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Merck (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.co...

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Merck (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MRK">MRK</a>), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that the Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.85 per share of the company’s common stock for the fourth quarter of 2026. Payment will be made on October 7, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 15, 2026.

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<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">About Merck</b>

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At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.merck.com%2F&amp;esheet=54579209&amp;newsitemid=20260729562164&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.merck.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=49f90f2b131ad27902b15deeb0367a56" shape="rect">www.merck.com</a> and connect with us on <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FMerck&amp;esheet=54579209&amp;newsitemid=20260729562164&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=X+%28formerly+Twitter%29&amp;index=2&amp;md5=818bb4ea4c7cee2ea729d09e6aff4f64" shape="rect">X (formerly Twitter)</a>, <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMerckInvents%2F&amp;esheet=54579209&amp;newsitemid=20260729562164&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Facebook&amp;index=3&amp;md5=fe49c4c6b90bf4d42ad43debae745c12" shape="rect">Facebook</a>, <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fmerck%2F&amp;esheet=54579209&amp;newsitemid=20260729562164&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Instagram&amp;index=4&amp;md5=2cf2a3371a6d9e18b9a7dd241a96a76e" shape="rect">Instagram</a>, <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2FMerck&amp;esheet=54579209&amp;newsitemid=20260729562164&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=YouTube&amp;index=5&amp;md5=238a5ef081f22311ab47ab5269628215" shape="rect">YouTube</a> and <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fmerck&amp;esheet=54579209&amp;newsitemid=20260729562164&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=LinkedIn&amp;index=6&amp;md5=5cf0fab13595974708f31578af01df09" shape="rect">LinkedIn</a>.

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<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Forward-Looking Statement of Merck &amp; Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA</b>

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This news release of Merck &amp; Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the "company") includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

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Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

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The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (<a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sec.gov&amp;esheet=54579209&amp;newsitemid=20260729562164&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.sec.gov&amp;index=7&amp;md5=21f21286b225aeb0c4e2da42257ef25a" shape="rect">www.sec.gov</a>).

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" alt="" src="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=bwnews&amp;sty=20260729562164r1&amp;sid=benz2&amp;distro=nx&amp;lang=en" style="width:0;height:0"></img><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="bwct31415"></span></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="mmgallerylink"><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="mmgallerylink-phrase">View source version on businesswire.com: </span><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="mmgallerylink-link"><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260729562164/en/" rel="nofollow">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260729562164/en/</a></span></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Media Contacts:

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John Cummins
<br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="mailto:john.cummins2@merck.com" shape="rect">john.cummins2@merck.com</a>

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Michael Levey
<br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="mailto:michael.levey@merck.com" shape="rect">michael.levey@merck.com</a>

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Investor Contacts:

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Peter Dannenbaum
<br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br>(732) 594-1579

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Steven Graziano
<br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br>(732) 594-1583

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Merck Announces Fourth-Quarter 2026 Dividend

Merck declares Q4 2026 dividend of $0.85 per share

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>&lt;p xmlns=&quot;http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml&quot;&gt;
Merck (NYSE:&lt;a class=&quot;ticker&quot; href=&quot;https://www.benzinga.co...</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>Merck announced a quarterly dividend of $0.85 per share for Q4 2026, payable Oct 7 to holders of record Sept 15. The unchanged payout reinforces ongoing capital returns but is unlikely to alter MRK&#039;s valuation meaningfully, given the dividend size versus the company&#039;s growth trajectory.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>Merck declares Q4 2026 dividend of $0.85 per share. Payment date Oct 7, 2026.</li><li>Record date set for Sep 15, 2026.</li><li>Dividend unchanged; signals stable dividend policy.</li><li>Forward-looking statements included; not a material earnings catalyst.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>Merck &amp; Co., Inc. (MRK)</strong>: Dividend declaration for Q4 2026; payout schedule unchanged; potential for income-driven demand.</li><li><strong>MSD (Merck brand outside US/Canada) (MSD)</strong>: Brand naming; no separate equity; no direct market impact.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
    <p>Category fits Corporate Developments as it reports a routine dividend announcement influencing capital allocation and shareholder returns.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Q4 2026 dividend is $0.85 per share.</li><li>Payout date set for Oct 7, 2026.</li><li>Record date is Sep 15, 2026.</li><li>Policy appears stable; likely minimal immediate MRK price impact.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Dividend amount: $0.85 per share for Q4 2026.</li><li>Payment date: October 7, 2026.</li><li>Record date: September 15, 2026.</li><li>Dividend declared by Merck&#039;s Board of Directors.</li><li>Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Neutral near-term; steady dividend offers modest income support over the next 1–3 months.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<article>
  <section>
    <h2>Executive Summary</h2>
    <p>Merck &amp; Co. (MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that the Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of <strong>$0.85</strong> per share of the company’s common stock for the <strong>fourth quarter of 2026</strong>. Payment will be made on <strong><em>October 7, 2026</em></strong>, to shareholders of record at the close of business on <strong><em>September 15, 2026</em></strong>.</p>
  </section>

  <section>
    <h2>Dividend Details for MRK</h2>
    <ul>
      <li><strong>Stock symbol:</strong> MRK</li>
      <li><strong>Dividend per share:</strong> <strong>$0.85</strong></li>
      <li><strong>Quarter:</strong> <strong>Fourth quarter of 2026</strong></li>
      <li><strong>Payment date:</strong> <strong><em>October 7, 2026</em></strong></li>
      <li><strong>Record date:</strong> <strong><em>September 15, 2026</em></strong></li>
    </ul>
  </section>

  <section>
    <h2>About Merck</h2>
    <p>Merck &amp; Co., known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, uses the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, Merck has brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. The company aspires to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world and is at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. Merck fosters a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operates responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.merck.com" rel="nofollow">www.merck.com</a> and connect with us on <a href="https://twitter.com/Merck" rel="nofollow">X (formerly Twitter)</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MerckInvents/" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/merck/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/Merck" rel="nofollow">YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/merck" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>.</p>
  </section>

  <section>
    <h2>Forward-Looking Statements</h2>
    <p><strong>Forward-Looking Statement of Merck &amp; Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA</strong></p>
    <p>This news release of Merck &amp; Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the "company") includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.</p>
    <p>Risks and uncertainties

Merck announced a quarterly dividend of $0.85 per share for Q4 2026, payable Oct 7 to holders of record Sept 15. The unchanged payout reinforces ongoing capital returns but is unlikely to alter MRK's valuation meaningfully, given the dividend size versus the company's growth trajectory.

News insight

Merck Announces Fourth-Quarter 2026 Dividend

AI summary

Sentiment rationale

Key facts

Corporate Developments