Merck & Co (MRK) Dividend
Merck & Co (MRK) currently pays a dividend yield of 2.64%, distributing $3.40 per share annually ($0.85 per quarter). The company operates in the Healthcare sector.
MRK has raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years.
MRK dividend at a glance
| Dividend Yield | 2.64% |
|---|---|
| Annual Dividend | $3.40 per share |
| Per Payment | $0.85 |
| Payout Frequency | Quarterly |
| Payments per Year | 4 |
| Next Ex-Dividend Date | September 15, 2026 |
| Next Payment Date | October 6, 2026 |
| Payout Ratio | 94% |
| Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth | 14 |
| Sector | Healthcare |
| Implied Share Price (from yield) | $128.79 |
What MRK pays on a $10,000 investment
At a 2.64% yield, $10,000 invested in MRK generates about $264.00 per year, or roughly $66.00 every quarter. Share counts below use an implied price of $128.79, derived from the $3.40 annual dividend and the 2.64% yield.
| Amount Invested | Approx. Shares | Annual Dividend Income | Income per Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | 7.8 | $26.40 | $6.60 |
| $5,000 | 38.8 | $132.00 | $33.00 |
| $10,000 | 77.6 | $264.00 | $66.00 |
| $25,000 | 194.1 | $660.00 | $165.00 |
| $100,000 | 776.5 | $2,640.00 | $660.00 |
These figures assume the dividend and share price stay where they are today. They do not account for taxes, dividend cuts, price movement, or reinvestment. If you reinvest instead of taking the cash, the share count grows each quarter — see how the dividend snowball compounds.
MRK dividend payment schedule
MRK pays on a quarterly schedule — 4 payments a year. The next confirmed ex-dividend date is September 15, 2026, with payment on October 6, 2026. Later rows are projected forward at the same interval and will shift when Merck & Co declares each dividend.
| Ex-Dividend Date | Payment Date | Amount per Share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2026 | October 6, 2026 | $0.85 | Confirmed |
| December 15, 2026 | January 5, 2027 | $0.85 | Projected |
| March 15, 2027 | April 5, 2027 | $0.85 | Projected |
| June 15, 2027 | July 6, 2027 | $0.85 | Projected |
To collect a MRK dividend you must own the shares before the ex-dividend date. Buy on the ex-date itself and the previous owner keeps that payment. Read how ex-dividend, record, and payment dates fit together.
How MRK's dividend compares
Across the 587 dividend stocks and ETFs DivTrkr tracks, the median yield is 3.81%. MRK's 2.64% is 1.17 percentage points below that median, ranking 361st of 587 by yield.
Within Healthcare, where we track 20 names, the median yield is 2.31% — putting MRK above its sector.
Its 14-year run of dividend increases ranks 122nd out of the 362 names in our data with an active growth streak.
What the numbers mean
MRK pays out roughly 94% of its earnings as dividends. That is a high payout ratio. The dividend is consuming most of reported earnings, which is normal for REITs and some funds but a caution flag elsewhere.
Like most US dividend payers, MRK distributes quarterly, so a full year of ownership produces four payments.
Whether these payments are taxed at the lower qualified rate or as ordinary income depends on how long you hold the shares and what kind of company pays them. See the qualified vs. ordinary dividend rules.
MRK dividend FAQ
When is the next MRK ex-dividend date?
The next MRK ex-dividend date is September 15, 2026, with the payment scheduled for October 6, 2026. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive that payment.
What is MRK's dividend yield?
MRK currently yields 2.64%, based on $3.40 in dividends per share over the past year.
How often does MRK pay dividends?
MRK pays quarterly, which works out to 4 payments per year of about $0.85 per share.
How much dividend income would $10,000 of MRK generate?
At the current 2.64% yield, $10,000 invested in MRK would produce roughly $264.00 per year, or about $66.00 per quarter, before taxes and assuming the dividend holds.
Has MRK increased its dividend?
Yes — MRK has raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years.
MRK dividend history
DivTrkr holds 224 recorded MRK dividend payments going back to 1970, with 14 consecutive complete years of increases and +6.8% a year of growth over the last five complete years. See the full MRK dividend history — every payment, annual totals and growth by year.
Related dividend stocks
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- MDT — Medtronic PLC dividend (3.30%)
- ABBV — AbbVie Inc. dividend (2.81%)
- GILD — Gilead Sciences dividend (2.46%)
- AMGN — Amgen Inc dividend (2.45%)
- BDX — Becton Dickinson dividend (2.37%)
Similar yields to MRK
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Track MRK dividends free with DivTrkr — see exactly what your own position pays, and when. Also browse the full dividend calendar or the A–Z list of dividend stocks.