Merck (NYSE:MRK) recently increased its dividend by 2%. Its overall yield is above that of the S&P 500 Index, at 3.02%. The firm has paid a dividend since January of 1993.
Merck is a global health care company that was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Kenilworth, New Jersey. The large healthcare company offers prescription medications, vaccines, animal health products, and biological drugs. Merck's products cover a wide range of conditions including asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. The firm also has a broad vaccine line including treatments for HPV, shingles, and hepatitis.
Merck has a market capitalization of $181 billion. It is currently the sixthlargest pharmaceutical company in the world by revenue ($39.5 billion). Merck has maintained a three-year growth rate of dividends of 2.3 percent. Merck currently ranks 7th in yield within the large cap healthcare, major drug manufacturer category. The quarterly dividend for the January payment will be $0.47 versus the prior year rate of $0.46 per share.
