NYSE$MRK

Merck & Co. · Q1 2023 earnings

Q1 2023 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Merck's first-quarter results reflected focused execution of their science-led strategy, strong performance across key growth drivers, and continued momentum commercially and operationally.

Merck's first-quarter 2023 sales were $12.7 billion, a 10% decrease compared to the first quarter of 2022. GAAP EPS was $1.11 and non-GAAP EPS was $1.40.

  • First-quarter Pharmaceutical sales declined 10% to $12.7 billion, primarily due to lower sales in virology, largely attributable to LAGEVRIO, and diabetes, partially offset by growth in oncology, vaccines and hospital acute care.
  • Growth in oncology was largely driven by higher sales of KEYTRUDA, which rose 20% to $5.8 billion in the quarter.
  • Growth in vaccines reflects higher combined sales of GARDASIL and GARDASIL 9, which grew 35% to $2.0 billion, reflecting strong demand outside of the U.S., particularly in China, which also benefited from the timing of shipments and increased supply.
  • Animal Health sales totaled $1.5 billion for the first quarter of 2023, a 1% increase compared with the first quarter of 2022.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$14.5B

Previous: $15.9B-8.9%
EPS (adj)

$1.40

Previous: $2.14-34.6%
KEYTRUDA sales

$5.8B

Previous: $4.8B+20.8%
GARDASIL sales

$2B

Previous: $1.5B+33.3%
Capital Expenditures

$1.01B

No prior period
Free Cash Flow

$2.82B

Previous: $4.31B-34.5%
Net Income

$2.82B

Previous: $4.31B-34.5%
Operating Income

$3.74B

Previous: $5.57B-32.9%
Gross Profit

$10.6B

Previous: $10.5B+0.4%
Cash & Equivalents

$9.71B

Previous: $8.56B+13.5%
Total Assets

$108B

Previous: $107B+1.1%
Stock-Based Comp

$145M

Previous: $120M+20.8%

Revenue & EPS history

Merck · Revenue · Quarterly

$14.5B

Q1 2023-8.9%vs Q1 2022
Beat estimate in 12 of 15 quarters(80%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Merck · $14.2B total across 2 segments · Q1 2023

  • Pharmaceutical
    $12.7B-9.9%
  • Animal Health
    $1.5B+0.0%

Forward guidance

Merck is raising and narrowing its full-year outlook ranges for sales and non-GAAP EPS. For GAAP EPS, Merck is lowering and narrowing its full-year outlook, attributable to a GAAP-only charge related to settlements with certain plaintiffs in the Zetia antitrust litigation.

Tailwinds

  • Merck continues to experience strong global underlying demand across its key pillars of growth.
  • Merck now expects full-year 2023 sales to be between $57.7 billion and $58.9 billion, including a negative impact of foreign exchange of approximately 2 percentage points, at mid-April 2023 exchange rates.
  • This full-year outlook includes expected sales of LAGEVRIO of approximately $1.0 billion.
  • Merck's full-year effective income tax rate is expected to be between 17% and 18%.
  • Merck is raising and narrowing its full-year 2023 non-GAAP EPS range to be between $6.88 and $7.00, including a negative impact of foreign exchange of approximately 4 percentage points, at mid-April 2023 exchange rates.

Headwinds

  • Includes approximately $1.0 billion of LAGEVRIO sales.
  • Includes an aggregate $1.4 billion of R&D expenses related to the Imago acquisition and upfront payment for the license and collaboration agreement with Kelun-Biotech.
  • Outlook does not assume the proposed acquisition of Prometheus or any additional significant potential business development transactions.
  • Includes $0.52 of charges related to the Imago acquisition and upfront payment to Kelun-Biotech.
  • Assumes a share count (assuming dilution) of approximately 2.55 billion shares.

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 2023

Historical avgQ1 2023

-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

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (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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