Merck & Co. (MRK) Stock Analysis & Winston Score

Merck is a large pharmaceutical company that discovers, makes, and sells prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. Its biggest product is Keytruda, a cancer treatment that has become one of the best-selling drugs in the world. Merck sells to hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, and governments across more than 140 countries. Merck earns most of its revenue by selling branded prescription drugs at negotiated prices to insurers, hospitals, and government health programs. It operates globally, with significant sales in the United States, Europe, and Asia, and generates roughly $60 billion in annual revenue. The company's main competitive advantage is its large portfolio of patented drugs and a deep pipeline of drugs in development. The biggest risk Merck faces is that Keytruda's core patents begin expiring around 2028, which could sharply reduce revenue unless new drugs in its pipeline successfully reach the market.