MERCK & CO INC MRK
COM · Common Stock · CUSIP 58933Y105 · ISIN US58933Y1055
American multinational pharmaceutical company
* Summed across managers. Shares that two managers' reports both contain – a subsidiary's holdings that its parent's report includes too, or a sub-adviser's in its client's – are counted once ($1.3bn this quarter). Holder counts are more reliable. Shares outstanding: 2.5bn as of 2024-07-31, from the company's own SEC filing; the percentage can still exceed 100%: lent-out shares are counted by the lender and the buyer, and some reports overlap without saying so. Implied quarter-end price ≈ $123.87. Options: 61 managers hold calls ($2.0bn notional), 61 hold puts ($1.8bn).
Trends to Q2 2024
Institutional holders
Managers reporting a position, each quarter
Numbers
| Quarter | Holders |
|---|---|
| Q3 2022 | 2,986 |
| Q4 2022 | 3,231 |
| Q1 2023 | 3,178 |
| Q2 2023 | 3,252 |
| Q3 2023 | 3,214 |
| Q4 2023 | 3,432 |
| Q1 2024 | 3,534 |
| Q2 2024 | 3,545 |
Buyers vs sellers
Managers adding to or starting a position, vs cutting or selling out
Numbers
| Quarter | Bought or added | Cut or sold out |
|---|---|---|
| Q4 2022 | 1,383 | 1,417 |
| Q1 2023 | 1,323 | 1,584 |
| Q2 2023 | 1,370 | 1,550 |
| Q3 2023 | 1,402 | 1,552 |
| Q4 2023 | 1,377 | 1,590 |
| Q1 2024 | 1,614 | 1,599 |
| Q2 2024 | 1,732 | 1,481 |
Calls vs puts
Options held, notional value, last 4 quarters. P/C = puts ÷ calls
Numbers
| Quarter | Calls | Puts | P/C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2023 | $1.8bn | $1.4bn | 0.78 |
| Q4 2023 | $1.9bn | $1.8bn | 0.95 |
| Q1 2024 | $3.2bn | $2.4bn | 0.75 |
| Q2 2024 | $2.0bn | $1.8bn | 0.90 |
Biggest buyers
| UBS AM, a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC | Added | +4.9m |
| Alphinity Investment Management Pty Ltd | Added | +4.0m |
| NORGES BANK | Added | +3.9m |
| BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ | Added | +3.3m |
| Qube Research & Technologies Ltd | Added | +2.9m |
| JPMORGAN CHASE & CO | Added | +2.6m |
| Holocene Advisors, LP | Added | +2.5m |
| ROYAL BANK OF CANADA | Added | +2.1m |
| LOS ANGELES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | Added | +2.0m |
| CITIGROUP INC | Added | +1.9m |
Biggest sellers
| MORGAN STANLEY | Reduced | -82.3m |
| WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT GROUP LLP | Reduced | -13.9m |
| PRICE T ROWE ASSOCIATES INC /MD/ | Reduced | -4.9m |
| FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC | Reduced | -3.5m |
| Nuveen Asset Management, LLC | Reduced | -2.7m |
| HRT FINANCIAL LP | Sold out | -1.6m |
| FMR LLC | Reduced | -1.5m |
| California Public Employees Retirement System | Reduced | -1.4m |
| Balyasny Asset Management L.P. | Reduced | -1.3m |
| MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES CO /MA/ | Reduced | -1.2m |
Biggest calls
| SUSQUEHANNA INTERNATIONAL GROUP, LLP | Added | $547.7m4.4m shares |
| CITADEL ADVISORS LLC | Reduced | $301.8m2.4m shares |
| BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ | Added | $148.0m1.2m shares |
| MILLENNIUM MANAGEMENT LLC | Added | $133.6m1.1m shares |
| JANE STREET GROUP, LLC | Reduced | $132.3m1.1m shares |
| SIMPLEX TRADING, LLC | Reduced | $82.5m666.1k shares |
| JPMORGAN CHASE & CO | Reduced | $59.7m482.6k shares |
| UBS Group AG | Reduced | $58.6m473.3k shares |
| Walleye Capital LLC | Reduced | $53.1m428.7k shares |
| IMC-Chicago, LLC | Added | $49.9m402.7k shares |
Biggest puts
| JPMORGAN CHASE & CO | Added | $324.5m2.6m shares |
| SUSQUEHANNA INTERNATIONAL GROUP, LLP | Reduced | $228.5m1.8m shares |
| BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ | Reduced | $175.7m1.4m shares |
| CITADEL ADVISORS LLC | Reduced | $154.3m1.2m shares |
| UBS Group AG | Reduced | $105.2m850.0k shares |
| BlackRock Inc. | New | $80.6m651.0k shares |
| CITIGROUP INC | Reduced | $78.0m630.3k shares |
| MILLENNIUM MANAGEMENT LLC | Reduced | $76.8m620.1k shares |
| Eisler Capital (UK) Ltd. | Reduced | $61.1m493.3k shares |
| CAPSTONE INVESTMENT ADVISORS, LLC | Added | $57.5m464.2k shares |
Options at notional value: the value of the shares the contracts control, as filers report them, not what the options cost. Not included in the holders, shares or buying above.
