MRK Merck & Co., Inc.
$127.50
Stable Earnings Power 80%
P/Adj-EPS × Normalized Multiple
Mild · Conviction

Overvalued

Trading 0.5% above fair value

You pay $127.50
Bear $108.75
Fair $126.87
Bull $145.00
Bear $108.75 -14.7% $8.22 × 13x P/E
Fair $126.87 -0.5% $8.22 × 15x P/E
Bull $145.00 +13.7% $8.22 × 17x P/E

Key Value Driver

Normalized P/E multiple (15x base case)

Implied Market Multiple 15.5x

Summary

Our base-case estimate uses a valuation based on adjusted earnings per share and a normalized price-to-earnings multiple. We then blend that result with the average analyst price target of $136.33 from 37 analysts, using a 30% weight on analyst consensus. That produces an estimated intrinsic value of $126.87 per share.

Warnings

Dividend-based valuation: $95.16 (below our primary estimate by 23%). Large gaps may signal the dividend doesn't reflect full earning power.

Key Risks

  • Growth DCF inappropriate — terminal value assumptions dominate
  • EV/EBITDA misleading for regulated businesses where capex is mandated
  • Regulatory risk is a fat tail not visible in normal multiples