NYSE$MRK
Merck & Co. · Q1 2021 earnings
Q1 2021 earnings · · Investor relations
Briefing
Merck's financial results were announced for the first quarter of 2021, revealing the impact of the pandemic while highlighting the strength of innovative products and future growth prospects.
Merck's first-quarter 2021 results were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with pharmaceutical sales of $10.7 billion. Despite these challenges, Keytruda sales rose 19% to $3.9 billion, and Animal Health sales increased by 17% to $1.4 billion. The company's GAAP EPS was $1.25, and non-GAAP EPS was $1.40.
- First-quarter pharmaceutical sales were $10.7 billion, in line with the first quarter of 2020, but declined by 3% excluding the favorable effect of foreign exchange.
- KEYTRUDA sales increased by 19% to $3.9 billion, driven by strong momentum in non-small-cell lung cancer indications and uptake in other indications.
- Animal Health sales grew by 17% to $1.4 billion, reflecting higher demand for companion animal products and livestock products.
- The company expects sales growth of 8% to 12% in 2021, with full-year revenue estimated to be between $51.8 billion and $53.8 billion.
Headline financials
Revenue & EPS history
Merck · Revenue · Quarterly
$12.1B
Revenue by segment
Merck · $12.1B total across 2 segments · Q1 2021
- Pharmaceutical$10.7B+0.0%88.4%
- Animal Health$1.4B+16.7%11.6%
Forward guidance
Merck anticipates full-year 2021 revenue from continuing operations to be between $45.8 billion and $47.8 billion, and expects full-year 2021 non-GAAP EPS to be between $6.48 and $6.68.
Tailwinds
- Merck expects sales growth of 8% to 12% in 2021.
- Full-year 2021 revenue is estimated to be between $51.8 billion and $53.8 billion.
- Full-year 2021 GAAP EPS is expected to be between $5.05 and $5.25.
- The company anticipates incremental operating efficiencies of approximately $1.5 billion over three years following the Organon spinoff.
- Merck expects combined non-GAAP EPS of Merck and Organon to be higher within 12-24 months post-spinoff.
Headwinds
- The pandemic is expected to have a net unfavorable impact to 2021 revenues of approximately 3%, all of which relates to the pharmaceutical segment.
- Negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to persist, particularly during the first half of 2021, most notably with respect to vaccine sales in the United States.
- Merck will continue to incur overhead costs previously allocated to the Organon products, estimated to be approximately $400 million on a full-year basis.
- Merck’s operating margin from continuing operations is expected to initially be slightly lower in 2021 due to the higher relative profitability of Organon’s products.
- The sales guidance does not include the impact of the potential launch of Merck’s COVID-19 antiviral drug candidate.
Historical earnings impact
How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.
