Should You Buy, Sell or Hold Merck Stock Ahead of Q2 Earnings?

Merck is set to report its Q2 2026 earnings, with analysts anticipating a loss of 26 cents per share on sales of $16.33 billion. Despite a "Sell" rating from Zacks due to a 0.00% Earnings ESP and past estimate declines, the company has a strong history of exceeding earnings expectations, backed by blockbuster drugs like Keytruda and new product launches. Long-term investors are encouraged to hold, anticipating growth beyond Keytruda's patent expiry, while short-term investors may consider exiting due to acquisition costs and competitive pressures.