10 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds

4. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)

Beta Value: 0.36

Dividend Yield: 3.62%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 91

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is a prominent American multinational pharmaceutical corporation that is historically tied to the original Merck Group, which was founded in Germany in 1668. Internationally known as Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), the company provides prescription pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologic treatments, and animal health products.

On February 12, Guggenheim maintained a Buy rating on Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) but decreased its price target to $115 from $122. The change comes after Guggenheim hosted Merck’s executive team for a webinar where they discussed the company’s fourth-quarter performance and strategic plans. With a strong gross profit margin of 80.85% and sales increase of 6.74%, they highlighted Gardasil and Keytruda, two significant drugs in Merck’s portfolio, as well as prospective chances that investors may be overlooking.