Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Dividend History
MRK latest dividend
$0.85last dividend per share
Ex-dividend dateSep 15Tuesday, 2026
Payment dateOct 7Wednesday, 2026
The next dividend has not been announced yet.
- 15 yearsof dividend increases
- 1970paying since
- Quarterly4 payments a year
- +6.7%5-year growth a year
- 2.33%forward yield
MRK dividend income calculator
- Dividend income a year
- $340
- Each payment
- $85
- Value of the shares
- $14,595
- Dividend yield
- 2.33%
At the latest close; forward annual dividend $3.40 per share, before tax.
MRK dividends per share by year
Dividends per shareYield at year-end (right axis)
Calendar years by ex-dividend date. Yield = the year's dividends divided by the year-end share price.
MRK dividend safety
Payout ratio (earnings)105.9%
Above earnings · of trailing twelve-month earnings paid as dividends
Payout ratio (free cash flow)66.1%
Stretched · of fiscal 2025 free cash flow
Dividend growth (5 years)+6.7%
Growing · a year on average
Years of increases15
Long record · consecutive calendar years with a higher dividend
Descriptive bands, not a rating.
MRK yield on cost
| Bought | Price paid | Yield on cost | Dividends since | % of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year ago | $84.79 | 4.01% | $3.40 | 4.0% |
| 3 years ago | $101.99 | 3.33% | $9.72 | 9.5% |
| 5 years ago | $77.15 | 4.41% | $15.40 | 20.0% |
| 10 years ago | $59.25 | 5.74% | $25.99 | 43.9% |
| 20 years ago | $42.44 | 8.01% | $41.64 | 98.1% |
Today’s forward dividend as a yield on the price paid then, and the dividends one share has paid since (split-adjusted, before tax).
MRK dividend payments
Payment
Each bar is one payment, by ex-dividend month (last 40 payments).
MRK dividends by year
| Year | Dividends per share | Growth | Yield (year-end) | Payments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.28 | +5.1% | 3.12% | 4 |
| 2024 | $3.12 | +5.4% | 3.14% | 4 |
| 2023 | $2.96 | +5.7% | 2.72% | 4 |
| 2022 | $2.80 | +7.3% | 2.52% | 4 |
| 2021 | $2.61 | +10.3% | 3.41% | 4 |
| 2020 | $2.37 | +9.7% | 3.03% | 4 |
| 2019 | $2.16 | +13.6% | 2.48% | 4 |
| 2018 | $1.90 | +5.3% | 2.60% | 4 |
| 2017 | $1.80 | +2.2% | 3.36% | 4 |
| 2016 | $1.77 | +2.2% | 3.14% | 4 |
| 2015 | $1.73 | +2.3% | 3.43% | 4 |
| 2014 | $1.69 | +2.3% | 3.12% | 4 |
| 2013 | $1.65 | +2.4% | 3.46% | 4 |
| 2012 | $1.61 | +8.3% | 4.13% | 4 |
| 2011 | $1.49 | +2.6% | 4.14% | 4 |
| 2010 | $1.45 | 0.0% | 4.22% | 4 |
| 2009 | $1.45 | 0.0% | 4.16% | 4 |
| 2008 | $1.45 | 0.0% | 5.00% | 4 |
| 2007 | $1.45 | 0.0% | 2.62% | 4 |
| 2006 | $1.45 | — | 3.49% | 4 |
MRK dividend history
225 payments| Ex-dividend date | Payment date | Amount | Change | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-15 | 2026-10-07 | $0.85 | — | Quarterly |
| 2026-06-15 | 2026-07-08 | $0.85 | — | Quarterly |
| 2026-03-16 | 2026-04-07 | $0.85 | — | Quarterly |
| 2025-12-15 | 2026-01-08 | $0.85 | +4.9% | Quarterly |
| 2025-09-15 | 2025-10-07 | $0.81 | — | Quarterly |
| 2025-06-16 | 2025-07-08 | $0.81 | — | Quarterly |
| 2025-03-17 | 2025-04-07 | $0.81 | — | Quarterly |
| 2024-12-16 | 2025-01-08 | $0.81 | +5.2% | Quarterly |
| 2024-09-16 | 2024-10-07 | $0.77 | — | Quarterly |
