This event next week. . . is unlikely to make a big wave in Merck’s NYSE stock price, because the dynamics of pembrolizumab’s ever rising revenue penetration are pretty well understood, on Wall Street. So — in the main, the open variables reside in the op. expense / M&A / cap ex. lines (all controllable by the executive team, quarter to quarter). And even as to those smaller ones that are not, Merck’s executives have spent about 75 years fine-tuning quarter to quarter levers, to pull should a wrinkle arise.

So, again — next Thursday morning is barely likely to be news, at all. And you may bet it will not be a train-wreck (though THAT would be… news).

Here’s at least one analyst’s view — and I’d expect Rahway to meet, and perhaps slightly exceed… these figures:

…Merck & Co., Inc. will announce its Q1 2024 earnings next Thursday, April 25. Analysts’ consensus opinion is that earnings per share will be about $1.99 on a normalized basis, or $1.87 on a GAAP basis, on revenues of ~$15.2 billion….

Big pharma is generally regarded as a strong sector for investment, with most companies driving wide profit margins — my calculated average net profit margin of the world’s 15 biggest pharma companies is 19% — paying handsome dividends — my calculated average dividend yield is ~3.1% — and delivering solid, S&P-beating share price / trading returns….

Onward — to a wonderful Spring weekend! Be excellent to one another….

नमस्ते