Merck shares snapped six-session winning streak

[Merck & Co. headquarters in Silicon Valley]
Sundry Photography/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Merck (NYSE:MRK [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK]) shares snapped six straight sessions of gains, as the stock was down 0.1% at $84.85 on Wednesday.

The pharmaceutical giant added nearly 6% in the preceding six sessions. The stock has lost nearly 14% so far this year, compared to a 9% rise in the broader S&P 500 Index (SP500 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SP500#hasComeFromMpArticle=false#source=section%3Amain_content%7Cbutton%3Abody_link%7Cfirst_level_url%3Anews]).

MRK is up 4% over the past one month.

In the last quarter, MRK generated better-than-expected adjusted earnings [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4473137-merck-plans-3b-cost-cuts-as-keytruda-faces-patent-cliff] on revenue of $15.81B that missed Wall Street estimates. Merck is cutting $3B from its annual expenses [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4473137-merck-plans-3b-cost-cuts-as-keytruda-faces-patent-cliff] as it prepares for generic competition to its blockbuster cancer drug, Keytruda.

"Key risks include uncertainty around cost-cutting initiatives and post-Keytruda patent performance, but the overall outlook for MRK remains favorable," pointed out [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4814494-merck-shares-bucking-the-gardasil-problem-hiking-my-price-target] a recent Seeking Alpha analysis.

Looking at Seeking Alpha's Quant Rating, MRK has a Buy rating [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK/ratings/quant-ratings] with a score of 4.4 out of 5. The company received A+ in the prospect of profitability, C+ in momentum, while it got A growth factor.

Turning to the Wall Street community [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK/ratings/sell-side-ratings], 14 analysts gave MRK a Buy and above rating. 13 analysts have given the stock a Hold recommendation, while none recommended Sell or lower.

Seeking Alpha analysts are positive [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK/ratings/author-ratings] and see the stock as a Buy.

MORE ON MERCK

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