Merck & Co Inc (MRK): Today's Featured Drugs Loser

Merck (MRK) pushed the Drugs industry lower today making it today's featured Drugs loser. The industry as a whole closed the day down 1.9%. By the end of trading, Merck fell 40 cents (-1.1%) to $37.18 on average volume. Throughout the day, 13.2 million shares of Merck exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 13.8 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $37.02-$37.49 after having opened the day at $37.21 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $37.58. Other company's within the Drugs industry that declined today were: Biosante Pharmaceuticals (BPAX), down 15.4%, K-V Pharmaceutical Company (KV.A), down 13.4%, Synageva BioPharma (GEVA), down 10.6%, and Merrimack Pharmaceuticals (MACK), down 9.6%.

Merck & Co., Inc. provides various health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. Merck has a market cap of $113.75 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 16.7, equal to the average drugs industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 0.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 12 analysts that rate Merck a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and six rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Merck as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and good cash flow from operations. Although no company is perfect, currently we do not see any significant weaknesses which are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook.

• You can view the full Merck Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Accelr8 Technology Corporation (AXK), up 30.3%, PharmAthene (PIP), up 27.9%, Prima Biomed Ltd. ADR (PBMD), up 24.4%, and Tengion (TNGN), up 19.3%, were all gainers within the drugs industry with Amylin Pharmaceuticals (AMLN) being today's featured drugs industry winner.

• Use our drugs section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the drugs industry could consider SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH) while those bearish on the drugs industry could consider ProShares UltraShort Nasdaq Biotech (BIS).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Merck & Co Inc click any of the following:

• Merck & Co Inc Stock Price

• Merck & Co Inc Analyst Ratings

• Merck & Co Inc Key Stats & Profile

• Merck & Co Inc Earnings

• Merck & Co Inc Ratio Comparison

• Merck & Co Inc Growth Rates

• Merck & Co Inc Balance Sheet

• Merck & Co Inc Cash Flow

• Merck & Co Inc Income Statement