Will Recent Headlines Take Merck Higher?

With shares of Merck (NYSE:MRK) trading around $48, is MRK an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework.

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Merck is a global health care company that delivers health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products, which it markets directly and through its joint ventures. The company consists of four operating segments: the Pharmaceutical, Animal Health, Consumer Care, and Alliances segments, and one reportable segment in the Pharmaceutical segment. Merck aims to provide valuable health care products and services to consumers, animals, and companies in need worldwide. Look for the company to see rising profits as it advances the products and services of the health care field.

A drug designed by Merck may be the next big thing in treating patients with Alzheimer's disease, The Wall Street Journal reports. MK-8931 is the technical name of a drug that is currently being tested on those with the disease known for crippling the memories of older people. In a Phase II/III EPOCH study currently underway, so far, the Data Monitoring Committee has not had bad things to say about the results and effects of the drug.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Strong

Merck stock has been in a range over the last several years. The stock is currently pulling back and may need time to stabilize. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Merck is trading above its rising key averages, which signals neutral to bullish price action in the near term.

Source: Thinkorswim

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Merck options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Merck options	20.65%	96%	93%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a very significant amount of call and put options contracts as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
January Options	Flat	Average
February Options	Flat	Average

As of Friday, there is average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a very significant amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Decreasing Quarter Over Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Merck’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Merck look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q3	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	-32.14%	-48.28%	-7.14%	-40.07%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	-34.99%	-9.38%	-9.04%	-4.53%
Earnings Reaction	-2.55%	-0.59%	-2.78%	-3.28%

Merck has seen decreasing earnings and revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have been optimistic about Merck’s recent earnings announcements.

P = Weak Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Merck stock done relative to its peers – GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK), Novartis (NYSE:NVS), and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) — and sector?

	Merck	GlaxoSmithKline	Novartis	Pfizer	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	8.8%	16.53%	22.59%	19.03%	17.73%

Merck has been a poor relative performer, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Merck provides essential health care products to consumers, animals, and companies around the world. The company has designed a drug that may be the next big thing in treating patients with Alzheimer's disease. The stock been in an up-and-down trend over the past few quarters and is currently pulling back. Earnings and revenue figures have been decreasing over the last four quarters. However, investors are optimistic about recent earnings announcements. Relative to its peers and sector, Merck has been an under-performer in its year-to-date performance. WAIT AND SEE what Merck does this coming quarter.