Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Stock Forecast
MRK analyst forecast
as of October 18, 2026- Analyst consensus
- Buy 4.22 / 5 from 27 analysts
- Price target
- $158.44 average of analyst targets
- Upside to target
- +8.6% from the latest close
- Next earnings
- October 29, 2026 EPS estimate $2.12
- 52-week range
- $82.49 – $156.45
MRK analyst ratings
27 analystsNumber of analysts at each rating.
MRK price target
The average of analyst 12-month price targets compared with the latest close and the 52-week range.
MRK earnings per share estimates
| Period | Average | Low | High | Year ago | Growth | Analysts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current quarter (Sep '26) | $2.09 | $1.80 | $2.26 | $2.58 | −19.0% | 19 |
| Current fiscal year (2026) | $2.66 | $2.50 | $2.82 | $8.98 | −70.4% | 25 |
| Next fiscal year (2027) | $9.29 | $8.48 | $10.36 | $2.66 | +249.8% | 22 |
Consensus EPS estimates; growth compares the average estimate with the year-ago EPS.
MRK revenue estimates
| Period | Average | Low | High | Growth | Analysts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current quarter (Sep '26) | $17.32B | $16.90B | $17.63B | +0.2% | 17 |
| Current fiscal year (2026) | $67.04B | $66.40B | $67.40B | +3.1% | 24 |
| Next fiscal year (2027) | $69.93B | $67.73B | $72.44B | +4.3% | 22 |
MRK EPS: reported and forecast
Fiscal years; "E" marks estimates, the line shows the range from the lowest to the highest estimate.
MRK revenue: reported and forecast
MRK EPS estimate revisions
| Period | 90 days ago | 60 days ago | 30 days ago | 7 days ago | Now | Change (90 d) | Revisions (30 d) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current quarter (Sep '26) | $2.30 | $2.21 | $2.21 | $2.13 | $2.09 | −9.0% | 1 up · 7 down |
| Current fiscal year (2026) | $2.75 | $2.75 | $2.75 | $2.69 | $2.66 | −3.5% | 0 up · 10 down |
| Next fiscal year (2027) | $9.66 | $9.56 | $9.55 | $9.32 | $9.29 | −3.8% | 1 up · 10 down |
How the consensus EPS estimate changed over the last 90 days, and how many analysts raised or lowered it in the last 30 days.
MRK earnings surprises
Reported EPS vs the consensus estimate for the last 12 quarters; MRK beat in 12 of 12.
What analysts expect from MRK
27 analysts cover Merck; their consensus rating is buy (4.22 on a 1–5 scale, where 5 is a strong buy). The average price target is $158.44, 8.6% above the latest close of $145.95. Analysts expect earnings of $2.66 per share for 2026, −70.4% from a year earlier. For 2027 the average estimate is $9.29 per share on revenue of $69.9 billion. Merck beat the EPS estimate in 12 of the last 12 quarters.
Related: MRK income statement, MRK key metrics, MRK chart. See the MRK stock overview for the latest quote and news.
MRK forecast FAQ
What is Merck's price target?
The average analyst price target for Merck is $158.44, 8.6% above the latest close of $145.95.
Is Merck a buy, hold or sell?
Of 27 analysts covering Merck, 14 rate it a strong buy, 5 a buy, 8 a hold, 0 a sell and 0 a strong sell, a consensus of buy. Ratings are opinions, not a recommendation from Quotelinks.
What is Merck's EPS forecast?
Analysts forecast $2.66 per share for 2026 (range $2.50 to $2.82); for 2027 the estimate is $9.29.
What is Merck's revenue forecast?
The average revenue estimate for 2026 is $67.0 billion, growth of 3.1%; for 2027 it is $69.9 billion.
When does Merck report earnings?
Merck is expected to report results for the quarter ending September 30, 2026 on October 29, 2026 before the market opens; the EPS estimate is $2.12.
Does Merck usually beat earnings estimates?
Merck reported EPS at or above the analyst estimate in 12 of the last 12 quarters.