| 2024-06-17 | 2024-07-08 | $0.77 | — | Quarterly |
| 2024-03-14 | 2024-04-05 | $0.77 | — | Quarterly |
| 2023-12-14 | 2024-01-08 | $0.77 | +5.5% | Quarterly |
| 2023-09-14 | 2023-10-06 | $0.73 | — | Quarterly |
| 2023-06-14 | 2023-07-10 | $0.73 | — | Quarterly |
| 2023-03-14 | 2023-04-10 | $0.73 | — | Quarterly |
| 2022-12-14 | 2023-01-09 | $0.73 | +5.8% | Quarterly |
Show all 225 payments
| Ex-dividend date | Payment date | Amount | Change | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-09-14 | 2022-10-07 | $0.69 | — | Quarterly |
| 2022-06-14 | 2022-07-08 | $0.69 | — | Quarterly |
| 2022-03-14 | 2022-04-07 | $0.69 | — | Quarterly |
| 2021-12-14 | 2022-01-07 | $0.69 | +6.2% | Quarterly |
| 2021-09-14 | 2021-10-07 | $0.65 | — | Quarterly |
| 2021-06-14 | 2021-07-07 | $0.65 | +4.8% | Quarterly |
| 2021-03-12 | 2021-04-07 | $0.6202 | — | Quarterly |
| 2020-12-14 | 2021-01-08 | $0.6202 | +6.6% | Quarterly |
| 2020-09-14 | 2020-10-07 | $0.5821 | — | Quarterly |
| 2020-06-12 | 2020-07-07 | $0.5821 | — | Quarterly |
| 2020-03-13 | 2020-04-07 | $0.5821 | — | Quarterly |
| 2019-12-13 | 2020-01-08 | $0.5821 | +10.9% | Quarterly |
| 2019-09-13 | 2019-10-07 | $0.5248 | — | Quarterly |
| 2019-06-14 | 2019-07-08 | $0.5248 | — | Quarterly |
| 2019-03-14 | 2019-04-05 | $0.5248 | — | Quarterly |
| 2018-12-14 | 2019-01-08 | $0.5248 | +14.6% | Quarterly |
| 2018-09-14 | 2018-10-05 | $0.458 | — | Quarterly |
| 2018-06-14 | 2018-07-09 | $0.458 | — | Quarterly |
| 2018-03-14 | 2018-04-06 | $0.458 | — | Quarterly |
| 2017-12-14 | 2018-01-08 | $0.458 | +2.1% | Quarterly |
| 2017-09-14 | 2017-10-06 | $0.4485 | — | Quarterly |
| 2017-06-13 | 2017-07-10 | $0.4485 | — | Quarterly |
| 2017-03-13 | 2017-04-07 | $0.4485 | — | Quarterly |
| 2016-12-13 | 2017-01-09 | $0.4485 | +2.2% | Quarterly |
| 2016-09-13 | 2016-10-07 | $0.4389 | — | Quarterly |
| 2016-06-13 | 2016-07-08 | $0.4389 | — | Quarterly |
| 2016-03-11 | 2016-04-07 | $0.4389 | — | Quarterly |
| 2015-12-11 | 2016-01-08 | $0.4389 | +2.2% | Quarterly |
| 2015-09-11 | 2015-10-07 | $0.4294 | — | Quarterly |
| 2015-06-11 | 2015-07-08 | $0.4294 | — | Quarterly |
| 2015-03-12 | 2015-04-08 | $0.4294 | — | Quarterly |
| 2014-12-11 | 2015-01-08 | $0.4294 | +2.3% | Quarterly |
| 2014-09-11 | 2014-10-07 | $0.4199 | — | Quarterly |
| 2014-06-12 | 2014-07-08 | $0.4199 | — | Quarterly |
| 2014-03-13 | 2014-04-07 | $0.4199 | — | Quarterly |
| 2013-12-12 | 2014-01-08 | $0.4199 | +2.3% | Quarterly |
| 2013-09-12 | 2013-10-07 | $0.4103 | — | Quarterly |
| 2013-06-13 | 2013-07-08 | $0.4103 | — | Quarterly |
| 2013-03-13 | 2013-04-05 | $0.4103 | — | Quarterly |
| 2012-12-13 | 2013-01-08 | $0.4103 | +2.4% | Quarterly |
| 2012-09-13 | 2012-10-05 | $0.4008 | — | Quarterly |
| 2012-06-13 | 2012-07-09 | $0.4008 | — | Quarterly |
| 2012-03-13 | 2012-04-06 | $0.4008 | — | Quarterly |
| 2011-12-13 | 2012-01-09 | $0.4008 | +10.5% | Quarterly |
| 2011-09-13 | 2011-10-07 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2011-06-13 | 2011-07-08 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2011-03-11 | 2011-04-07 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2010-12-13 | 2011-01-07 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2010-09-13 | 2010-10-07 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2010-06-11 | 2010-07-08 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2010-03-11 | 2010-04-07 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2009-12-11 | 2010-01-08 | $0.3626 | — | |