Major shareholders (over 5%)
Anyone who owns more than 5% of a class of the company's shares has to say so: on Schedule 13D if they may try to influence or control the company, on 13G if they're a passive investor, and update it as the stake changes. Each holder's latest filing, from 19 Dec 2024 on; percentages are of the share class, as the holder worked them out.
| Holder | Stake |
|---|---|
| VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC 13G · institution new · filed 2026-04-30 | 7.5% |
Fell to 5% or below in the last year: VANGUARD GROUP INC (0.0%, 2026-03-27; now reported by VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC)
Insider purchases and sales in Q2 2024
Shares bought or sold by the company's own officers, directors and 10% owners, in the open market or privately, as they reported to the SEC on Form 4 (due within two business days of the trade). Grants, option exercises, shares withheld for tax and gifts aren't included.
Officers and directors buying vs selling
Number of people, by quarter (10% owners not included)
Numbers
| Quarter | Buying | Bought | Selling | Sold | Sold under a plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2022 | 0 | — | 0 | — | — |
| Q4 2022 | 1 | $28.5k | 8 | $291.3m | — |
| Q1 2023 | 1 | $15.5k | 4 | $19.0m | — |
| Q2 2023 | 1 | $341 | 7 | $59.6m | $6.4m |
| Q3 2023 | 0 | — | 2 | $947.6k | — |
| Q4 2023 | 0 | — | 2 | $4.8m | — |
| Q1 2024 | 0 | — | 8 | $51.6m | — |
| Q2 2024 | 0 | — | 0 | — | — |
None reported in Q2 2024.
Holders, Q2 2024
| Manager | Shares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| VANGUARD GROUP INC 0.58% of their portfolio | 244.7m $30.3bn | Added +1.4m |
| BlackRock Inc. 0.58% of their portfolio | 207.3m $25.7bn | Added +279.8k |
| STATE STREET CORP 0.64% of their portfolio | 117.5m $14.6bn | Added +64.4k |
| WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT GROUP LLP 1.60% of their portfolio | 72.5m $9.0bn | Reduced -13.9m |
| GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC 0.62% of their portfolio | 57.0m $7.0bn | Added +609.5k |
| JPMORGAN CHASE & CO 0.30% of their portfolio | 55.9m $6.9bn | Added +2.6m |
| FMR LLC 0.40% of their portfolio | 50.7m $6.3bn | Reduced -1.5m |
| MORGAN STANLEY 0.40% of their portfolio | 42.2m $5.2bn | Reduced -82.3m |
| BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ 0.47% of their portfolio | 39.3m $4.9bn | Added +3.3m |
| NORGES BANK 0.63% of their portfolio | 33.8m $4.2bn | Added +3.9m |
| NORTHERN TRUST CORP 0.56% of their portfolio | 26.8m $3.3bn | Reduced -279.4k |
| PRICE T ROWE ASSOCIATES INC /MD/ 0.37% of their portfolio | 24.7m $3.1bn | Reduced -4.9m |
| DEUTSCHE BANK AG\ 1.16% of their portfolio | 20.8m $2.6bn | Reduced -439.0k |
| Bank of New York Mellon Corp 0.45% of their portfolio | 19.2m $2.4bn | Reduced -490.6k |
| Legal & General Group Plc 0.65% of their portfolio | 18.7m $2.3bn | Reduced -555.9k |
| CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC 0.43% of their portfolio | 18.3m $2.3bn | Added +643.1k |
| UBS AM, a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC 0.62% of their portfolio | 17.4m $2.2bn | Added +4.9m |
| AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL INC 0.56% of their portfolio | 16.6m $2.1bn | Reduced -346.1k |
| DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank, Frankfurt am Main 2.16% of their portfolio | 15.9m $2.0bn | Added +1.2m |
| Invesco Ltd. 0.41% of their portfolio | 15.8m $2.0bn | Reduced -262.2k |
| ROYAL BANK OF CANADA 0.47% of their portfolio | 15.7m $1.9bn | Added +2.1m |
| WELLS FARGO & COMPANY/MN 0.50% of their portfolio | 15.6m $1.9bn | Reduced -758.7k |
| Capital World Investors 0.31% of their portfolio | 15.3m $1.9bn | Added +1.3m |
| UBS Group AG 0.55% of their portfolio | 14.5m $1.8bn | Added +965.6k |
