Current Yield
2.68%
TTM Dividend/Share
$3.36
Payment Frequency
Quarterly
Payout Ratio
94.6%
Consecutive Growth Years
16 (Dividend Contender)
Key takeaways
- Dividend Contender — Merck & Co. (MRK) has raised its dividend for 16 consecutive years.
- Merck & Co. (MRK) currently yields 2.68%, paying $3.36 per share over the trailing twelve months, distributed quarterly.
- Payout ratio is 94.6% — the share of earnings distributed as dividends.
- 5 of 8 dividend safety checks passed.
- 5-year dividend CAGR of 6.75%.
Dividend yield valuation for Merck & Co. (MRK)
Current dividend yield vs its own 1Y / 3Y / 5Y historical averages — a rough valuation signal.
Valuation zone | Near average — fair value |
Current yield (now) | 2.68% |
1-year average yield | 3.10%now 0.42 pp below |
3-year average yield | 2.95%now 0.27 pp below |
5-year average yield | 2.95%now 0.27 pp below |
MRK: a yield above its history can signal value (or risk); below can signal a rich price. One valuation signal among many — review fundamentals before investing.
Dividend health for Merck & Co. (MRK)
Cash-flow, leverage and returns metrics that signal whether the dividend is well-covered and sustainable.
Chowder score | 9.4% |
FCF payout ratio | 14.9% |
Net debt / EBITDA | 2.3x |
Interest coverage | 17.35x |
ROIC (TTM) | 10.4% |
Dividend safety score for Merck & Co. (MRK)
Checks covering payout coverage, free-cash-flow support, leverage and dividend-growth durability.
5 of 8 checks passed
Payout ratio below 75%
Payout ratio is 94.6%, above the 75% threshold.
Free cash flow covers dividend
TTM FCF after dividends is $5.9B — FCF fully covers the payout.
No dividend cuts in 10+ years
No dividend cuts in the last 10 years.
Positive earnings growth trend
Earnings per share have declined over the past 5 years.
10+ years of consecutive growth
16 consecutive years of dividend growth.
FCF payout ratio below 70%
FCF payout ratio is 14.9%, below the 70% threshold.
Net Debt/EBITDA below 3x
Net Debt/EBITDA is 2.3x.
Dividend growth ≤ earnings growth (5Y)
Earnings are negative while dividends are still growing — unsustainable.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Safety scores and comparisons reflect historical data and do not predict future performance.
Per-payment dividend history
224 payments from 1970 to 2026 · Adj. Dividend is split-adjusted
| Jun 15, 2026 | Jul 8, 2026 | $0.8500 | $0.8500 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | Apr 7, 2026 | $0.8500 | $0.8500 |
| Dec 15, 2025 | Jan 8, 2026 | $0.8500 | $0.8500 |