| 2009-09-02 | 2009-10-01 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2009-06-04 | 2009-07-01 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2009-03-04 | 2009-04-01 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2008-12-03 | 2009-01-02 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2008-09-03 | 2008-10-01 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2008-06-04 | 2008-07-01 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2008-03-05 | 2008-04-01 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2007-12-05 | 2008-01-02 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2007-09-05 | 2007-10-01 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2007-06-06 | 2007-07-02 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2007-03-07 | 2007-04-02 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2006-12-06 | 2007-01-02 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2006-08-30 | 2006-10-02 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2006-05-31 | 2006-07-03 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2006-03-08 | 2006-04-03 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2005-11-30 | 2006-01-03 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2005-08-31 | 2005-10-03 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2005-06-01 | 2005-07-01 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2005-03-02 | 2005-04-01 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2004-12-01 | 2005-01-03 | $0.3626 | — | Quarterly |
| 2004-09-01 | 2004-10-01 | $0.3626 | +2.7% | Quarterly |
| 2004-06-02 | 2004-07-01 | $0.353 | — | Quarterly |
| 2004-03-03 | 2004-04-01 | $0.353 | — | Quarterly |
| 2003-12-03 | 2004-01-02 | $0.353 | — | Quarterly |
| 2003-09-03 | 2003-10-01 | $0.353 | −87.1% | Quarterly |
| 2003-08-20 | — | $2.74 | +698.9% | |
| 2003-06-04 | 2003-07-01 | $0.3435 | — | Quarterly |
| 2003-03-05 | 2003-04-01 | $0.3435 | — | Quarterly |
| 2002-12-04 | 2003-01-02 | $0.3435 | — | Quarterly |
| 2002-09-04 | 2002-10-01 | $0.3435 | +2.9% | Quarterly |
| 2002-06-05 | 2002-07-01 | $0.334 | — | Quarterly |
| 2002-03-06 | 2002-04-01 | $0.334 | — | Quarterly |
| 2001-12-05 | 2002-01-02 | $0.334 | — | Quarterly |
| 2001-08-30 | 2001-10-01 | $0.334 | +2.9% | Quarterly |
| 2001-05-31 | 2001-07-02 | $0.3244 | — | Quarterly |
| 2001-03-07 | 2001-04-02 | $0.3244 | — | Quarterly |
| 2000-12-06 | 2001-01-02 | $0.3244 | — | Quarterly |
| 2000-08-30 | 2000-10-02 | $0.3244 | +17.2% | Quarterly |
| 2000-05-31 | 2000-07-03 | $0.2767 | — | Quarterly |
| 2000-03-01 | 2000-04-03 | $0.2767 | — | Quarterly |
| 1999-12-01 | 2000-01-03 | $0.2767 | — | Quarterly |
| 1999-09-01 | 1999-10-01 | $0.2767 | +7.4% | Quarterly |
| 1999-06-02 | 1999-07-01 | $0.2576 | — | Quarterly |
| 1999-03-03 | 1999-04-01 | $0.2576 | — | Quarterly |
| 1998-12-02 | 1999-01-04 | $0.2576 | — | Quarterly |
| 1998-09-02 | 1998-10-01 | $0.2576 | +20.0% | Quarterly |
| 1998-06-03 | 1998-07-01 | $0.2147 | — | Quarterly |
