The facts

  1. GAAP diluted earnings were US$2.04 per share, down from US$2.32 a year earlier. Adjusted earnings were US$2.49, compared with US$2.58. Both 2026 measures include a US$0.12-per-share licensing charge. [1]

  2. Merck said pharmaceutical growth benefited by approximately US$550 million from the timing of purchases. Keytruda and Keytruda QLEX sales rose 6% to US$8.601 billion. [1]

  3. The full-year sales forecast is now US$66.8–67.3 billion, previously US$66.3–67.3 billion. Adjusted EPS guidance rose to US$2.77–2.82 from US$2.66–2.76. [1][2]

  4. The annual adjusted EPS forecast still includes acquisition charges of US$3.62 per share for Cidara and US$2.31 for Terns, plus US$0.12 for the SciBrunch licence. Adjusted does not mean all one-off costs are excluded. [1]

Sources

References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 29 Oct 2026, 12:18 UTC.

  1. Third-quarter 2026 financial results

    Merck & Co. / MSD · Primary source · 29 Oct 2026

    Actual issuer release, financial table, non-GAAP definitions and outlook footnotes read. MSD is the same US company outside the US and Canada, distinct from Germany’s Merck KGaA.

  2. Merck tops third-quarter estimates as Keytruda, Gardasil outperform

    Reuters / WHBL · Reporting · 29 Oct 2026

    Actual Reuters report by Michael Erman and Kamal Choudhury, carried by Midwest Communications’ WHBL. Separate ownership from Merck; LSEG supplies the revenue consensus.

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