MRK Dividend History & Analysis | 3.6% Yield

MRK has a dividend yield of 3.6% and paid 3.32 USD per share in the last 12M. Complete payout history, full analyses and peer comparison.

Yield 12m 3.59%
Payout Ratio 60.7%
Growth Rate CAGR 5y 5.88%
Consistency Lifetime 97.7%
Yield on Cost 5y 5.15%
Payout FCF 58.3%
Streak Years 21
Dividend Rating 68.40%
Dividends Cash Amount per Share Yearly This chart shows the yearly cash amount paid as dividends per share.
Dividend Growth Year over Year This chart shows the annual dividend growth rate compared to the previous year.
5 Years Chart with Price and Dividend Yield This chart shows the dividend yield and price over time. Price is displayed as gray area (left axis), yield as dark blue line (right axis) and average yield as orange dashed line.
■ Payout Yield (right) ■ Price (left) ┅┅ Avg Payout Yield

Top Dividend Payers in Pharmaceuticals

Top 5 Dividend Yields of Peer-Group
SYMBOL MARKET CAP USD YIELD TTM YIELD ON COST 5y
SIGA 312 M 13.25% 13.30%
GSK 103,404 M 4.86% 5.69%
NVO 196,728 M 4.70% 5.07%
NVS 289,572 M 3.06% 6.54%
TAK 52,482 M 3.81% 4.42%
Top 5 Dividend Growth Rates of Peer-Group
SYMBOL MARKET CAP USD GROWTH RATE CONSISTENCY
ZTS 32,582 M 18.92% 100.0%
NVO 196,728 M 22.27% 96.2%
LLY 928,882 M 15.26% 99.5%
BMY 121,422 M 13.97% 92.6%
ROVI 3,514 M 25.15% 91.3%
Quality Dividend Peers in Pharmaceuticals BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb
4.92% Yield JNJ Johnson & Johnson
2.75% Yield IPN Ipsen
1.34% Yield
MRK Dividend History: Last 50 Payments (USD) as of May 2026
EX-DATE RECORD PAYMENT PERIOD DIV/SHARE GROWTH PAYOUT YIELD
2026-03-16 2026-03-16 2026-04-07 Quarterly 0.85 0% 0.74%
2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2026-01-08 Quarterly 0.85 +4.9% 0.85%
2025-09-15 2025-09-15 2025-10-07 Quarterly 0.81 0% 0.99%
2025-06-16 2025-06-16 2025-07-08 Quarterly 0.81 0% 1%
2025-03-17 2025-03-17 2025-04-07 Quarterly 0.81 0% 0.86%
2024-12-16 2024-12-16 2025-01-08 Quarterly 0.81 +5.2% 0.8%
2024-09-16 2024-09-16 2024-10-07 Quarterly 0.77 0% 0.66%
2024-06-17 2024-06-17 2024-07-08 Quarterly 0.77 0% 0.6%
2024-03-14 2024-03-15 2024-04-05 Quarterly 0.77 0% 0.63%
2023-12-14 2023-12-15 2024-01-08 Quarterly 0.77 +5.5% 0.72%
2023-09-14 2023-09-15 2023-10-06 Quarterly 0.73 0% 0.68%
2023-06-14 2023-06-15 2023-07-10 Quarterly 0.73 0% 0.67%
2023-03-14 2023-03-15 2023-04-10 Quarterly 0.73 0% 0.69%
2022-12-14 2022-12-15 2023-01-09 Quarterly 0.73 +5.8% 0.66%
2022-09-14 2022-09-15 2022-10-07 Quarterly 0.69 0% 0.79%
2022-06-14 2022-06-15 2022-07-08 Quarterly 0.69 0% 0.81%
2022-03-14 2022-03-15 2022-04-07 Quarterly 0.69 0% 0.89%
2021-12-14 2021-12-15 2022-01-07 Quarterly 0.69 +6.2% 0.95%
2021-09-14 2021-09-15 2021-10-07 Quarterly 0.65 0% 0.89%
2021-06-14 2021-06-15 2021-07-07 Quarterly 0.65 0% 0.86%
2021-03-12 2021-03-15 2021-04-07 Quarterly 0.65 0% N/A
2020-12-14 2020-12-15 2021-01-08 Quarterly 0.65 +6.6% N/A
2020-09-14 2020-09-15 2020-10-07 Quarterly 0.61 0% N/A
2020-06-12 2020-06-15 2020-07-07 Quarterly 0.61 0% N/A
2020-03-13 2020-03-16 2020-04-07 Quarterly 0.61 0% N/A
2019-12-13 2019-12-16 2020-01-08 Quarterly 0.61 +10.9% N/A
2019-09-13 2019-09-16 2019-10-07 Quarterly 0.55 0% N/A
2019-06-14 2019-06-17 2019-07-08 Quarterly 0.55 0% N/A
2019-03-14 2019-03-15 2019-04-05 Quarterly 0.55 0% N/A
2018-12-14 2018-12-17 2019-01-08 Quarterly 0.55 +14.6% N/A
2018-09-14 2018-09-17 2018-10-05 Quarterly 0.48 0% N/A
2018-06-14 2018-06-15 2018-07-09 Quarterly 0.48 0% N/A
2018-03-14 2018-03-15 2018-04-06 Quarterly 0.48 0% N/A
2017-12-14 2017-12-15 2018-01-08 Quarterly 0.48 +2.1% N/A
2017-09-14 2017-09-15 2017-10-06 Quarterly 0.47 0% N/A
2017-06-13 2017-06-15 2017-07-10 Quarterly 0.47 0% N/A
2017-03-13 2017-03-15 2017-04-07 Quarterly 0.47 0% N/A
2016-12-13 2016-12-15 2017-01-09 Quarterly 0.47 +2.2% N/A
2016-09-13 2016-09-15 2016-10-07 Quarterly 0.46 0% N/A
2016-06-13 2016-06-15 2016-07-08 Quarterly 0.46 0% N/A
2016-03-11 2016-03-15 2016-04-07 Quarterly 0.46 0% N/A
2015-12-11 2015-12-15 2016-01-08 Quarterly 0.46 +2.2% N/A
2015-09-11 2015-09-15 2015-10-07 Quarterly 0.45 0% N/A
2015-06-11 2015-06-15 2015-07-08 Quarterly 0.45 0% N/A
2015-03-12 2015-03-16 2015-04-08 Quarterly 0.45 0% N/A
2014-12-11 2014-12-15 2015-01-08 Quarterly 0.45 +2.3% N/A
2014-09-11 2014-09-15 2014-10-07 Quarterly 0.44 0% N/A
2014-06-12 2014-06-16 2014-07-08 Quarterly 0.44 0% N/A
2014-03-13 2014-03-17 2014-04-07 Quarterly 0.44 0% N/A
2013-12-12 2013-12-16 2014-01-08 Quarterly 0.44 0% N/A

