Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Merck & Co. Our analysis of options history for Merck & Co MRK revealed 12 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 33% of traders were bullish, while 41% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 9 were puts, with a value of $378,364, and 3 were calls, valued at $177,075.
Predicted Price Range
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $95.0 to $125.0 for Merck & Co during the past quarter.
Analyzing 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 $95.0 to $125.0, over the past month.
Merck & Co Option Volume And Open Interest Over 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 | SWEEP | BULLISH | 06/20/25 | $3.75 | $3.65 | $3.75 | $105.00 | $112.1K | 4.9K | 306 |
| MRK | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 04/17/25 | $3.15 | $3.1 | $3.1 | $95.00 | $76.1K | 7.0K | 358 |
| MRK | PUT | TRADE | BULLISH | 04/17/25 | $5.45 | $5.3 | $5.3 | $100.00 | $53.0K | 2.5K | 106 |
| MRK | PUT | TRADE | BEARISH | 01/16/26 | $9.65 | $9.6 | $9.65 | $100.00 | $48.2K | 1.7K | 743 |
| MRK | PUT | SWEEP | BULLISH | 01/16/26 | $9.65 | $9.35 | $9.65 | $100.00 | $42.3K | 1.7K | 171 |
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.
In light of the recent options history for Merck & Co, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
Present Market Standing of Merck & Co
- With a trading volume of 3,123,469, the price of MRK is up by 1.2%, reaching $98.62.
- Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.
- Next earnings report is scheduled for 6 days from now.
What Analysts Are Saying About Merck & Co
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $117.4.
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 UBS persists with their Buy rating on Merck & Co, maintaining a target price of $120. * Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Morgan Stanley continues to hold a Equal-Weight rating for Merck & Co, targeting a price of $113. * An analyst from Truist Securities has revised its rating downward to Hold, adjusting the price target to $110. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Leerink Partners keeps a Outperform rating on Merck & Co with a target price of $119. * An analyst from Citigroup persists with their Buy rating on Merck & Co, maintaining a target price of $125.
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.
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
