Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company 13F: Cuts MRK Stake by $9.4M

Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company reduced its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. MRK by 9.35% during the period, according to a Form 13F filed with the SEC on October 20, 2026. The fund sold 64,996 shares, leaving it with 629,819 shares valued at approximately $91,519,000.

MRK Merck & Co., Inc.

$148.30 ▲ +42.19% year to date

1M 3M YTD

Daily close · Oct 20, 2026

What Changed in Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company's Merck & Co., Inc. Position

The fund held 694,815 shares of the healthcare provider prior to this filing. Dropping 64,996 shares brought its final count down to 629,819 shares. That adjustment represents a 9.35% decrease in the fund's exposure to the stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Up 1.9%

Merck shares recently traded around $148.02 as of October 21, 2026. The stock closed at $145.95 on October 16, 2026, meaning recent prices sit up about 1.4% since that filing close. The company operates with a low beta of 0.222, showing less price turbulence than the broader market.

Recent Earnings

Merck posted trailing twelve-month revenues of $66,568,998,912 alongside basic earnings per share of $1.26. The business recorded a net profit margin of 4.8% and a return on equity of 7.0%, paired with year-over-year revenue growth of 5.1%. Investors look ahead to the next earnings report scheduled for October 29, 2026.

Dividend

The company pays an annual dividend rate of $3.40 per share. That payout translates to a high dividend payout ratio of 266.7% relative to recent trailing earnings.

Insider Buying and Selling at Merck & Co., Inc.

Company insiders executed several transactions prior to the filing. On August 6, 2026, officer Chirfi Guindo sold 15,000 shares at $131.00 for $1,965,000. General Counsel Jennifer L. Zachary sold 80,315 shares on August 12, 2026, at $133.46 for $10,718,495. Officer Richard Robert Deluca Jr. disposed of 45,320 shares on August 12, 2026, valued at $5,942,369. Finally, Chirfi Guindo parted with another 10,000 shares on August 13, 2026, at $155.00 for $1,350,000.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Wall Street research firms updated their views on the drug maker through October. JP Morgan maintained an overweight rating on October 5, 2026, raising its target to $165.00 from $150.00. Morgan Stanley kept an overweight rating on October 7, 2026, moving its target to $177.00 from $179.00. Cantor Fitzgerald maintained a neutral rating on October 8, 2026, raising its price target to $145.00 from $120.00. Citigroup kept a neutral rating on October 12, 2026, lifting its target to $145.00 from $125.00. RBC Capital held a sector perform rating on October 12, 2026, taking its target to $145.00 from $150.00.

About Merck & Co., Inc.

Merck & Co., Inc. develops human health pharmaceuticals for various treatment areas worldwide. Its major brands include Keytruda, Gardasil, ProQuad, and Januvia. Based in Rahway, New Jersey, the firm employs approximately 73,000 people and focuses on therapies ranging from oncology to vaccines.

Bottom Line

Market participants will watch the upcoming earnings release on October 29, 2026, for updated revenue and margin details. The recent reduction by Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company alters its portfolio weight in the pharmaceutical giant as shares trade above mid-October closing levels.