Merck "neutral weight"

10/25/05 - Prudential Financial

NEW YORK, October 25 (newratings.com) - Analyst Tim Anderson of Prudential Financial maintains his "neutral weight" rating on Merck & Co (MRK). The target price is set to $34.

In a research note published yesterday, the analyst mentions that the company has reported its 3Q EPS ahead of the estimates and the consensus. Merck's total revenues and gross margins were short of the estimates, the analyst says. The sales of the company's key products, Zocor, Fosamax, Cozaar/Hyzaar and Singulair, were lower than expected, the analyst says. The company revised its EPS guidance for 2005 from $2.44-$2.52 to $2.47-$2.51, excluding the 2Q tax charge.