Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Merck & Co MRK, and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in MRK usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 11 extraordinary options activities for Merck & Co. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 63% leaning bullish and 36% bearish. Among these notable options, 6 are puts, totaling $487,682, and 5 are calls, amounting to $170,536.
Projected Price Targets
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $70.0 and $130.0 for Merck & Co, spanning the last three months.
Insights into Volume & Open Interest
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Merck & Co options trades today is 4151.7 with a total volume of 2,340.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Merck & Co's big money trades within a strike price range of $70.0 to $130.0 over the last 30 days.
Merck & Co Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview
Significant Options Trades Detected:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRK | PUT | SWEEP | BULLISH | 04/17/25 | $36.45 | $35.3 | $35.49 | $130.00 | $134.8K | 8 | 38 |
| MRK | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 09/19/25 | $9.6 | $9.45 | $9.6 | $100.00 | $130.5K | 1.7K | 136 |
| MRK | PUT | SWEEP | BULLISH | 04/17/25 | $3.05 | $2.94 | $2.94 | $95.00 | $88.2K | 10.9K | 378 |
| MRK | PUT | SWEEP | BULLISH | 07/18/25 | $2.23 | $2.22 | $2.22 | $85.00 | $59.0K | 3.3K | 323 |
| MRK | CALL | SWEEP | BULLISH | 01/16/26 | $5.35 | $5.2 | $5.35 | $105.00 | $42.2K | 3.8K | 86 |
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.
Merck & Co's Current Market Status
- With a trading volume of 4,446,683, the price of MRK is down by -0.09%, reaching $94.7.
- Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be overbought.
- Next earnings report is scheduled for 37 days from now.
Expert Opinions on Merck & Co
Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $105.0.
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. * Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Deutsche Bank lowers its rating to Hold with a new price target of $105.
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Merck & Co, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts.
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