Should I buy Merck & Co. (MRK) stock or is it too late?
⭐ The most reliable of them, either direction: BMO Capital — 73% of its targets hit on this sector (240 calls tested). It aims for $170 (+20 %), call made on August 21, 2026, maturing on August 21, 2027 (54 d ago).
Firm-by-firm track record on Merck & Co.
| Firm | % right | Gain vs sector | Calls | Aims for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo | 100 % | +21.4 % | 5 | $170 +20% |
| BMO Capital | 88 % | +17.6 % | 16 | $170 +20% |
| JP Morgan | 86 % | +12.9 % | 7 | $165 +16% |
| Citigroup | 89 % | +12.7 % | 9 | $145 +2% |
| B of A Securities | 90 % | +12.2 % | 10 | $141 -1% |
| Guggenheim | 67 % | +12.0 % | 9 | $170 +20% |
| Barclays | 67 % | +7.1 % | 18 | $150 +6% |
| Morgan Stanley | 50 % | +1.9 % | 8 | $177 +25% |
✅ Reasons to believe
- 84% of analysts rate it a buy (Buy consensus, 19 ratings) — a sign of market conviction.
- Median price target $165, i.e. +16% from the current price ($142).
- The most reliable firm on MRK, Wells Fargo (100% hit rate, 5 scored calls), targets $170 (call made on September 4, 2026, maturing on September 4, 2027) (+20%) in its most recent call, and $135 (call made on February 4, 2026, maturing on February 4, 2027) (-5%) in the one coming due soonest.
- 11 analysts rated reliable (≥55% hit rate, beat their sector) are bullish on the stock.
- Pays a dividend (2.7% yield), raised for 28 years — regular income on top of potential upside.
⚠️ Reasons to hesitate
- The consensus is not unanimous: of 19 ratings, 3 are neutral.
- High valuation (P/E ~113): strong growth is already "priced in", leaving little room for error.
- A 12-month target is not a guaranteed path: the price can fall in the meantime.
The analyst consensus on MRK
Median target $165 (+16%) · 19 ratings · Buy consensus
⚠️ Information, not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Analyst targets on a ~12-month horizon.
Frequently asked questions
Should you invest in Merck & Co. now?
We won't decide for you. The facts: 84% of analysts rate it a buy, median target $165 (+16%), and Wells Fargo (most reliable on MRK, 100%) targets $170. Weigh that against valuation (P/E ~113). This is not personalized advice.
Is it too late to invest in Merck & Co.?
Not according to analysts: the median target ($165) is still +16% above the current price ($142) (most reliable on MRK: Wells Fargo, 100%). The real question isn't "too late" but the price-to-value gap and risk. Not advice.
Is Merck & Co. still worth investing in?
It depends on the gap between the price ($142) and its estimated value: analysts target $165 on median (+16%), with 84% buys (most reliable on MRK: Wells Fargo, 100%). Cross-check with their real reliability on MRK and the cautions above. Information, not advice.
What's the main risk in buying MRK?
The consensus is not unanimous: of 19 ratings, 3 are neutral.
→ Go deeper: the full Merck & Co. profile (consensus, analyst reliability, price target, performance).