Do Wall Street Analysts Like Pfizer Stock?
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 01 2025
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Pfizer's Market Performance: Pfizer Inc. has underperformed the broader market, with a 4.7% decline over the past year compared to a 10.6% increase in the S&P 500 Index, attributed to factors like the discontinuation of the obesity pill danuglipron and declining sales of key products.
Analyst Ratings and Earnings Outlook: Despite recent challenges, analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" consensus on Pfizer stock, with expectations for a slight decline in EPS for the current fiscal year; Jefferies Financial Group has set a price target of $32, indicating potential upside from current levels.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy MRK?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on MRK
Wall Street analysts forecast MRK stock price to rise
16 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 115.880
Low
95.00
Averages
119.53
High
139.00
Current: 115.880
Low
95.00
Averages
119.53
High
139.00
About MRK
Merck & Co., Inc. is a global health care company that delivers health solutions through its prescription medicines, including biologic therapies, vaccines and animal health products. Its Pharmaceutical segment includes human health pharmaceutical and vaccine products. The Company sells its human health pharmaceutical products primarily to drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, government agencies and managed health care providers. It sells these human health vaccines primarily to physicians, wholesalers, distributors and government entities. Its Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a range of veterinary pharmaceutical and vaccine products, as well as health management solutions and services, for the prevention, treatment and control of disease in all livestock and companion animal species. Its products include KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) injection, for intravenous use; WELIREG (belzutifan) tablets, for oral use; Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine) and others.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Merck's Drug Pipeline: Merck (MRK) is facing the loss of U.S. patent protection for its cancer drug Keytruda by 2028, yet the company is strategically acquiring Verona Pharma and Terns Pharmaceuticals, potentially adding up to $4 billion in annual revenue from new treatments, indicating strong growth prospects over the next decade.
- Verizon's Stability: Verizon (VZ) is expected to add between 750,000 and 1 million net postpaid customers this year in a mature wireless market, and with a 5.72% dividend yield and 19 consecutive years of dividend increases, it remains a solid investment choice despite slow market growth.
- Equinix's Growth Potential: Equinix (EQIX), a data center operator, reported $2.44 billion in revenue last year, a 10% year-over-year increase, and the AI data center industry is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 25%, enhancing its appeal as a high-dividend stock.
- Attraction of Dividend Growth: All three companies demonstrate strong dividend growth potential, with Merck and Equinix boasting 11 and 19 years of dividend history respectively, suggesting they will continue to provide stable cash flow to investors over the next decade.
See More
- Market Recovery: The S&P 500 rose by 0.37% and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.42%, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting an all-time high, reflecting optimism about a potential US-Iran peace deal that could boost investor confidence.
- Consumer Sentiment Decline: The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index was revised down to a record low of 44.8, below the expected 48.2, indicating growing concerns among consumers about the economic outlook, which may impact future spending.
- Rising Inflation Expectations: The 1-year inflation expectations for May were revised upward to 4.8%, exceeding the expected 4.6%, potentially prompting the Federal Reserve to consider interest rate hikes in upcoming meetings, which could pressure the stock market.
- Tech Stocks Lead Gains: Workday's stock surged over 5% after reporting Q1 adjusted EPS of $2.66, surpassing expectations, highlighting strong performance in the software sector and potentially attracting more investor interest in tech stocks.
See More
- Strong Sector Performance: The healthcare sector has shown remarkable performance, with the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) rising 3.3% over the past week, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 0.5% gain, indicating a robust rebound and renewed investor confidence in healthcare stocks.
- Drug Innovation Driving Prices: Merck (MRK) saw a substantial stock price increase after announcing a lung cancer drug that reduced tumor progression risk by 65% in a Phase 3 study, highlighting the positive impact of ongoing pharmaceutical innovation on stock valuations.
- Favorable Medicare Policies: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that starting in 2027, Eli Lilly's (LLY) GLP-1 drugs will be available to Medicare patients for $50 a month, resulting in a 25% stock price increase for Lilly over three weeks, demonstrating the direct support of policy changes for healthcare stocks.
- Aging Population Trend: The global aging population is driving increased demand for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and health insurance, positioning the healthcare sector as a focal point for investors seeking growth opportunities in the face of demographic shifts.
See More
- Strong Sector Performance: The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) rose 3.3% over the past five trading days, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 0.5% gain, establishing healthcare as the top-performing sector this week and reflecting strong investor confidence in the industry.
- Pharmaceutical Innovation: Merck (MRK) saw its stock rise 5.63% this week after announcing a 65% reduction in tumor progression risk from a lung cancer drug developed with a Chinese partner in a Phase 3 study, highlighting the ongoing innovation within the pharmaceutical sector.
- Favorable Insurance Policies: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that Eli Lilly's (LLY) GLP-1 drugs will be available to Medicare patients for $50 a month starting January 2027, leading to a 25% stock price increase for Lilly over three weeks, showcasing the positive impact of policy changes on company performance.
- Aging Population Trend: The global aging population is driving increased demand for pharmaceuticals and medical services, positioning the healthcare sector for robust growth and attracting investors to healthcare ETFs as a safer investment choice amid economic uncertainties.
See More
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 is nearing 7,500, on track for its eighth consecutive week of gains, reflecting strong market performance driven by sectors like healthcare and information technology, indicating investor confidence in economic recovery.
- Stock Dynamics: Merck leads the healthcare sector with encouraging trial results, while Dell's stock surges over 16%, showcasing a robust rebound in tech stocks that may attract more investor interest in these sectors' growth potential.
- Arm Holdings Surge: Arm Holdings rallies nearly 50% this week, and despite trimming shares on Monday, it still locked in a 20% gain, highlighting its significance and growth potential within the portfolio, reflecting optimistic market expectations for its future performance.
- Starbucks AI Project Adjustment: Starbucks has ended an AI program for automating inventory accounting, which may impact its $2 billion cost savings target; however, CEO Brian Niccol is set to discuss this goal at next week's conference, indicating the company's ongoing focus on cost control during its turnaround efforts.
See More
- Strong Market Performance: The S&P 500 rose by 0.50% and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.73%, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting an all-time high, reflecting optimism about a potential US-Iran peace deal that could boost investor confidence.
- Decline in Consumer Confidence: The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index was revised down to 44.8, a record low, below the expected 48.2, indicating growing consumer concerns about the economic outlook, which may negatively impact future spending.
- Rising Inflation Expectations: The 1-year inflation expectations for May were revised up to 4.8%, a 9-month high, exceeding the expected 4.6%, which could prompt the Fed to consider interest rate hikes at the upcoming meeting, affecting market liquidity.
- Chip Stocks Lead Gains: Qualcomm's stock surged over 12%, leading the Nasdaq 100, demonstrating ongoing market enthusiasm for semiconductor and AI infrastructure, which may yield higher returns for related companies.
See More