| 1998-03-04 | 1998-04-01 | $0.2147 | — | Quarterly |
| 1997-12-03 | 1998-01-02 | $0.2147 | — | Quarterly |
| 1997-09-03 | 1997-10-01 | $0.2147 | +7.1% | Quarterly |
| 1997-06-05 | 1997-07-01 | $0.2004 | — | Quarterly |
| 1997-03-05 | 1997-04-01 | $0.2004 | +5.0% | Quarterly |
| 1996-12-05 | 1997-01-02 | $0.1908 | — | Quarterly |
| 1996-09-04 | 1996-10-01 | $0.1908 | +17.6% | Quarterly |
| 1996-06-06 | 1996-07-01 | $0.1622 | — | Quarterly |
| 1996-03-06 | 1996-04-01 | $0.1622 | — | Quarterly |
| 1995-12-06 | 1996-01-02 | $0.1622 | — | Quarterly |
| 1995-09-05 | 1995-10-02 | $0.1622 | +13.3% | Quarterly |
| 1995-06-02 | 1995-07-03 | $0.1431 | — | Quarterly |
| 1995-03-03 | 1995-04-03 | $0.1431 | — | Quarterly |
| 1994-12-02 | 1995-01-02 | $0.1431 | — | Quarterly |
| 1994-09-02 | 1994-10-01 | $0.1431 | +7.1% | Quarterly |
| 1994-06-02 | 1994-07-01 | $0.1336 | — | Quarterly |
| 1994-03-02 | 1994-04-01 | $0.1336 | — | Quarterly |
| 1993-12-02 | 1994-01-03 | $0.1336 | — | Quarterly |
| 1993-09-02 | 1993-10-01 | $0.1336 | +12.0% | Quarterly |
| 1993-06-02 | 1993-07-01 | $0.1193 | — | Quarterly |
| 1993-03-02 | 1993-04-01 | $0.1193 | — | Quarterly |
| 1992-12-02 | 1993-01-04 | $0.1193 | — | Quarterly |
| 1992-08-31 | 1992-10-01 | $0.1193 | +8.7% | Quarterly |
| 1992-06-02 | 1992-07-01 | $0.1097 | — | Quarterly |
| 1992-03-02 | 1992-04-01 | $0.1097 | +9.5% | Quarterly |
| 1991-12-02 | 1992-01-02 | $0.1002 | — | Quarterly |
| 1991-08-30 | 1991-10-01 | $0.1002 | +12.5% | Quarterly |
| 1991-06-03 | 1991-07-01 | $0.0891 | — | Quarterly |
| 1991-03-04 | 1991-04-01 | $0.0891 | — | Quarterly |
| 1990-12-03 | 1991-01-02 | $0.0891 | — | Quarterly |
| 1990-08-28 | 1990-10-01 | $0.0891 | +24.4% | Quarterly |
| 1990-05-29 | 1990-07-02 | $0.0716 | — | Quarterly |
| 1990-03-05 | 1990-04-02 | $0.0716 | — | Quarterly |
| 1989-12-04 | 1990-01-02 | $0.0716 | — | Quarterly |
| 1989-08-29 | 1989-10-02 | $0.0716 | +9.8% | Quarterly |
| 1989-05-30 | 1989-07-05 | $0.0652 | — | |
| 1989-03-02 | 1989-04-03 | $0.0652 | +10.8% | |
| 1988-11-29 | 1989-01-03 | $0.0588 | +25.4% | |
| 1988-08-29 | 1988-10-03 | $0.0469 | −7.8% | |
| 1988-06-03 | 1988-07-05 | $0.0509 | — | |
| 1988-02-29 | 1988-04-04 | $0.0509 | +20.0% | |
| 1987-12-01 | 1988-01-04 | $0.0424 | — | |
| 1987-08-28 | 1987-10-01 | $0.0424 | +45.4% | |
| 1987-06-02 | 1987-07-01 | $0.0292 | — | |
| 1987-03-02 | 1987-04-01 | $0.0292 | — | |
| 1986-12-02 | 1987-01-02 | $0.0292 | — | |
| 1986-09-02 | — | $0.0292 | +22.2% | |
| 1986-06-03 | — | $0.0239 | — | |
| 1986-02-27 | — | $0.0239 | — | |
| 1985-12-03 | — | $0.0239 | +12.5% | |
| 1985-08-30 | — | $0.0212 | — | |
| 1985-06-03 | — | $0.0212 | — | |
| 1985-02-28 | — | $0.0212 | — | |
| 1984-12-03 | — | $0.0212 | +6.6% | |
| 1984-08-31 | — | $0.0199 | — | |
| 1984-05-29 | — | $0.0199 | — | |
| 1984-03-01 | — | $0.0199 | — | |
| 1983-11-29 | — | $0.0199 | +7.2% | |
| 1983-08-29 | — | $0.0186 | — | |
| 1983-05-31 | — | $0.0186 | — | |
| 1983-02-28 | — | $0.0186 | — | |
| 1982-11-30 | — | $0.0186 | — | |
| 1982-08-30 | — | $0.0186 | — | |
| 1982-06-01 | — | $0.0186 | — | |
| 1982-03-01 | — | $0.0186 | — | |
| 1981-12-01 | — | $0.0186 | +7.7% | |
| 1981-08-31 | — | $0.0172 | — | |
| 1981-06-01 | — | $0.0172 | — | |
