NYSEHealth CareDrug Manufacturers - GeneralSnapshot 2026-07-31
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Create your account →Daily closes. Earnings/event dots are placed inline.
Industries move in repeating boom-and-bust cycles. This shows where this stock’s industry sits in that cycle, stage by stage (recovery → expansion → supercycle → steady → deceleration → contraction), from its fundamentals (orders, revenue, capital spending), not the stock’s price.
A booming industry is a tailwind for the names in it; a contracting one is a headwind. Companies in the same industry tend to rise and fall together with the cycle, the way a tide lifts and lowers every boat in the harbor at once, so a large part of a stock’s swing can come from where its industry sits rather than from the company itself. It’s context for reading the company’s results, not a buy/sell call. Full explanation →
Pharmaceuticals is in steady. Describes the industry's cycle state, not a call on this stock.
The stage band shows the industry’s cycle over the chart’s timeline (each color a stage); a ▼ marks a quarter its growth inflected down — amber is an unconfirmed watch, red is confirmed the next quarter. Use “Overlay cycle on chart” to tint the price chart by stage. The industry’s fundamentals, not a signal on this stock.
Primary pillar under pressure — Advance oncology pipeline with new approvals and deals: metric not reported.
View ThesisRevenue is growing steadily — about 3% over the past year.
View GrowthManagement screens strong on capital allocation, earnings delivery, market reaction to earnings.
View ManagementExpectations look high — the market is pricing in about 51% growth a year, above the roughly 5% analysts expect, leaving little room for error.
View ValuationModerate volatility — typically moves about 1% a day.
View RiskMerck's growth in oncology has to keep compounding to justify the price. Revenue grew 5% year over year, and the last quarter beat expectations by 12.9%. It trades at 24× P/E versus a peer median of 15×. The market is pricing in more growth than we forecast, making it look expensive. If Merck cuts guidance after recently raising it, that could hurt credibility. Peer multiples imply a price about 52% below where it trades. This read is provisional; the thesis is on watch.
Trailing returns as of 2026-07-31. MRK is total return (includes dividends); the S&P 500 benchmark is price return (the index excludes dividends).
Based on 29 analysts currently covering MRK (as of Jul 2026).
Based on 8 Wall Street analysts offering 12-month price targets for MRK in the last 4 months.
A consensus fair price across 12 valuation methods, at three horizons. As of 2026-08-01. Estimates are diagnostics, not price targets. Short-horizon estimates are close to coin-flips, so confidence is a method-agreement read, not a prediction.
Today's peer multiple on trailing earnings, with no growth credited. This is the headline read.
Adds projected growth, so it leans optimistic by design. Read it as upside context, not a base case.
A price-focused, side-by-side fair-value read versus Pharmaceuticals — fair value, gap to price, and forward P/E.
Advances: Expand oncology pipeline
Expanding product offerings supports oncology pipeline growth.
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.
End-of-day figures as of 2026-07-31. EPS is implied from price ÷ P/E. Not investment advice.
Current $130.22
The last 12 months of price, then the range of analyst 12-month targets from today’s $130.22.
Analyst ratings and price targets are third-party Wall Street estimates, not QuarterlyIQ’s view. Not investment advice.
A long-thesis check that carries the widest uncertainty of the three horizons.
Below average on quality vs scored peers
Direction of the business behind the multiple. Bands are backend reads; trailing-12-month basis.
Threatens: Expand oncology pipeline
Patent expiration could hinder oncology pipeline expansion.
New product boosts earnings growth outlook.
Advances: Expand oncology pipeline
FDA approval supports oncology pipeline expansion.
Advances: Expand oncology pipeline
FDA approval supports oncology pipeline expansion.
Advances: Expand oncology pipeline
Positive trial data supports oncology pipeline expansion.
Advances: Expand oncology pipeline
Positive study data supports expansion of oncology pipeline.
Advances: Expand oncology pipeline
Analyst upgrade reflects confidence in oncology pipeline expansion.