MRK Dividend FAQ

What is the Dividend Yield of MRK?

As of May 2026, MRK's dividend yield is 3.59%. This is calculated by dividing the trailing 12-month dividend rate (TTM rate) of 3.32 USD by the current share price of 115.88.

Does MRK pay a dividend?

As of May 2026, MRK paid a dividend of 3.32 USD in the last 12 months. The last dividend was paid on 2026-03-16 and the payout was 0.85 USD.

How often does MRK pay dividends?

MRK pays dividends quarterly. Over the last 12 months, MRK has issued 4 dividend payments. The last dividend payment was made on 2026-03-16.

MRK dividend forecast

Based on historical data, the forecasted dividends per share for MRK for the next payments are between 0.846 (-0.5%) and 0.888 (+4.5%). This suggests the dividend will remain relatively stable. The expected Yield for the next 12 months is about 2.98%.

Will MRK pay dividends in 2026?

The latest dividend paid per share was 0.85 USD with an Ex-Dividend Date of 2026-03-16. The next Ex-Dividend date for Merck (MRK) is currently unknown.

What is the next Ex-Dividend Date for MRK?

The next Ex-Dividend date for Merck (MRK) is currently unknown. We automatically update the next Ex-Dividend date when it is announced.

What is the Dividend Growth of MRK?

MRK's average dividend growth rate over the past 5 years is 5.88% per year. Strong growth: MRK's dividend growth is outpacing inflation.

What is the Yield on Cost of MRK?

MRK's 5-Year Yield on Cost is 5.15%. If you bought MRK's shares at 64.43 USD five years ago, your current annual dividend income (3.32 USD per share, trailing 12 months) equals 5.15% of your original purchase price.