| 1981-03-02 | — | $0.0172 | — | |
| 1980-12-02 | — | $0.0172 | +13.1% | |
| 1980-08-29 | — | $0.0152 | — | |
| 1980-06-02 | — | $0.0152 | — | |
| 1980-02-28 | — | $0.0152 | — | |
| 1979-12-03 | — | $0.0152 | +21.0% | |
| 1979-08-31 | — | $0.0126 | — | |
| 1979-05-25 | — | $0.0126 | — | |
| 1979-03-01 | — | $0.0126 | — | |
| 1978-12-04 | — | $0.0126 | +11.7% | |
| 1978-08-28 | — | $0.0113 | — | |
| 1978-05-26 | — | $0.0113 | — | |
| 1978-03-02 | — | $0.0113 | — | |
| 1977-11-28 | — | $0.0113 | +13.4% | |
| 1977-08-29 | — | $0.0099 | — | |
| 1977-05-31 | — | $0.0099 | — | |
| 1977-03-01 | — | $0.0099 | — | |
| 1976-11-30 | — | $0.0099 | +7.1% | |
| 1976-08-30 | — | $0.0093 | — | |
| 1976-06-01 | — | $0.0093 | — | |
| 1976-03-02 | — | $0.0093 | — | |
| 1975-12-01 | — | $0.0093 | — | |
| 1975-08-29 | — | $0.0093 | — | |
| 1975-06-02 | — | $0.0093 | — | |
| 1975-03-03 | — | $0.0093 | — | |
| 1974-08-30 | — | $0.0093 | — | |
| 1974-06-03 | — | $0.0093 | — | |
| 1974-03-04 | — | $0.0093 | — | |
| 1973-12-03 | — | $0.0093 | +18.7% | |
| 1973-08-31 | — | $0.0078 | — | |
| 1973-06-05 | — | $0.0078 | — | |
| 1973-03-05 | — | $0.0078 | — | |
| 1972-12-05 | — | $0.0078 | +7.3% | |
| 1972-06-09 | — | $0.0073 | — | |
| 1972-03-02 | — | $0.0073 | — | |
| 1971-12-06 | — | $0.0073 | — | |
| 1971-09-03 | — | $0.0073 | — | |
| 1971-06-07 | — | $0.0073 | — | |
| 1971-03-02 | — | $0.0073 | — | |
| 1970-12-01 | — | $0.0073 | +10.0% | |
| 1970-09-02 | — | $0.0066 | — | |
| 1970-06-02 | — | $0.0066 | — |
Amounts per share, adjusted for stock splits. Highlighted rows are announced but not yet paid.
MRK stock split history
- 1048:1000June 3, 2021
- 2:1February 17, 1999
- 3:1May 26, 1992
- 3:1May 26, 1988
- 2:1May 27, 1986
- 2:1June 1, 1972
MRK dividend overview
Merck pays an annual dividend of $3.40 per share, a yield of 2.33% at the latest close, paid quarterly. It paid $3.28 per share in 2025, up 5.1% from 2024. It has raised its dividend for 15 consecutive years. Over five years the dividend grew 6.7% a year on average and over ten years 6.6% a year. The payout ratio is 105.9% of trailing earnings.
Related: MRK cash flow statement, MRK key metrics, MRK chart. See the MRK stock overview for the latest quote and news.
MRK dividends FAQ
Does Merck pay a dividend?
Yes. Merck has paid a regular dividend since 1970, quarterly, most recently $0.85 per share with an ex-dividend date of September 15, 2026.
What is Merck's dividend yield?
Merck's forward annual dividend is $3.40 per share, a dividend yield of 2.33% at the latest close of $145.95.
How often does Merck pay dividends?
Merck pays dividends quarterly.
How fast is Merck's dividend growing?
Merck's dividend per share grew from $2.37 in 2020 to $3.28 in 2025, 6.7% a year on average over five years; it has increased for 15 years in a row.
What is Merck's dividend payout ratio?
Merck pays out 105.9% of its trailing earnings as dividends and 66.1% of its free cash flow (fiscal 2025).
Has Merck split its stock?
Merck has split its stock 6 times: 1048:1000 on June 3, 2021, 2:1 on February 17, 1999, 3:1 on May 26, 1992, 3:1 on May 26, 1988, 2:1 on May 27, 1986, 2:1 on June 1, 1972. Dividends per share on this page are adjusted for splits.