Stock Analysis
Data Source: SEC EDGAR 13F
Updated Hourly

MERCK & CO INC (MRK)

3K + Investors. Track Smart Money conviction in MRK. See who's accumulating, reducing, or initiating positions.

Current Price
-- USD
Analyst Target
-- (0 analysts)
Upside
0.00%
Net Flow Q/Q
↑ +314
Streak
1Q ▲
Buyers last Q
55%

Smart Money Signals — MRK

Based on 3349 hedge funds · latest filing: 2025 Q4 · updated quarterly

📈

Buying streak — 1 quarter in a row

last 6Q
For 1 consecutive quarter, more hedge funds added MRK than sold it. That's a consistent pattern of professional buying — not a one-time trade. When institutions keep buying quarter after quarter, it usually means they see a multi-year opportunity, not just a short-term momentum flip.
🏔️

At the ownership peak (100% of max)

100% of all-time peak
3,349 hedge funds hold MRK right now — the highest count in 3.0 years. When ownership is this concentrated, any bad news can trigger a chain reaction: one big fund sells, others follow. This is a classic 'crowded trade' — high popularity doesn't equal safety.
〰️

Stable — ownership unchanged year-over-year

fund count last 6Q
The number of hedge funds holding MRK is almost the same as a year ago (+58 funds, +2% change). No significant rush to buy or sell — institutional backing is holding steady.
🟡

Slight buying edge — 55% buying

1789 buying1485 selling
Last quarter: 1,789 funds bought or added vs 1,485 that reduced or exited. It's nearly a 50/50 split — some institutions are convinced, others are taking profits. This mixed picture is normal near price highs.
📈

More new buyers each quarter (+312 vs last Q)

new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening a new MRK position: 193 → 185 → 182 → 494. A growing influx of new institutional buyers means the asset is still gathering momentum — the consensus hasn't fully saturated yet.
🔒

76% of holders stayed for 2+ years

■ 76% conviction (2yr+) ■ 13% medium ■ 11% new
2,529 out of 3,349 hedge funds have held MRK for over 2 years without selling. Long-term investors are generally harder to shake out during market stress, creating a stable ownership base that limits the risk of sudden capitulation.
💰

Value +29% but shares only +1% — price-driven

Value
+28%
Shares
+1%
Last quarter: the total dollar value of institutional holdings rose +29%, but actual share count only changed +1%. The gap is explained by the stock's price rising — not new buying. Strong value growth with weak share growth means the rally is price momentum, not fresh institutional demand.
🚀

Acceleration phase — new buyers rushing in

263 → 193 → 185 → 182 → 494 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 193 → 185 → 182 → 494. The pace of institutional discovery is accelerating sharply. This is the 'hot idea' phase — the thesis is being passed from fund to fund. You are not late — the accumulation wave is still building.
🏛️

Deep conviction — 74% of holders stayed 2+ years

■ 74% veterans ■ 10% 1-2yr ■ 16% new
Of 3,439 current holders: 2,557 (74%) have held for over 2 years without selling. These are not momentum buyers — they have lived through drawdowns and stayed. A large veteran base acts as a stabilizing force during selloffs.
🏆

Elite ownership — 58% AUM from top-100 funds

58% from top-100 AUM funds
47 of 3349 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 58% of total institutional value in MRK. When the biggest players dominate the cap table, it signifies deep institutional support — since mega-funds deploy the most rigorous due diligence and capital.
3.3
out of 10
Low Exit Risk
Exit risk score 3.3/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.

Methodology note: these Smart Money cards use consecutive 13F disclosure snapshots, not trade-by-trade execution data. "Buying", "selling", "new holders", and "trimmed" refer to quarter-over-quarter changes in reported holders, aggregate shares, or disclosed position values between filings. They are useful for ownership regime analysis and crowding, but they do not imply exact trade timing on the filing date.

Hedge Fund Ownership: MRK

How many hedge funds hold MRK — quarterly history vs. share price
Quarterly hedge fund ownership of MRK vs. share price

Market Analysis: MRK

Analyst Price Targets

Avg. Price Target
--

Analyst Recommendations

Stock Performance

Real-time

Company Profile: MRK

-- --

Institutional ownership data sourced from SEC EDGAR Form 13F-HR filings.

Smart Money Signal ?
Strong Institutional Conviction

Multiple high-quality funds hold meaningful positions with strong conviction.

248 top-rated funds 53 high-conviction
Consensus
10.0
/ 10
breadth
×
Elite
7.0
/ 10
conviction
Hedge Fund Positioning: MRK
2026 Q1 Stats Unlock in 11 days 3K + Investors

Track Smart Money conviction in MRK. See who's accumulating, reducing, or initiating positions.

