Stock Analysis
Data Source: SEC EDGAR 13F
Updated Hourly

Merck & Co Inc (MRK)

4K + 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
↑ +68
Streak
3Q ▲
Buyers last Q
53%

Smart Money Signals — MRK

Based on 3855 hedge funds · latest filing: 2026 Q2 · updated quarterly

📈

Buying streak — 3 quarters in a row

last 6Q
For 3 consecutive quarters, 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
3,855 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.
📶

Steady growth — +17% more funds vs a year ago

fund count last 6Q
+571 new funds entered over the past year (+17% YoY). Gradual, steady growth in institutional ownership is generally a healthy signal — not a speculative rush, but consistent conviction.
🟡

Slight buying edge — 53% buying

1898 buying1707 selling
Last quarter: 1,898 funds bought or added vs 1,707 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.
⚠️

Fewer new buyers each quarter (-97 vs last Q)

new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening this position for the first time: 210 → 541 → 354 → 257. Each quarter fewer new institutions are entering. This usually means most funds that wanted in are already in — the stock is well-known but the pool of potential new buyers is shrinking.
🔒

72% of holders stayed for 2+ years

■ 72% conviction (2yr+) ■ 15% medium ■ 14% new
2,758 out of 3,855 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.
📊

Peak discovery — momentum slowing

213 → 210 → 541 → 354 → 257 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 210 → 541 → 354 → 257. MRK is well-known in the hedge fund world, but fresh entries are gradually declining. The explosive phase of institutional discovery is likely behind us.
🏛️

Veteran-anchored — 74% veterans vs 16% newcomers

■ 74% veterans ■ 10% 1-2yr ■ 16% new
Entry-cohort mix of 3,945 holders: 2,917 (74%) are 2+ year veterans, 410 entered 1–2 years ago, and 618 (16%) joined within the past year. A veteran-weighted cap table skews toward institutional memory over fresh momentum.
🏆

Elite ownership — 66% AUM from top-100 funds

66% from top-100 AUM funds
73 of 3839 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 66% 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.
3.6
out of 10
Low Exit Risk
Exit risk score 3.6/10 — 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.

Institutional Sentiment Summary — MRK

In 2026 Q2, 1898 hedge funds were net buyers of MRK (257 opened a new position, 1641 added to an existing one), while 1707 reduced or exited (1518 trimmed, 189 sold completely) — a 53% buyer ratio, indicating a slight buying edge. This marks 3 consecutive quarters of net institutional buying — a persistent conviction signal. 66% of total institutional value in MRK is held by top-100 AUM funds, reflecting elite-tier ownership quality. Net fund flow last quarter: +68 funds (more new holders than closures). Total institutional holders: 3855.

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

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

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Smart Money Signal ?
Strong Institutional Conviction

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

101 top-rated funds 62 high-conviction
Consensus
8.7
/ 10
breadth
×
Elite
7.5
/ 10
conviction
Hedge Fund Positioning: MRK
4K + Investors

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

Metric All 13F Filers (2026 Q2) Prior (2026 Q1) Change
Funds Holding 3809 3787 0.58%
13F Shares 2.01B 1.95B 2.99%
Total Value $249.89B $224.08B 11.52%
New Positions 244 354 -110
Increased Positions 1615 1428 +187
Closed Positions 206 188 +18
Reduced Positions 1474 1580 -106
Total Calls 52 50 4.0%
Total Puts 51 52 -1.92%
PUT/CALL Ratio 0.98 1.04 Neutral

Statistics: MRK

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Institutional Holders (2026 Q2)

4K + investors

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

QUARTER:
Top 25 MRK holders by conviction (% of portfolio weight) — 2026 Q2 · Source: SEC Form 13F
# Investor % of Portfolio Shares Mkt Value
1 Wallace Advisory Group, LLC 13.94% 115,340 $14.8M
2 Radnor Capital Management, LLC 9.36% 518,900 $66.7M
3 Clark & Stuart, Inc 8.26% 101,766 $13.2M
4 Slocum, Gordon & Co LLP 7.95% 93,181 $12.0M
5 Bruce & Co., Inc. 6.64% 190,800 $24.5M
6 Atle Fund Management AB 6.55% 189,357 $24.3M
7 Smead Capital Management, Inc. 6.43% 2,334,468 $300.0M
8 Sector Gamma As 6.05% 217,008 $27.9M
9 Round Hill Asset Management 5.76% 71,350 $9.2M
10 Adalta Capital Management LLC 4.94% 86,966 $11.2M
11 Kahn Brothers Group Inc 4.85% 227,288 $27.3M
12 Thornburg Investment Management Inc 4.66% 3,787,976 $486.8M
13 Compass Capital Management, Inc 4.39% 567,099 $72.9M
14 W Advisors, LLC 4.23% 72,472 $9.3M
15 Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc 4.23% 244,471 $31.4M
16 Cacti Asset Management LLC 4.16% 645,299 $82.9M
17 Boit C F David 3.80% 70,283 $9.0M
18 Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel, LLC 3.73% 62,145 $8.0M
19 Thomas Story & Son LLC 3.66% 80,662 $10.4M
20 Bright Rock Capital Management, LLC 3.66% 142,000 $18.2M
21 Castlefield Investment Partners LLP 3.65% 41,797 $5.4M
22 Patrick M Sweeney & Associates, Inc 3.56% 48,210 $6.2M
23 Stamos Capital Partners, L.P. 3.54% 179,799 $23.1M
24 DJE Kapital AG 3.53% 1,431,324 $187.5M
25 Monarch Capital Management Inc 3.53% 119,322 $15.4M
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 — 3 quarters in a row: For 3 consecutive quarters, 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 — 53% buying: Last quarter: 1,898 funds bought or added vs 1,707 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 — 66% AUM from top-100 funds: 73 of 3839 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 66% 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?

72% of holders stayed for 2+ years: 2,758 out of 3,855 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.

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