New Jersey-based Merck & Co. Inc. MRK is a global research-driven pharmaceutical products company. Well known products in Merck’s portfolio include Remicade, Nasonex, Simponi, Vytorin and Zetia, Januvia and Janumet, Isentress, PegIntron, Maxalt, Cosopt/Trusopt, Temodar, Emend, Keytruda, Cozaar/Hyzaar, Zocor, Proscar, ProQuad, Gardasil, RotaTeq, Zostavax and NuvaRing.
However, like many of its peers, Merck is facing headwinds in the form of generic competition for several key products. The company sold its Consumer Care business to Bayer for $14.2 billion in Oct 2014. Meanwhile, Merck acquired hepatitis C virus focused company Idenix in Aug 2014 and Cubist in 2015. Merck is also focusing on immuno-oncology.
MRK has a pretty good earnings track record with the company delivering positive earnings surprises in each of the last four quarters with an average surprise of 4.98%.
Currently, MRK has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), but that could definitely change following the company’s earnings report which was just released. We have highlighted some of the key stats from this just-revealed announcement below:
Earnings: MRK’s second quarter earnings came in at 93 cents per share, a penny above consensus estimates.
Revenue: Merck’s second quarter revenues came in at $9.84 billion, in line with consensus estimates.
2016 Outlook Updated: Merck raised the bottom end of its 2016 earnings guidance and now expects EPS of $3.67 - $3.77, including an approximately 1% negative impact from currency fluctuation. At the time of releasing Q1 results, the company had guided towards earnings of $3.65 - $3.77 per share, including negative currency impact of approximately 2%.
Merck narrowed its revenue guidance to $39.1 billion - $40.1 billion, including negative currency impact of approximately 2%. At the time of releasing Q1 results, the company had guided towards revenues of $39.0 billion - $40.2 billion, including an approximately 2% negative impact from foreign exchange.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings and revenues is $3.72 per share and $39.6 billion, respectively.
Check back later for our full write up on this MRK earnings report!
MERCK & CO INC Price
MERCK & CO INC Price | MERCK & CO INC Quote
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
MERCK & CO INC (MRK): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research