Shares Outstanding for Merck & Co. (MRK)
According to Merck & Co.'s latest reported financial statements, the company's latest reported diluted shares outstanding is 2.49B. Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding is the share count used to compute per-share metrics like EPS. Buybacks lower it; new issuance, stock-based compensation, and convertible securities raise it. Multiply by the stock price for market capitalization.
Headline figure above is from the reporting period ending (reported ). Chart and table below cover the full reported history back to .
MRK
Currently viewingShares OutstandingSwitch metric
Latest period
2.49B
YoY change
-1.3%
5Y CAGR
-0.3%
Peak year (2010)
3.12B
Latest annual
2.51B
Shares Outstanding history chart for Merck & Co. (MRK) from 1985 to 2025
Shares Outstanding history table for Merck & Co. (MRK) from 1985 to 2025
| Fiscal year | Period ended | Reported | Shares Outstanding | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.51B | -1.3% | ||
| 2024 | 2.54B | -0.2% | ||
| 2023 | 2.55B | +0.2% | ||
| 2022 | 2.54B | +0.2% | ||
| 2021 | 2.54B | -0.1% | ||
| 2020 | 2.54B | -1.5% | ||
| 2019 | 2.58B | -3.7% | ||
| 2018 | 2.68B | -2.5% | ||
| 2017 | 2.75B | -1.4% | ||
| 2016 | 2.79B | -1.9% | ||
| 2015 | 2.84B | -3.0% | ||
| 2014 | 2.93B | -2.3% | ||
| 2013 | 3.00B | -2.6% | ||
| 2012 | 3.08B | -0.6% | ||
| 2011 | 3.09B | -0.8% | ||
| 2010 | 3.12B | +37.3% | ||
| 2009 | 2.27B | +6.1% | ||
| 2008 | 2.14B | -2.3% | ||
| 2007 | 2.19B | +0.2% | ||
| 2006 | 2.19B | -0.6% | ||
| 2005 | 2.20B | -1.2% | ||
| 2004 | 2.23B | -1.2% | ||
| 2003 | 2.25B | -1.0% | ||
| 2002 | 2.28B | -2.0% | ||
| 2001 | 2.32B | -1.3% | ||
| 2000 | 2.35B | -2.1% | ||
| 1999 | 2.40B | -1.5% | ||
| 1998 | 2.44B | -1.1% | ||
| 1997 | 2.47B | -0.8% | ||
| 1996 | 2.49B | -2.0% | ||
| 1995 | 2.54B | -0.5% | ||
| 1994 | 2.55B | +9.6% | ||
| 1993 | 2.33B | +23.3% | ||
| 1992 | 1.89B | -18.9% | ||
| 1991 | 2.33B | -0.5% | ||
| 1990 | 2.34B | -1.3% | ||
| 1989 | 2.37B | +0.3% | ||
| 1988 | 2.37B | -3.4% | ||
| 1987 | 2.45B | -2.1% | ||
| 1986 | 2.50B | -2.7% | ||
| 1985 | 2.57B | — |
Shares Outstanding values are taken from Merck & Co.'s reported income statements (10-Q quarterly and 10-K annual filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission). Each row shows the period end date and the date the filing was reported; YoY compares each figure to the same period one year earlier. Amounts are in USD as filed.
Analysis
Merck & Co. (MRK) most recent annual diluted shares outstanding stands at 2.51B (2025) – edged down 1.3% year-over-year.
Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding compound annual growth for the 2020–2025 (5 years) window is -0.3%, with a net decline across the window.
Between 2010 and 2025, Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding declined 19.6%, falling from 3.12B to 2.51B.
Across the available history, diluted shares outstanding reached its high of 3.12B in 2010 and its low of 1.89B in 1992.
Among 8 Healthcare peers, Merck & Co. (MRK) ranks 2nd; the peer median for diluted shares outstanding is 904.00M.
Merck & Co. Shares Outstanding by Year
Merck & Co. Shares Outstanding 2025: 2.51B
Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding in 2025 was 2.51B, edged down 1.3% below 2024.
Merck & Co. Shares Outstanding 2024: 2.54B
Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding in 2024 was 2.54B, edged down 0.2% below 2023.
Merck & Co. Shares Outstanding 2023: 2.55B
Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding in 2023 was 2.55B, edged up 0.2% from 2022.
Merck & Co. Shares Outstanding 2022: 2.54B
Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding in 2022 was 2.54B, edged up 0.2% from 2021.
Merck & Co. Shares Outstanding 2021: 2.54B
Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding in 2021 was 2.54B.
See more financial history for Merck & Co. (MRK).
Sector peers — Shares Outstanding
Companies in the same sector as Merck & Co., ranked by their latest diluted shares outstanding.
| Company | Shares Outstanding | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 4.45B | Healthcare |
| Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) | 2.43B | Healthcare |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 1.77B | Healthcare |
| UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) | 910.00M | Healthcare |
| Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) | 898.00M | Healthcare |
| AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) | 781.00M | Healthcare |
| Amgen Inc. (AMGN) | 542.00M | Healthcare |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) | 377.00M | Healthcare |
Frequently asked questions
What is Merck & Co.'s diluted shares outstanding?
- Latest reported diluted shares outstanding for Merck & Co. (MRK) is 2.49B (period ending December 31, 2025).
How has Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding changed year-over-year?
- Merck & Co. (MRK) diluted shares outstanding changed -1.3% year-over-year on the latest annual filing.
What is the long-term growth rate of Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding?
- Merck & Co. (MRK) diluted shares outstanding compound annual growth rate is -0.3% over the most recent 5 years available.
When did Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding hit its highest annual value?
- Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding reached its highest annual value of 3.12B in 2010.
What was Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding in 2024?
- Merck & Co. (MRK) diluted shares outstanding in 2024 was 2.54B.
What was Merck & Co. diluted shares outstanding in 2025?
- Merck & Co. (MRK) diluted shares outstanding in 2025 was 2.51B.
Metrics overview
Pick a metric for charts, filings, and peers — each row shows the latest TTM or annual value with year-over-year change.
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