NYSE$MRK

Merck & Co. · Q4 2023 earnings

Q4 2023 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Merck reported mixed results due to a charge related to the collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo, while sales were driven by oncology, vaccines, and hospital acute care products.

Merck's fourth-quarter earnings were impacted by a $5.5 billion charge related to a collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo, leading to a GAAP loss per share of $0.48 and non-GAAP EPS of $0.03. Full-year pharmaceutical sales grew, driven by oncology, vaccines and hospital acute care products, offset by lower sales of LAGEVRIO and JANUVIA/JANUMET.

  • GAAP loss per share was $0.48, while non-GAAP EPS was $0.03, impacted by a charge related to the Daiichi Sankyo collaboration.
  • Full-year pharmaceutical sales grew 3% to $53.6 billion, driven by oncology, vaccines, and hospital acute care products.
  • R&D expenses increased significantly due to the Daiichi Sankyo collaboration and acquisitions of Prometheus and Imago.
  • Merck anticipates full-year 2024 sales to be between $62.7 billion and $64.2 billion.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$14.6B

Previous: $13.8B+5.8%
EPS (adj)

$0.03

Previous: $1.62-98.1%
KEYTRUDA sales

$6.58B

Previous: $5.5B+19.6%
GARDASIL sales

$1.66B

Previous: $1.5B+10.5%
Capital Expenditures

$989M

Previous: $1.15B-13.9%
Net Income

-$1.23B

Previous: $3B-141.1%
Operating Income

$1.74B

Previous: $3.3B-47.3%
Gross Profit

$10.7B

Previous: $9.63B+11.3%
R&D Expense

$8.84B

No prior period
Stock-Based Comp

$167M

Previous: $145M+15.2%

Revenue & EPS history

Merck · Revenue · Quarterly

$14.6B

Q4 2023+5.8%vs Q4 2022
Beat estimate in 12 of 15 quarters(80%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Merck · $15B total across 2 segments · Q2 2023

  • Pharmaceutical
    $13.5B+5.6%
  • Animal Health
    $1.51B+0.6%

Forward guidance

Merck anticipates full-year 2024 sales to be between $62.7 billion and $64.2 billion, with non-GAAP EPS expected to be between $8.44 and $8.59.

Tailwinds

  • Full-year 2024 sales are expected to be between $62.7 billion and $64.2 billion.
  • Non-GAAP EPS is expected to be between $8.44 and $8.59.
  • Merck's full-year non-GAAP effective income tax rate is expected to be between 14.5% and 15.5%.
  • The outlook for operating expenses reflects incremental R&D spending to advance the development of promising programs.
  • The company expects inflation-related price increases to offset the negative impact of the devaluation of the Argentine peso.

Headwinds

  • Sales include a negative impact of foreign exchange of approximately 2%.
  • Non-GAAP EPS includes a negative impact of foreign exchange of approximately $0.25 per share.
  • Non-GAAP EPS includes a one-time charge of approximately $0.26 per share related to the Harpoon acquisition.
  • Outlook does not assume any additional significant potential business development transactions.
  • The devaluation of the Argentine peso is expected to negatively impact sales, although this is expected to be offset by inflation-related price increases.

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 Q4 2023

Historical avgQ4 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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