Merck Gruppe

Deutsche Bank Research keeps its rating for Merck at "Hold" and confirms a price target of €141. Analyst Falko Friedrichs expects a quarterly report that will beat market expectations, followed by slightly higher forecasts, with consensus estimates likely to rise only moderately. Merck shares traded intraday at €145.60, still below the target price; the stock has gained about 21.1 percent so far in 2026. » More on finanzen.net

The VFA warns that the tariff dispute with the US and low water levels could shrink German pharmaceutical production by about 2.2% in 2026 and real sales by 1.8%. Pull-forward effects from 2025 due to threats of high tariffs are now causing a counter-movement; many companies, including Merck, had previously pledged investments in the US. Additional burdens come from increased manufacturer rebates by the federal government, which could reduce investment and research by around €4 billion through 2030. Merck shares fell by about 1.09% on XETRA at one point. » More on finanzen.net

Merck is buying Silence Therapeutics for $20 per ADS, representing a 130% premium to the closing price and implying an equity value of about $1.3 billion (an 82% premium versus the 30‑day VWAP). The aim is to acquire the RNAi drug candidate Divesiran to treat polycythaemia vera, which is about to enter phase 3. The deal strengthens Merck’s rare disease pipeline but carries development risks until phase‑3 data are available. » More on deraktionaer.de