Metric All 13F Filers (2025 Q4) Prior (2025 Q3) Change
Funds Holding 3439 3141 9.49%
13F Shares 1.97B 1.95B 0.96%
Total Value $204.26B $158.41B 28.94%
New Positions 498 187 +311
Increased Positions 1420 1390 +30
Closed Positions 189 213 -24
Reduced Positions 1432 1500 -68
Total Calls 53 61 -13.11%
Total Puts 48 56 -14.29%
PUT/CALL Ratio 0.91 0.92 Neutral

Statistics: MRK

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Financial Highlights

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Institutional Holders (2026 Q1)

3K + investors

Explore institutional interest and hedge fund ownership dynamics. Analyze portfolio weights, new positions, and conviction trends in MRK. Verified SEC 13F-HR filings.

Top 25 institutional holders of MRK — 2025 Q4 · Source: SEC Form 13F
# Investor % of Portfolio Shares Mkt Value
1 Wallace Advisory Group, LLC 14.83% 115,409 $13.9M
2 Radnor Capital Management, LLC 9.25% 519,443 $62.5M
3 Clark & Stuart, Inc 8.41% 103,085 $12.5M
4 Slocum, Gordon & Co LLP 7.73% 94,448 $11.4M
5 SECTOR GAMMA AS 7.39% 260,340 $31.3M
6 KAHN BROTHERS GROUP INC 4.85% 227,288 $27.3M
7 CACTI ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC 4.70% 645,299 $77.6M
8 W ADVISORS, LLC 4.47% 72,563 $8.7M
9 WILKINS INVESTMENT COUNSEL INC 4.25% 246,748 $29.7M
10 Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel, LLC 4.07% 62,145 $7.5M
11 Westend Capital Management, LLC 4.06% 112,368 $13.5M
12 Trust Co of Kansas 4.02% 60,523 $7K
13 Boit C F David 3.75% 70,283 $8.5M
14 PATRICK M SWEENEY & ASSOCIATES, INC 3.71% 48,057 $5.8M
15 Sivik Global Healthcare LLC 3.65% 40,000 $5K
16 THOMAS STORY & SON LLC 3.63% 78,545 $9.4M
17 Employees Provident Fund Board 3.59% 1,587,508 $84.0M
18 MONARCH CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC 3.57% 120,559 $14.6M
19 CORDA Investment Management, LLC. 3.56% 427,526 $51.4M
20 FUKOKU MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO 3.52% 447,246 $53.8M
21 McGinn Penninger Investment Management, Inc. 3.48% 44,311 $5K
22 DJE Kapital AG 3.47% 1,306,098 $156.7M
23 NICHOLS & PRATT ADVISERS LLP /MA 3.47% 446,639 $53.7M
24 BOURGEON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC 3.39% 162,967 $19.6M
25 BRIGHT ROCK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC 3.38% 142,000 $17.1M
Investor Ownership
History 		% of Portfolio Prev % Rank Conviction Avg Buy Price 13F Score™ 3Y / 7Y Sell Timing Shares Mkt Value Change Change % Source Quarter Filed

Frequently Asked Questions — MERCK & CO INC (MRK)

What does the Smart Money Trend signal show for MRK?

Buying streak — 1 quarter in a row: For 1 consecutive quarter, more hedge funds added MRK than sold it. That's a consistent pattern of professional buying — not a one-time trade. When institutions keep buying quarter after quarter, it usually means they see a multi-year opportunity, not just a short-term momentum flip.

What is the institutional breadth score for MRK?

Slight buying edge — 55% buying: Last quarter: 1,789 funds bought or added vs 1,485 that reduced or exited. It's nearly a 50/50 split — some institutions are convinced, others are taking profits. This mixed picture is normal near price highs.

What is the fund quality score for MRK holders?

Elite ownership — 58% AUM from top-100 funds: 47 of 3349 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 58% of total institutional value in MRK. When the biggest players dominate the cap table, it signifies deep institutional support — since mega-funds deploy the most rigorous due diligence and capital.

How long have hedge funds held MRK?

76% of holders stayed for 2+ years: 2,529 out of 3,349 hedge funds have held MRK for over 2 years without selling. Long-term investors are generally harder to shake out during market stress, creating a stable ownership base that limits the risk of sudden capitulation.

Where does this institutional ownership data come from?

All holdings data is sourced from SEC Form 13F filings, which institutional investment managers with over $100 million in assets are required to submit quarterly. Data is parsed directly from SEC EDGAR.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any security. Institutional holdings data is sourced from SEC Form 13F filings and reflects positions as of the filing date. Past performance of any fund or portfolio is not indicative of future results. 13Foresight is not a registered investment adviser. Always conduct your own due diligence before making investment decisions.