Merck Surges to 46th in Trading Volume with $13.91 Billion in Shares Traded Amid $3 Billion Acquisition Bid

On June 3, 2025, Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) saw a significant increase in trading volume, with a total of $13.91 billion in shares traded, marking a 62.47% rise from the previous day. This surge placed Merck at the 46th position in terms of trading volume for the day. The stock price of Merck rose by 1.17%.

Merck & Co., Inc. has intensified its dealmaking activities with a reported bid exceeding $3 billion for Swiss biotech company MoonLake Immunotherapeutics. This move comes as Merck prepares for the impending patent cliff of its blockbuster drug Keytruda, which has been a significant revenue driver for the company. The acquisition of MoonLake could potentially bolster Merck's pipeline and mitigate the impact of Keytruda's patent expiration.

Investors in Merck & Co., Inc. are closely monitoring the options market, as recent activity suggests a significant move in the stock. The June 20, 2025 $55.00 Call option has shown high levels of implied volatility, indicating that traders are anticipating a substantial price movement. This heightened volatility could be due to upcoming events or market expectations, and it presents both opportunities and risks for options traders.

Analysts have mixed sentiments regarding Merck's current performance. The company is ranked as a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) within the Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry, which places it in the top 17% of the Zacks Industry Rank. Over the past 60 days, no analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while six have lowered their estimates. This has resulted in a reduction of the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $2.18 per share to $2.03 per share.