Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB 13F: Cuts MRK Stake by $2.8M

Wilmington Savings Fund Society reduced its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. MRK by 19,001 shares during the quarter, according to a Form 13F filing disclosed on October 23, 2026. The institutional investor wrapped up the period with 204,655 shares of the healthcare company, worth about $29.7 million based on the filing value.

MRK Merck & Co., Inc.

$145.27 ▲ +39.28% year to date

1M 3M YTD

Daily close · Oct 23, 2026

What Changed in Wilmington Savings Fund Society's Merck Position

The fund held 223,656 shares of Merck before the adjustment. The recent cut of 8.5% left the investor with 204,655 shares, keeping a notable position in the pharmaceutical developer even after the reduction.

Other Institutional Activity in Merck

Other large investors adjusted their holdings in Merck around the same time. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company trimmed its position by 64,996 shares, leaving it with 629,819 shares valued at $91.5 million in a report filed on October 20, 2026. Midwest Trust lowered its stake by 40,864 shares to finish with 697,609 shares worth about $101.4 million on October 22, 2026. Smith Chas P & Associates Pa Cpas pared its holdings by 6,761 shares, ending with 352,837 shares valued at $51.5 million on October 22, 2026. Meanwhile, Goldstein Advisors grew its stake by 1,824 shares to hold 6,258 shares worth about $909,350 on October 15, 2026.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Down 3.1%

Merck shares closed at $145.27 on October 23, 2026. The stock recently traded around $145.27 as of October 24, 2026, putting it about equal to its event-day price. The shares sit well above their 200-day moving average by 15.6% and about 7.4% below their 52-week high of $156.92.

Recent Earnings

Merck posted trailing twelve month revenue of $66.57 billion and earnings of $1.24 per share. The company operates with a net margin of 4.8% and a return on equity of 7.0%. Management scheduled the next earnings report for October 29, 2026.

Dividend

Merck pays an annual dividend rate of $3.40 per share, giving investors a dividend yield of 2.31%. The payout ratio stands at 266.7%.

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

Insiders completed several transactions in the months leading up to the filing. On August 6, 2026, officer Chirfi Guindo sold 15,000 shares at $131.00 for a total of $1.97 million. On August 12, 2026, General Counsel Jennifer L Zachary sold 80,315 shares at $133.46 worth $10.72 million. On the same day, officer Richard Robert Deluca Jr. sold 45,320 shares valued at $5.94 million. Shortly after, on August 13, 2026, Chirfi Guindo sold another 10,000 shares at $135.00 for a total of $1.35 million.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Wall Street firms updated their views on the stock ahead of the filing. On October 5, 2026, JP Morgan maintained an Overweight rating and lifted its price target to $165.00 from $150.00. Morgan Stanley maintained an Overweight rating on October 7, 2026, adjusting its target slightly to $177.00 from $179.00. Cantor Fitzgerald maintained a Neutral rating on October 8, 2026, raising its target to $145.00 from $120.00. Citigroup maintained a Neutral rating on October 12, 2026, raising its target to $145.00 from $125.00. RBC Capital maintained a Sector Perform rating on October 12, 2026, lowering its target to $145.00 from $150.00. Overall, the stock carries a consensus buy recommendation from 25 analysts with a mean price target of $158.56.

About Merck & Co., Inc.

Headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey, Merck & Co., Inc. develops human health pharmaceutical products for diverse medical fields worldwide. Its portfolio features well-known brands such as Keytruda, Gardasil, Lynparza, and ProQuad, addressing major therapeutic areas including oncology, vaccines, and hospital acute care.

Bottom Line

Investors will look toward Merck's upcoming earnings release on October 29, 2026, for fresh details on product sales and profit margins. Monitoring subsequent institutional filings will show whether other major funds follow Wilmington Savings Fund Society in adjusting their positions.