| Fisher Asset Management, LLC 0.77% of their portfolio | 14.3m $1.8bn | Added +395.6k |
| FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC 0.54% of their portfolio | 14.2m $1.8bn | Reduced -3.5m |
| Nuveen Asset Management, LLC 0.50% of their portfolio | 13.8m $1.7bn | Reduced -2.7m |
| STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE CO 1.54% of their portfolio | 13.8m $1.7bn | Unchanged |
| Amundi 0.62% of their portfolio | 12.9m $1.6bn | Added +282.5k |
| GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC 0.30% of their portfolio | 12.5m $1.6bn | Added +876.8k |
| ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN L.P. 0.49% of their portfolio | 11.3m $1.4bn | Added +145.0k |
| JANUS HENDERSON GROUP PLC 0.71% of their portfolio | 10.7m $1.3bn | Added +229.5k |
| RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES 0.79% of their portfolio | 9.8m $1.2bn | Reduced -36.6k |
| MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES CO /MA/ 0.37% of their portfolio | 9.7m $1.2bn | Reduced -1.2m |
| California Public Employees Retirement System 0.87% of their portfolio | 9.6m $1.2bn | Reduced -1.4m |
| MILLENNIUM MANAGEMENT LLC 0.98% of their portfolio | 9.6m $1.2bn | Reduced -484.3k |
| SCHRODER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT GROUP 1.24% of their portfolio | 9.1m $1.1bn | Added +251.9k |
| Aristotle Capital Management, LLC 2.14% of their portfolio | 8.9m $1.1bn | Reduced -254.2k |
| PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. 0.69% of their portfolio | 8.3m $1.0bn | Reduced -105.1k |
| CITADEL ADVISORS LLC 1.00% of their portfolio | 8.2m $1.0bn | Added +666.8k |
| HSBC HOLDINGS PLC 0.66% of their portfolio | 8.2m $1.0bn | Added +790.1k |
| BARCLAYS PLC 0.46% of their portfolio | 8.0m $995.9m | Reduced -627.0k |
| ENVESTNET ASSET MANAGEMENT INC 0.33% of their portfolio | 7.7m $952.4m | Added +65.0k |
| NORDEA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AB 1.15% of their portfolio | 7.5m $980.2m | Reduced -819.0k |
| Swiss National Bank 0.64% of their portfolio | 7.5m $928.3m | Reduced -90.2k |
| STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP 0.98% of their portfolio | 7.0m $867.4m | Reduced -32.0k |
| Clearbridge Investments, LLC 0.69% of their portfolio | 6.9m $852.6m | Reduced -140.0k |
| CITIGROUP INC 0.79% of their portfolio | 6.7m $824.1m | Added +1.9m |
| Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, Inc. 0.59% of their portfolio | 6.5m $803.9m | Reduced -576.7k |
| BANK OF MONTREAL /CAN/ 0.26% of their portfolio | 6.4m $849.1m | Reduced -193.0k |
| LSV ASSET MANAGEMENT 1.72% of their portfolio | 6.4m $787.0m | Reduced -631.0k |
| Capital International Investors 0.16% of their portfolio | 6.2m $772.3m | Added +208.1k |
| ARROWSTREET CAPITAL, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 0.68% of their portfolio | 6.2m $768.5m | Added +1.5m |
| DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP 0.20% of their portfolio | 6.2m $768.0m | Added +431.1k |
| BARROW HANLEY MEWHINNEY & STRAUSS LLC 2.49% of their portfolio | 5.9m $729.4m | Reduced -290.7k |
| PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC 0.43% of their portfolio | 5.8m $722.7m | Reduced -194.6k |
| Alphinity Investment Management Pty Ltd 4.99% of their portfolio | 5.5m $678.1m | Added +4.0m |
| Swedbank AB 0.90% of their portfolio | 5.4m $672.8m | Reduced -58.4k |
| CANADA PENSION PLAN INVESTMENT BOARD 0.66% of their portfolio | 5.4m $667.1m | Added +1.5m |
| Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC 2.23% of their portfolio | 5.3m $659.6m | Added +601.2k |
| DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale 1.23% of their portfolio | 5.3m $683.9m | Reduced -134.3k |
