Decoding Merck & Co's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Merck & Co.

Looking at options history for Merck & Co MRK we detected 9 trades.

If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 66% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 22% with bearish.

From the overall spotted trades, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $69,435 and 7, calls, for a total amount of $1,203,898.

Expected Price Movements

Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $85.0 to $95.0 for Merck & Co during the past quarter.

Volume & Open Interest Trends

In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Merck & Co stands at 8273.17, with a total volume reaching 10,621.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Merck & Co, situated within the strike price corridor from $85.0 to $95.0, throughout the last 30 days.

Merck & Co 30-Day Option Volume & Interest Snapshot

Largest Options Trades Observed:

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.

Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Merck & Co, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.

Where Is Merck & Co Standing Right Now?

• With a trading volume of 4,348,312, the price of MRK is up by 0.87%, reaching $90.16.
• Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching oversold.
• Next earnings report is scheduled for 56 days from now.

Expert Opinions on Merck & Co

A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $108.6.

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20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. Click here for access. * An analyst from Citigroup persists with their Buy rating on Merck & Co, maintaining a target price of $115. * In a cautious move, an analyst from Deutsche Bank downgraded its rating to Hold, setting a price target of $105. * Maintaining their stance, an analyst from BMO Capital continues to hold a Market Perform rating for Merck & Co, targeting a price of $96. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from B of A Securities keeps a Buy rating on Merck & Co with a target price of $112. * An analyst from Guggenheim persists with their Buy rating on Merck & Co, maintaining a target price of $115.

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