Avg. return before/after earnings
Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q1 2021
-0.4%
Avg return
Earnings day
-0.4%
Avg return
5 days after
+1.4%
Avg return
30 days after
51%
37 / 73 earnings
Positive
+8.0%
Q3 2021
Best reaction
-11.7%
Q3 2017
Worst reaction
| Quarter | Report date | Reaction (Day 0) | +5 days | +30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | +1.0% | +2.0% | +6.9% | |
| Q4 2025 | +2.2% | +7.6% | +2.4% | |
| Q3 2025 | -1.0% | -3.1% | +21.1% | |
| Q2 2025 | +1.2% | +1.0% | +5.2% | |
| Q1 2025 | +1.5% | +7.6% | -1.5% | |
| Q4 2024 | -9.1% | -12.5% | -5.8% | |
| Q3 2024 | -2.8% | -3.0% | -3.0% | |
| Q2 2024 | -11.5% | -9.8% | -8.1% | |
| Q1 2024 | +3.3% | +1.7% | +2.0% | |
| Q4 2023 | +4.7% | +5.1% | +5.1% | |
| Q3 2023 | -0.8% | -0.9% | -1.7% | |
| Q2 2023 | -0.9% | -1.5% | +2.2% | |
| Q1 2023 | +1.8% | +3.9% | -2.1% | |
| Q4 2022 | -3.8% | -1.2% | -0.1% | |
| Q3 2022 | +2.4% | +1.4% | +9.2% | |
| Q2 2022 | -2.1% | -4.0% | -2.2% | |
| Q1 2022 | +5.1% | +3.2% | +10.3% | |
| Q4 2021 | -4.2% | -6.2% | -5.1% | |
| Q3 2021 | +8.0% | +9.2% | -2.9% | |
| Q2 2021 | -1.9% | -2.5% | -2.6% | |
| Q1 2021 | -3.4% | -1.4% | -1.6% | |
| Q4 2020 | -2.0% | -2.9% | -5.4% | |
| Q3 2020 | -3.4% | -4.6% | +1.5% | |
| Q2 2020 | +4.5% | +3.4% | +8.4% | |
| Q1 2020 | -3.8% | -7.5% | -5.9% | |
| Q4 2019 | -3.0% | -3.1% | -7.0% | |
| Q3 2019 | +4.9% | +3.3% | +6.6% | |
| Q2 2019 | +0.6% | +2.4% | +5.1% | |
| Q1 2019 | +2.5% | +4.2% | +3.8% | |
| Q4 2018 | +3.3% | +4.0% | +9.7% | |
| Q3 2018 | -0.2% | +3.3% | +5.9% | |
| Q2 2018 | +1.2% | +2.3% | +7.9% | |
| Q1 2018 | -2.7% | -1.9% | +1.1% | |
| Q4 2017 | -5.8% | -6.6% | -9.2% | |
| Q3 2017 | -11.7% | -10.7% | -12.3% | |
| Q2 2017 | +0.3% | -0.4% | -1.2% | |
| Q1 2017 | +2.0% | +2.5% | +4.6% | |
| Q4 2016 | +3.5% | +3.4% | +7.2% | |
| Q3 2016 | +0.2% | -3.1% | +1.5% | |
| Q2 2016 | +0.4% | -1.3% | +7.6% | |
| Q1 2016 | -2.2% | — | — | |
| Q4 2015 | -3.6% | — | — | |
| Q3 2015 | +4.1% | — | — | |
| Q2 2015 | +2.7% | — | — | |
| Q1 2015 | +4.5% | — | — | |
| Q4 2014 | -3.0% | — | — | |
| Q3 2014 | -3.1% | — | — | |
| Q2 2014 | +0.2% | — | — | |
| Q1 2014 | +3.3% | — | — | |
| Q4 2013 | +0.5% | — | — | |
| Q3 2013 | -2.1% | — | — | |
| Q2 2013 | -0.3% | — | — | |
| Q1 2013 | -2.7% | — | — | |
| Q4 2012 | -5.6% | — | — | |
| Q3 2012 | -1.4% | — | — | |
| Q4 2011 | -1.0% | — | — | |
| Q2 2012 | +2.6% | — | — | |
| Q1 2012 | +2.0% | — | — | |
| Q3 2011 | -1.5% | — | — | |
| Q2 2011 | -1.6% | — | — | |
| Q1 2011 | -0.7% | — | — | |
| Q4 2010 | +0.8% | — | — | |
| Q3 2010 | -1.8% | — | — | |
| Q2 2010 | +0.8% | — | — | |
| Q1 2009 | -0.1% | — | — | |
| Q1 2010 | +0.1% | — | — | |
| Q4 2009 | +1.4% | — | — | |
| Q4 2007 | +1.4% | — | — | |
| Q3 2009 | -3.5% | — | — | |
| Q3 2008 | -3.5% | — | — | |
| Q2 2008 | +1.7% | — | — | |
| Q2 2009 | +1.7% | — | — | |
| Q4 2008 | +1.7% | — | — |
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