Stock Update: Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) – Merck Receives FDA Approval of ZEPATIER™ (elbasvir and grazoprevir) for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1 or 4 Infection in Adults Following Priority Review

[PR Newswire] – KENILWORTH, N.J., Jan. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ZEPATIER … Read more on this. Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) , with a current market cap of $137.44B, opened this morning at $50.33. During the trading session, MRK traded between $48.98 to $50.54 with a one year range of $45.69 to $62.15. MRK shares are currently priced at 14.11x this year’s forecasted earnings, which makes them relatively expensive compared to the industry ’s -1.49x forward p/e ratio. And for those looking to make a return holding the stock, the company pays shareholders $1.84 per share annually in dividends, yielding 3.58%. In a review of the consensus earnings estimate this quarter, 19 sell-side analysts are looking at $0.91 per share, which would be $0.04 better than the year-ago quarter and a $0.01 sequential increase. Investors should also note that the full-year EPS estimate of $3.57 is a $0.08 better when compared to the previous year’s annual results. The quarterly earnings estimate is predicated on a consensus revenue forecast of $10.36 Billion. If reported, that would be a 1.15% decrease over the year-ago quarter. In terms of ratings, BofA/Merrill downgraded MRK from Buy to Neutral (Jan 27, 2016). Previously, Berenberg Initiated MRK at to Hold. When considering if the stock is under or overvalued, the average price target is $60.84, which is 20.88% above where the stock opened this morning. See more in (NYSE:MRK) Similar Articles: Stock Update: Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) – Merck Announces FDA Acceptance of Biologics License Application for Bezlotoxumab, an Investigational Antitoxin for Prevention of Clostridium Difficile Infection Recurrence Stock Update: AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV) – U.S. FDA Grants Priority Review to AbbVie for Supplemental New Drug Application for VIEKIRA PAK® (ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir tablets; dasabuvir tablets) without Ribavirin in Genotype 1b Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Patients with Compe Company Update (NYSE:MRK): FDA Accepts Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), Merck’s Anti-PD-1 Therapy, for First-Line Treatment of Advanced Melanoma, and Grants Priority Review