Short interest in Merck KGaA (OTCMKTS:MKKGY) experienced a substantial increase in December 2023, with figures showing a rise of 234.9% compared to the previous month. As of December 15, the total short interest reached 241,637 shares, up from 72,150 shares reported on November 30. Currently, approximately 0.0% of the company’s shares are short sold. Given an average daily trading volume of 280,839 shares, the days-to-cover ratio stands at 0.9 days.
Stock performance for Merck KGaA has been noteworthy. On December 15, shares traded up by $0.06 to reach $28.51, with a total of 80,966 shares exchanged, compared to an average volume of 114,320 shares. The company’s financial ratios indicate a current ratio of 1.49, a quick ratio of 0.97, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. With a market capitalization of $18.42 billion, Merck KGaA has 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 fluctuated between a low of $24.32 and a high of $31.80.
Recent Earnings Report Highlights
Merck KGaA released its quarterly earnings data on November 13, 2023, reporting earnings per share (EPS) of $0.81. This figure exceeded analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.54 by $0.27. The firm achieved a net margin of 13.92% and a return on equity of 10.07%. Revenue for the quarter was $6.17 billion, surpassing the anticipated $6.08 billion. Looking ahead, sell-side analysts project that the company will report an EPS of 1.87 for the current fiscal year.
Company Overview
Merck KGaA, based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a prominent multinational science and technology company with a history that dates back to 1668. It develops and manufactures a wide range of products and technologies across the fields of healthcare, life science, and electronics. It is important to note that Merck KGaA is distinct from the U.S.-based pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. The European group is publicly listed in Germany, with an OTC American depositary receipt available under the symbol MKKGY.
The company’s healthcare division focuses on developing prescription medicines and related services, particularly in areas such as oncology, immunology, neurology—including treatments for multiple sclerosis—and fertility.
As Merck KGaA continues to navigate a dynamic market environment, the recent surge in short interest reflects investor sentiment and market positioning related to the company’s future performance.
