High-rolling investors have positioned themselves bearish on Merck & Co MRK, and it's important for retail traders to take note. \This activity came to our attention today through Benzinga's tracking of publicly available options data. The identities of these investors are uncertain, but such a significant move in MRK often signals that someone has privileged information.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 8 options trades for Merck & Co. This is not a typical pattern.
The sentiment among these major traders is split, with 12% bullish and 50% bearish. Among all the options we identified, there was one put, amounting to $30,498, and 7 calls, totaling $404,215.
What's The Price Target?
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $50.0 to $115.0 for Merck & Co over the last 3 months.
Insights into Volume & Open Interest
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Merck & Co's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Merck & Co's significant trades, within a strike price range of $50.0 to $115.0, over the past month.
Merck & Co Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days
Largest Options Trades Observed:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRK | CALL | TRADE | BULLISH | 12/19/25 | $14.4 | $13.95 | $14.3 | $95.00 | $173.0K | 219 | 121 |
| MRK | CALL | SWEEP | NEUTRAL | 01/16/26 | $14.05 | $13.1 | $13.6 | $95.00 | $54.5K | 420 | 40 |
| MRK | CALL | TRADE | BEARISH | 07/18/25 | $3.25 | $2.62 | $2.87 | $115.00 | $43.0K | 131 | 177 |
| MRK | CALL | SWEEP | BEARISH | 04/17/25 | $2.12 | $2.07 | $2.08 | $110.00 | $41.6K | 5.8K | 22 |
| MRK | CALL | TRADE | BEARISH | 02/21/25 | $9.15 | $8.95 | $9.03 | $95.00 | $36.1K | 500 | 47 |
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.
Where Is Merck & Co Standing Right Now?
- Currently trading with a volume of 5,413,468, the MRK's price is up by 1.57%, now at $101.29.
- RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.
- Anticipated earnings release is in 28 days.
Expert Opinions on Merck & Co
2 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $113.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access. * An analyst from BMO Capital downgraded its action to Market Perform with a price target of $105. * In a cautious move, an analyst from B of A Securities downgraded its rating to Buy, setting a price target of $121.
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.
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Comments
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
