Credit: Shutterstock photoMerck & Company, Inc. ( MRK ) will begin trading ex-dividend on March 13, 2013. A cash dividend payment of $0.43 per share is scheduled to be paid on April 05, 2013. Shareholders who purchased MRK stock prior to the ex-dividend date are eligible for the cash dividend payment. This represents an 2.38% increase over the same period a year ago.
The previous trading day's last sale of MRK was $42.97, representing a -10.48% decrease from the 52 week high of $48 and a 16.07% increase over the 52 week low of $37.02.
MRK is a part of the Consumer Durables sector, which includes companies such as Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) and Pfizer, Inc. ( PFE ). MRK's current earnings per share, an indicator of a company's profitability, is $2.16. Zacks Investment Research reports MRK's forecasted earnings growth in 2013 as -4.73%, compared to an industry average of -.1%.
For more information on the declaration, record and payment dates, visit the MRK Dividend History page.
Interested in gaining exposure to MRK through an Exchange Traded Fund [ETF]?
The following ETF(s) have MRK as a top-10 holding:
- First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund ( FDL )
- Select Sector SPDR Fund - Health Care ( XLV )
- Vanguard Health Care ETF ( VHT )
- iShares Dow Jones U.S. Pharmaceutical Index Fund ( IHE )
- iShares Dow Jones U.S. Health Care Index Fund ( IYH ).
The top-performing ETF of this group is XLV with an increase of 10.41% over the last 100 days. FDL has the highest percent weighting of MRK at 7.76%.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
