03:05 PM EDT, 05/22/2026 (MT Newswires) -- CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:

We lift our target to $149 from $135, 14.8x our 2027 EPS view, slightly above MRK's 10-yr historical forward P/E average. We lower our 2026 EPS to $2.80 from $5.05 to account for acquisition-related charges (Terns deal). The EMA's backing of Keytruda-Padcev combo to treat bladder cancer can widen Keytruda's addressable market considerably, in our view. The EMA issued a positive opinion for approval today of MRK's key drug Keytruda in combo with Padcev, as a perioperative treatment (before and after surgery) for adults with resectable muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The Phase 3 KEYNOTE-905 trial demonstrated that the combo reduced recurrence, progression, or death risk by 60% and death risk versus surgery alone by 50%. If approved (decision expected in Q3), this would become the first and only PD-1 inhibitor plus antibody-drug conjugate regimen for this patient population in the EU, addressing a significant unmet need for a considerable patient population.