| Sep 15, 2025 | Oct 7, 2025 | $0.8100 | $0.8100 |
| Jun 16, 2025 | Jul 8, 2025 | $0.8100 | $0.8100 |
| Mar 17, 2025 | Apr 7, 2025 | $0.8100 | $0.8100 |
| Dec 16, 2024 | Jan 8, 2025 | $0.8100 | $0.8100 |
| Sep 16, 2024 | Oct 7, 2024 | $0.7700 | $0.7700 |
| Jun 17, 2024 | Jul 8, 2024 | $0.7700 | $0.7700 |
| Mar 14, 2024 | Apr 5, 2024 | $0.7700 | $0.7700 |
| Dec 14, 2023 | Jan 8, 2024 | $0.7700 | $0.7700 |
| Sep 14, 2023 | Oct 6, 2023 | $0.7300 | $0.7300 |
- Jun 15, 2026$0.8500
- Mar 16, 2026$0.8500
- Dec 15, 2025$0.8500
- Sep 15, 2025$0.8100
- Jun 16, 2025$0.8100
- Mar 17, 2025$0.8100
- Dec 16, 2024$0.8100
- Sep 16, 2024$0.7700
- Jun 17, 2024$0.7700
- Mar 14, 2024$0.7700
- Dec 14, 2023$0.7700
- Sep 14, 2023$0.7300
Historical dividend yield for Merck & Co. (MRK)
Mean trailing dividend yield using one ratio snapshot per calendar year.Mean yield1Y: 3.10%5Y: 2.95%10Y: 3.01%
Dividend per share for Merck & Co. (MRK)
CAGR (per year)1Y: 5.13%5Y: 6.75%10Y: 6.62%→ Stable
| Year | Total ($/share) | Payments |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $0.02 | 3 |
| 1971 | $0.03 | 4 |
| 1972 | $0.02 | 3 |
| 1973 | $0.03 | 4 |
| 1974 | $0.03 | 3 |
| 1975 | $0.04 | 4 |
| 1976 | $0.04 | 4 |
| 1977 | $0.04 | 4 |
| 1978 | $0.05 | 4 |
| 1979 | $0.05 | 4 |
| 1980 | $0.06 | 4 |
| 1981 | $0.07 | 4 |
| 1982 | $0.07 | 4 |
| 1983 | $0.08 | 4 |
| 1984 | $0.08 | 4 |
| 1985 | $0.09 | 4 |
| 1986 | $0.11 | 4 |
| 1987 | $0.14 | 4 |
| 1988 | $0.21 | 4 |
| 1989 | $0.27 | 4 |
| 1990 | $0.32 | 4 |
| 1991 | $0.38 | 4 |
| 1992 | $0.46 | 4 |
| 1993 | $0.51 | 4 |
| 1994 | $0.55 | 4 |
| 1995 | $0.61 | 4 |
| 1996 | $0.71 | 4 |
| 1997 | $0.83 | 4 |
| 1998 | $0.94 | 4 |
| 1999 | $1.07 | 4 |
| 2000 | $1.20 | 4 |
| 2001 | $1.32 | 4 |
| 2002 | $1.35 | 4 |
| 2003 | $4.14 | 5 |
| 2004 | $1.43 | 4 |
| 2005 | $1.45 | 4 |
| 2006 | $1.45 | 4 |
| 2007 | $1.45 | 4 |
| 2008 | $1.45 | 4 |
| 2009 | $1.45 | 4 |
| 2010 | $1.45 | 4 |
| 2011 | $1.49 | 4 |
| 2012 | $1.61 | 4 |
| 2013 | $1.65 | 4 |
| 2014 | $1.69 | 4 |
| 2015 | $1.73 | 4 |
| 2016 | $1.77 | 4 |
| 2017 | $1.80 | 4 |
| 2018 | $1.90 | 4 |
| 2019 | $2.16 | 4 |
| 2020 | $2.37 | 4 |
| 2021 | $2.61 | 4 |
| 2022 | $2.80 | 4 |
| 2023 | $2.96 | 4 |
| 2024 | $3.12 | 4 |
| 2025 | $3.28 | 4 |
| 2026 | $1.70 | 2 |
Dividend growth for Merck & Co. (MRK)
Year-over-year change in total annual dividend per share (split-adjusted, by ex-dividend year). Green is an increase, red a cut.
Dividend Increase Track Record
Year-over-year change in total annual DPS (dividends per share, split-adjusted), based on ex-dividend date.
