfolio with MK-1406, a long-acting antiviral candidate [9][29] - The company is focused on executing multiple product launches and advancing its clinical pipeline, with significant milestones expected in 2026 [12][37] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the CD388 asset and its potential? - Management acknowledged the importance of the flu season and emphasized the need for robust data across multiple populations for the ongoing trial [42][44] Question: Are there plans to explore sac-TMT in first-line settings? - Management expressed confidence in the sac-TMT program, highlighting its potential as a best-in-class ADC and the ambition to explore various tumor types [48] Question: How should we model the IP runway for Keytruda? - Management clarified the patent situation for Keytruda, indicating potential extensions beyond 2028 and strategies to drive adoption of QLEX [53][55] Question: Can you contextualize the importance of a dual regimen for HIV treatment? - Management highlighted the unique mechanism of Islatravir and the unmet need for dual regimens, emphasizing the potential benefits for patients [59] Question: What is the outlook for Merck's growth in the coming years? - Management expressed confidence in sustainable growth driven by a strong pipeline and significant commercial opportunities, countering the notion of modest growth [66]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenues for Q4 2025 were $16.4 billion, reflecting a 5% increase, or 4% excluding foreign exchange impact [12] - Earnings per share (EPS) were reported at $2.04, with guidance for 2026 EPS expected to be between $5.00 and $5.15 [19][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Oncology sales, including Keytruda, increased by 5% to $8.4 billion, driven by strong demand in earlier-stage cancers and metastatic indications [13] - Sales of Welireg increased by 37% to $220 million, primarily due to increased use in advanced renal cell carcinoma [15] - Gardasil sales decreased by 35% to $1 billion, attributed to lower demand in China and Japan [15] - The animal health business grew by 6%, with livestock sales increasing by 9% [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S., Keytruda's growth was negatively impacted by approximately $200 million due to the timing of purchases [14] - Sales of Capvaxive reached $279 million, driven by demand from retail pharmacies and increased seasonal immunization activity [15] - Winrevair achieved global sales of $467 million, reflecting strong demand for pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to deliver transformative medicines and vaccines, with a focus on breakthrough science and innovation [4] - A significant commercial opportunity of over $70 billion is projected by the mid-2030s, bolstered by new product launches and acquisitions [5] - The company is committed to investing in its innovative pipeline and key growth drivers, with a focus on sustainable long-term value [12][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to deliver sustainable growth post-Keytruda LOE, with a robust pipeline and strategic business development [5][21] - The company anticipates growth in 2026 driven by new product launches and continued strength in oncology and animal health, despite challenges from generic competition [21][22] Other Important Information - The company completed the acquisition of Cidara Therapeutics, enhancing its portfolio in infectious diseases [8][26] - The company expects to see significant growth in its animal health business, with projections to double by the mid-2030s [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the CD388 asset and its potential? - Management highlighted the importance of robust data across multiple geographies and seasons for the ongoing trial, emphasizing the need for strong data to support future labeling [38][39] Question: Are there plans to explore sac-TMT in first-line settings? - Management indicated that they view sac-TMT as a potential best-in-class asset and have a robust program with multiple phase 3 studies planned [43][44] Question: How should the intellectual property runway for Keytruda be modeled? - Management clarified that while the compound patent expires in December 2028, there are additional patents extending to 2029, and they remain confident in defending these patents [48][49] Question: What is the significance of the dual regimen for HIV treatment? - Management emphasized the potential of Islatravir as a next-generation nucleoside analog, providing new options for patients and addressing unmet needs in HIV treatment [53][54] Question: What is the outlook for Merck's growth in the coming years? - Management expressed confidence in sustainable growth driven by a strong pipeline and significant commercial opportunities, despite challenges from LOEs [60][61]

Company Overview - Proactive is a financial news publisher that provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The company operates with a team of experienced and qualified news journalists, ensuring independent content production [2] Market Focus - Proactive specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - The news team delivers insights across various sectors, including biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3] Technology Adoption - Proactive is recognized for its forward-looking approach and enthusiastic adoption of technology to enhance workflows [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring that all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Fourth-Quarter 2025 Sales and Earnings Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA February 3, 2026 Strategy and Business Update Robert M. Davis Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Financial Results and Outlook Caroline Litchfield Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Research Update Dr. Dean Y. Li Executive Vice President and President, Research Laboratories Question & Answer Session 2 Agenda Agenda Forward-looking statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA This presentation of Merck & Co., ...

Core Insights - Merck reported quarterly earnings of $2.04 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.03 per share, and showing an increase from $1.72 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of +0.62% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $16.4 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.33% and up from $15.62 billion year-over-year [2] - Merck's stock has increased by approximately 7.7% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.9% [3] Earnings Outlook - The future performance of Merck's stock will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and the company's earnings outlook [4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.32 on revenues of $16.13 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $6.20 on revenues of $67.36 billion [7] Estimate Revisions - Prior to the earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Merck was unfavorable, resulting in a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) for the stock, indicating expected underperformance in the near future [6] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5] Industry Context - The Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry, to which Merck belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 23% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Another company in the same industry, Eli Lilly, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $6.99 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +31.4%, with revenues projected at $17.87 billion, up 32.1% from the previous year [9][10]