Why Merck Stock Flew Higher on Friday

Merck (MRK) rose 2.18% Friday after Q3 2026 results topped analyst expectations, and two major banks lifted their price targets within the same session.

Sales grew 5% to over $18 billion, with its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda cited as the driver. Adjusted net income came in at $6.2 billion.

The analyst response added fuel. Bank of America Securities raised its MRK target to $165, while JPMorgan Chase lifted its target to $175. Both firms kept buy recommendations, so the revisions reflect higher conviction in an existing bullish stance rather than a rating change.

Interpretation: the $10 gap between the two targets shows analysts still disagree on how much upside remains, but both sit above where the shares closed after the 2.18% gain. Keytruda's role as the named growth driver means the sales beat is tied to a single product, which concentrates the story around one franchise.

Note that two of the firms behind the target hikes are also tied to tickers in this coverage group: BAC and JPM. Their preferred securities (BACPB, BACPE, JPMPC and others) are not directly implicated by the MRK move.