| 2026 | $3.2800 | — | — |
| 2025 | $3.1200 | $3.2800 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $2.9600 | $3.1200 | +5.4% |
| 2023 | $2.8000 | $2.9600 | +5.7% |
| 2022 | $2.6102 | $2.8000 | +7.3% |
| 2021 | $2.3664 | $2.6102 | +10.3% |
| 2020 | $2.1565 | $2.3664 | +9.7% |
| 2019 | $1.8989 | $2.1565 | +13.6% |
| 2018 | $1.8034 | $1.8989 | +5.3% |
| 2017 | $1.7653 | $1.8034 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | $1.7271 | $1.7653 | +2.2% |
| 2015 | $1.6889 | $1.7271 | +2.3% |
| 2014 | $1.6508 | $1.6889 | +2.3% |
| 2013 | $1.6126 | $1.6508 | +2.4% |
| 2012 | $1.4886 | $1.6126 | +8.3% |
| 2011 | $1.4504 | $1.4886 | +2.6% |
| 2010 | $1.4504 | $1.4504 | 0.0% |
| 2009 | $1.4504 | $1.4504 | 0.0% |
| 2008 | $1.4504 | $1.4504 | 0.0% |
| 2007 | $1.4504 | $1.4504 | 0.0% |
| 2006 | $1.4504 | $1.4504 | 0.0% |
| 2005 | $1.4313 | $1.4504 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | $4.1374 | $1.4313 | -65.4% |
| 2003 | $1.3550 | $4.1374 | +205.4% |
| 2002 | $1.3168 | $1.3550 | +2.9% |
| 2001 | $1.2023 | $1.3168 | +9.5% |
| 2000 | $1.0687 | $1.2023 | +12.5% |
| 1999 | $0.9447 | $1.0687 | +13.1% |
| 1998 | $0.8302 | $0.9447 | +13.8% |
| 1997 | $0.7061 | $0.8302 | +17.6% |
| 1996 | $0.6107 | $0.7061 | +15.6% |
| 1995 | $0.5534 | $0.6107 | +10.3% |
| 1994 | $0.5057 | $0.5534 | +9.4% |
| 1993 | $0.4580 | $0.5057 | +10.4% |
| 1992 | $0.3785 | $0.4580 | +21.0% |
| 1991 | $0.3212 | $0.3785 | +17.8% |
| 1990 | $0.2735 | $0.3212 | +17.4% |
| 1989 | $0.2075 | $0.2735 | +31.8% |
| 1988 | $0.1431 | $0.2075 | +45.0% |
| 1987 | $0.1060 | $0.1431 | +35.0% |
| 1986 | $0.0875 | $0.1060 | +21.2% |
| 1985 | $0.0808 | $0.0875 | +8.2% |
| 1984 | $0.0755 | $0.0808 | +7.0% |
| 1983 | $0.0742 | $0.0755 | +1.8% |
| 1982 | $0.0702 | $0.0742 | +5.7% |
| 1981 | $0.0630 | $0.0702 | +11.6% |
| 1980 | $0.0530 | $0.0630 | +18.8% |
| 1979 | $0.0464 | $0.0530 | +14.3% |
| 1978 | $0.0411 | $0.0464 | +12.9% |
| 1977 | $0.0378 | $0.0411 | +8.8% |
| 1976 | $0.0371 | $0.0378 | +1.8% |
| 1975 | $0.0278 | $0.0371 | +33.3% |
| 1974 | $0.0327 | $0.0278 | -15.0% |
| 1973 | $0.0224 | $0.0327 | +46.2% |
| 1972 | $0.0292 | $0.0224 | -23.2% |
| 1971 | — | $0.0292 | — |
- 2026—
- 2025$3.2800
- 2024$3.1200
- 2023$2.9600
- 2022$2.8000
- 2021$2.6102
- 2020$2.3664
- 2019$2.1565
- 2018$1.8989
- 2017$1.8034
- 2016$1.7653
- 2015$1.7271
- 2014$1.6889
- 2013$1.6508
- 2012$1.6126
- 2011$1.4886
- 2010$1.4504
- 2009$1.4504
- 2008$1.4504
- 2007$1.4504
- 2006$1.4504
- 2005$1.4504
- 2004$1.4313
- 2003$4.1374
- 2002$1.3550
- 2001$1.3168
- 2000$1.2023
- 1999$1.0687
- 1998$0.9447
- 1997$0.8302
- 1996$0.7061
- 1995$0.6107
- 1994$0.5534
- 1993$0.5057
- 1992$0.4580
- 1991$0.3785
- 1990$0.3212
- 1989$0.2735
- 1988$0.2075
- 1987$0.1431
- 1986$0.1060
- 1985$0.0875
- 1984$0.0808
- 1983$0.0755
- 1982$0.0742
- 1981$0.0702
- 1980$0.0630
- 1979$0.0530
- 1978$0.0464
- 1977$0.0411
- 1976$0.0378
- 1975$0.0371
- 1974$0.0278
- 1973$0.0327
- 1972$0.0224
- 1971$0.0292
DPS sums split-adjusted amounts (adj. dividend) by ex-dividend calendar year—the same basis as the Adj. Dividend column in Dividend Payment History. The Dividend column can differ after stock splits. This table uses four decimals per annual total so the Change column matches the shown amounts; each payment row in Dividend Payment History also uses four.
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Merck & Co. (MRK) Key Financials
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