Short interest in Merck KGaA (OTCMKTS:MKKGY) experienced a dramatic increase of 234.9% in December, reaching a total of 241,637 shares as of December 15, 2023. This surge marks a significant rise from the 72,150 shares reported on November 30, 2023. Currently, approximately 0.0% of the company’s shares are short sold. With an average daily trading volume of 280,839 shares, the days-to-cover ratio stands at 0.9 days.
Merck KGaA’s stock performance showed a slight uptick, with shares trading up by $0.06 to reach $28.51 on the last trading day. The volume for the day was 80,966 shares, compared to the average volume of 114,320 shares. The company maintains a current ratio of 1.49, a quick ratio of 0.97, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. Merck KGaA has a market capitalization of $18.42 billion, a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 11.36, and a P/E/G ratio of 5.71. Over the past year, the stock has ranged from a low of $24.32 to a high of $31.80. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $27.00, while the 200-day moving average is $26.34.
In its most recent quarterly earnings report, released on November 13, 2023, Merck KGaA reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.81, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.54 by $0.27. The company achieved a net margin of 13.92% and a return on equity of 10.07%. Revenue for the quarter reached $6.17 billion, exceeding the expected $6.08 billion.
Overview of Merck KGaA
Merck KGaA, based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading multinational science and technology company with a history that dates back to 1668. The company specializes in developing and manufacturing products across healthcare, life science, and electronics sectors. It is important to note that Merck KGaA is distinct from the U.S. pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., as it operates as a European group publicly listed in Germany, with American depositary receipts available under the symbol MKKGY.
The company’s Healthcare division focuses on prescription medicines and associated services in various therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, neurology, and fertility treatments. As analysts project future earnings, expectations are set for Merck KGaA to report 1.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Investors and market watchers are likely to keep a close eye on Merck KGaA as the company navigates these financial developments and market conditions.
