Smart Money Is Betting Big In MRK Options

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Merck & Co. Our analysis of options history for Merck & Co MRK revealed 9 unusual trades.

Delving into the details, we found 44% of traders were bullish, while 55% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 3 were puts, with a value of $123,625, and 6 were calls, valued at $299,194.

Projected Price Targets

Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $120.0 to $130.0 for Merck & Co during the past quarter.

Analyzing Volume & Open Interest

Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Merck & Co's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Merck & Co's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $120.0 to $130.0 over the preceding 30 days.

Merck & Co Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview

Options Call Chart

Significant Options Trades Detected:

Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume
MRK CALL SWEEP BULLISH 07/26/24 $3.9 $3.7 $3.85 $124.00 $73.5K 443 214
MRK CALL SWEEP BEARISH 08/02/24 $3.1 $3.0 $3.0 $127.00 $60.0K 300 226
MRK CALL SWEEP BULLISH 09/20/24 $9.7 $9.7 $9.7 $120.00 $55.2K 1.9K 60
MRK PUT TRADE BULLISH 07/26/24 $0.43 $0.33 $0.35 $125.00 $51.9K 1.6K 4.0K
MRK CALL SWEEP BEARISH 08/02/24 $3.05 $3.0 $3.05 $127.00 $45.7K 300 193

About Merck & Co

Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent pediatric diseases as well as human papillomavirus, or HPV. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the company's sales are generated in the United States.

After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Merck & Co, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.

Present Market Standing of Merck & Co

  • Trading volume stands at 4,941,230, with MRK's price up by 0.4%, positioned at $126.42.
  • RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.
  • Earnings announcement expected in 5 days.

What The Experts Say On Merck & Co

A total of 1 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $134.0.

  • An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Equal-Weight rating on Merck & Co, which currently sits at a price target of $134.

Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Merck & Co with Benzinga Pro for real-time alerts.

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