What is the Payout Consistency of MRK?

MRK Payout Consistency is 97.7%. The payout consistency is a proprietary measure of how consistently a company has paid dividends over its lifetime and blends growth rate, number of dividend payments, interruptions or lowering dividends into one number. Very consistent: Merck has a strong track record of consistent dividend payments over its lifetime.

Does MRK have a good Dividend Yield?

MRK's 3.59% Dividend Yield is considered as moderate. This is usually a sign of a value company.

What is the Dividend Payout Ratio of MRK?

The Dividend Payout Ratio of MRK is 60.7%. Moderate - Typically an acceptable payout ratio.

What is the Dividend Rating of MRK?

MRK's Overall Dividend Rating is 68.40%. Ratings surpassing 65% are regarded as acceptable, exceeding 75% are favorable and surpassing 85% are strong.

MRK Outstanding Shares Analysis
The Chart shows the outstanding shares over time per year.
What is the Trend in MRK's Outstanding Shares?

Merck's outstanding shares have decreased by approximately 1.44% annually over the past 3 years (Trend Reliability: -85.4%). Slightly positive: The company is modestly reducing its share count through buybacks. This provides a small tailwind to earnings per share and dividend sustainability.

Has MRK ever had a Stock Split?

Yes, the last stock split was on Jun 3, 2021 with a ratio of 1048:1000. This was a forward split: Each share became 1.05 shares, lowering the price proportionally. The dividend per share was also adjusted downward by the same ratio, so total dividend income remained unchanged.

YEAR NUMBER OF SHARES ANNUAL GROWTH RATE
1985 2,591,748,000 0%
1986 2,539,586,000 -2.01%
1987 2,465,280,000 -2.93%
1988 2,366,342,000 -4.01%
1989 2,297,058,800 -2.93%
1990 2,325,000,000 +1.22%
1991 2,301,666,700 -1%
1992 2,301,785,700 +0.01%
1993 2,276,451,600 -1.1%
1994 2,443,225,800 +7.33%
1995 2,468,000,000 +1.01%
1996 2,429,285,700 -1.57%
1997 2,376,326,500 -2.18%
1998 2,361,900,000 -0.61%
1999 2,317,500,000 -1.88%
2000 2,303,700,000 -0.6%
2001 2,271,300,000 -1.41%
2002 2,249,900,000 -0.94%
2003 2,237,000,000 -0.57%
2004 2,218,500,000 -0.83%
2005 2,194,000,000 -1.1%
2006 2,175,200,000 -0.86%
2007 2,179,285,700 +0.19%
2008 2,128,500,000 -2.33%
2009 2,109,100,000 -0.91%
2010 3,079,918,600 +46.03%
2011 3,069,000,000 -0.35%
2012 3,074,000,000 +0.16%
2013 2,959,000,000 -3.74%
2014 2,880,000,000 -2.67%
2015 2,813,000,000 -2.33%
2016 2,776,000,000 -1.32%
2017 2,715,000,000 -2.2%
2018 2,634,000,000 -2.98%
2019 2,559,000,000 -2.85%
2020 2,540,000,000 -0.74%
2021 2,535,000,000 -0.2%
2022 2,548,000,000 +0.51%
2023 2,554,166,700 +0.24%
2024 2,541,000,000 -0.52%
2025 2,488,000,000 -2.09%
2026 2,472,000,000 -0.64%

Key Metric Definitions

Dividend Yield

Annual dividend per share divided by current share price.

Payout Ratio

Percentage of earnings paid as dividends. Below 60% = safe, above 100% = unsustainable.

Payout FCF

Percentage of Free Cash Flow paid as dividends. More reliable than Payout Ratio since it measures actual cash.

Growth Rate (CAGR)

Compound annual growth rate of dividends over the last 5 years.

Consistency

Reliability of dividend payments over lifetime. Penalizes cuts and pauses.

Yield on Cost

Your effective yield if you bought 5 years ago. Shows dividend growth impact over time.

Streak

Consecutive years of dividend payments. 25+ years = Dividend Aristocrat.

Dividend Rating

Proprietary score (0-100) combining yield, growth, safety and consistency.

Last update: 2026-05-19 02:38 UTC