Merck (NYSE: MRK ) has declared its inaugural quarterly dividend of 2013, keeping it in line with its previous payout. For its Q2, the company is to hand out $0.43 per share of its common stock on April 5 to shareholders of record as of March 15, matching the disbursement from mid-December. Previously, the company paid $0.42 per share.
Merck is a habitual dividend payer, although it rarely adjusts its payout. From September 2004 to September 2011, the company distributed $0.38 nearly every quarter.
The just-announced dividend annualizes to $1.72 per share, which yields 4.1% at Merck's current stock price of $42.42.
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For nearly 100 years, Merck's cutting-edge research has led to a number of medical breakthroughs. Today, however, this pharma stalwart is staring down a steep patent cliff and facing generic competition for its top-selling drug. Will Merck crumble under its own weight, or will it continue to pay dividends to investors for another century? To find out if this pharma giant has the stamina to keep its Bunsen burners alight, grab your copy of our brand new premium research report today. Our senior biotech analyst Brian Orelli, Ph.D., walks you through both the opportunities and threats facing Merck, and the report comes with a full 12 months of updates. Claim your copy now by clicking here.
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