Merck (MRK) as a Reliable Dividend Player in the Dogs of the Dow Lineup

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is included among the 11 Dogs of the Dow Dividend Stocks to Buy Now.

Merck (MRK) as a Reliable Dividend Player in the Dogs of the Dow Lineup

A close-up of a person’s hand holding a bottle of pharmaceuticals.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) has faced stock pressure due to its reliance on Keytruda but is diversifying. On July 9, Merck announced it would acquire UK biotech Verona Pharma for $10 billion, adding Ohtuvayre, a promising COPD treatment approved last year, to its portfolio. Ohtuvayre has had a strong launch and is being studied for more uses. Some analysts predict its sales could reach $4 billion, potentially making it another blockbuster for Merck.

In its first quarter earnings, Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) highlighted that it began the year with strong progress, driven by growing contributions from its recently commercialized medicines and vaccines, along with ongoing advancements in its pipeline. It is focused and determined to fully capitalize on near-term opportunities while swiftly advancing the next wave of innovations that will improve patient outcomes and create long-term value for all stakeholders.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is also popular because of its dividend growth history, which spans 16 consecutive years. Currently, the company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.81 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.82%, as of July 26.

While we acknowledge the potential of MRK to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MRK and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None.