10 Important News Updates Investors Shouldn’t Miss

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

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 86

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is a global healthcare company specializing in pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and animal health products.

On February 10, TD Cowen downgraded Merck (NYSE:MRK) to Hold from Buy and lowered its price target to $100 from $121. The firm initially upgraded the stock in early 2024, expecting a strong performance from Keytruda and Gardasil, a lack of major risks, and management’s efforts to extend Keytruda’s outlook. However, concerns over Gardasil’s issues in China and growing uncertainty have weakened this view. Furthermore, the firm sees challenges due to the upcoming loss of exclusivity for Keytruda in 2028 in the U.S. and 2031 in the EU.