| TD Asset Management Inc 0.60% of their portfolio | 5.2m $642.6m | Added +25.0k |
| NEUBERGER BERMAN GROUP LLC 0.52% of their portfolio | 5.1m $632.5m | Reduced -422.2k |
| MANUFACTURERS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, THE 0.58% of their portfolio | 5.0m $619.8m | Added +119.7k |
| Aberdeen Group plc 1.12% of their portfolio | 4.7m $586.7m | Reduced -141.2k |
| RHUMBLINE ADVISERS 0.53% of their portfolio | 4.6m $565.3m | Added +117.5k |
| MACQUARIE GROUP LTD 0.64% of their portfolio | 4.5m $555.6m | Reduced -467.6k |
| Qube Research & Technologies Ltd 0.98% of their portfolio | 4.3m $529.3m | Added +2.9m |
| Bahl & Gaynor LLC 2.95% of their portfolio | 4.3m $527.7m | Added +71.0k |
| National Pension Service 0.59% of their portfolio | 4.2m $513.9m | Added +68.6k |
| CALIFORNIA STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM 0.63% of their portfolio | 4.1m $512.9m | Added +23.4k |
| Ensign Peak Advisors, Inc 0.93% of their portfolio | 4.1m $507.4m | Reduced -832.2k |
| NEW YORK STATE COMMON RETIREMENT FUND 0.65% of their portfolio | 4.0m $493.0m | Reduced -44.2k |
| TRUIST FINANCIAL CORP 0.71% of their portfolio | 3.8m $465.9m | Added +17.8k |
| PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL INC 0.68% of their portfolio | 3.7m $455.3m | Reduced -419.9k |
| Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. 0.64% of their portfolio | 3.6m $449.9m | Added +59.1k |
| Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co., Ltd. 0.53% of their portfolio | 3.5m $437.2m | Added +371.3k |
| Corient Private Wealth LP 0.75% of their portfolio | 3.5m $432.6m | Reduced -95.2k |
| KBC Group NV 1.26% of their portfolio | 3.4m $416.7m | Added +978.7k |
| Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. 0.88% of their portfolio | 3.3m $409.4m | Added +378.0k |
| Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec 0.96% of their portfolio | 3.2m $395.4m | Reduced -599.5k |
| ADAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS GP, L.L.C. 0.73% of their portfolio | 3.2m $392.6m | Reduced -204.4k |
| AMERICAN CENTURY COMPANIES INC 0.23% of their portfolio | 3.1m $383.8m | Added +390.6k |
| APG Asset Management N.V. 0.62% of their portfolio | 3.0m $345.8m | Reduced -288.8k |
| Capital Wealth Planning, LLC 3.85% of their portfolio | 3.0m $367.6m | Added +701.5k |
| Smead Capital Management, Inc. 5.72% of their portfolio | 3.0m $366.3m | Reduced -88.2k |
| Fayez Sarofim & Co 0.98% of their portfolio | 2.9m $361.7m | Added +718.3k |
| VICTORY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC 0.35% of their portfolio | 2.8m $349.4m | Reduced -7.4k |
| LOS ANGELES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC 1.24% of their portfolio | 2.8m $347.6m | Added +2.0m |
| LPL Financial LLC 0.17% of their portfolio | 2.7m $339.9m | Added +207.0k |
| HighTower Advisors, LLC 0.52% of their portfolio | 2.7m $339.4m | Added +38.2k |
| BNP PARIBAS FINANCIAL MARKETS 0.35% of their portfolio | 2.6m $324.9m | Reduced -436.4k |
| STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION OF FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM 0.63% of their portfolio | 2.6m $322.0m | Reduced -268.1k |
| BROWN ADVISORY INC 0.42% of their portfolio | 2.6m $321.1m | Added +98.7k |
| MARSHALL WACE, LLP 0.45% of their portfolio | 2.6m $319.9m | Added +634.2k |
| LONDON CO OF VIRGINIA 1.74% of their portfolio | 2.5m $309.3m | Reduced -123.8k |
| Holocene Advisors, LP 1.29% of their portfolio | 2.5m $307.8m | Added +2.5m |
| Beutel, Goodman & Co Ltd. 1.62% of their portfolio | 2.5m $305.0m | Added +32.1k |
| NEW YORK STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM 0.64% of their portfolio | 2.5m $304.5m | Reduced -106.5k |
| JANE STREET GROUP, LLC 0.33% of their portfolio | 2.4m $301.4m | Added +842.0k |