5 Best Low-Risk Investments in April 2024

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

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 98

Beta Value: 0.38

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), a renowned American multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey, can trace its origins back to the Merck Group, established in Germany in 1668. Originally the American arm of this venerable group, the company operates under the names Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD outside the United States and Canada. It holds a prominent position in the pharmaceutical industry, specializing in the development of medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products.

Demonstrating a consistent pattern of dividend growth for 11 consecutive years, the company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.77 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.33% as of March 27.

In Q4 2023, 98 out of the 933 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey had invested in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK). Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management emerged as the largest shareholder due to its $1.4 billion stake.