Merck EVP Larson receives options and RSUs

Merck & Co., Inc. executive Betty D. Larson, EVP and Chief HR Officer, reported equity awards and updated her holdings.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Merck & Co., Inc. executive Betty D. Larson, EVP and Chief HR Officer, reported equity awards and updated her holdings. She now directly holds 13,774 shares of Merck common stock.

On 5/5/2026, she received a grant of 23,283 stock options with an exercise price of $113.15 per share, expiring on 5/4/2036. These options vest in three equal installments on 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, and 5/5/2029.

She was also granted 7,954 restricted stock units, each representing one share of common stock. These RSUs vest and are distributed in three equal installments on 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, and 5/5/2029.

Insider Trade Summary

Grant/Award: 31,237 shares

Grant/Award 3 txns

Insider Larson Betty D

Role EVP, Chief HR Officer

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Restricted Stock Unit	7,954	$0.00	$0.00
Grant/Award	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	23,283	$0.00	$0.00
holding	Common Stock	--	--	--

Holdings After Transaction: Restricted Stock Unit — 7,954 contracts (Direct); Stock Option (Right to Buy) — 23,283 contracts (Direct); Common Stock — 13,774 shares (Direct)

Footnotes (3)

1. F1. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock.
2. F2. These restricted stock units vest and are distributed as shares of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock in three equal installments on 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, and, 5/5/2029.
3. F3. The option vests and becomes exercisable in equal installments on 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, and, 5/5/2029.

Key Figures

Direct common shares held: 13,774 shares Stock options granted: 23,283 options Option exercise price: $113.15 per share +3 more

6 metrics

Direct common shares held 13,774 shares Non-derivative common stock position following transactions

Stock options granted 23,283 options Grant on 5/5/2026, right to buy Merck common stock

Option exercise price $113.15 per share Exercise price for 23,283 stock options

Option expiration 5/4/2036 Expiration date of the granted stock options

Restricted stock units granted 7,954 RSUs Grant on 5/5/2026, each RSU equals one common share

Vesting dates 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, 5/5/2029 Equal installments for both options and RSUs

Key Terms

Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Option (Right to Buy, exercise price, vests and becomes exercisable, +1 more

5 terms

Restricted Stock Unit financial

"Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share"

A restricted stock unit is a promise from a company to give an employee shares of stock after certain conditions are met, like staying with the company for a set amount of time. It’s like earning a bonus that turns into company stock once you’ve proven your commitment, making it a way to motivate and reward employees.

Stock Option (Right to Buy financial

"Stock Option (Right to Buy) with an exercise price of 113.1500"

exercise price financial

"conversion_or_exercise_price": "113.1500""

The exercise price is the fixed amount at which you can buy or sell an asset, like a stock, when using an options contract. It matters because it helps determine whether exercising the option will be profitable or not, depending on the current market price. Think of it as the set price you agree on today to buy or sell later.

vests and becomes exercisable financial

"The option vests and becomes exercisable in equal installments on 5/5/2027"

distributed as shares financial

"units vest and are distributed as shares of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock"

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did Merck (MRK) EVP Betty D. Larson report in this Form 4?

Betty D. Larson reported new equity awards and her updated shareholdings. She directly holds 13,774 Merck common shares, plus newly granted stock options and restricted stock units that vest over time, aligning part of her compensation with Merck’s future share performance.

How many stock options did Merck grant to Betty Larson in this filing?

She received 23,283 stock options labeled as a grant or award acquisition. The options have an exercise price of $113.15 per share, vest in three equal installments starting 5/5/2027, and remain exercisable until their 5/4/2036 expiration date if vested conditions are met.

What are the key terms of Betty Larson’s restricted stock units at Merck (MRK)?

She was granted 7,954 restricted stock units, each representing a contingent right to one Merck common share. These RSUs vest and are distributed in three equal installments on 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, and 5/5/2029, subject to the award’s vesting requirements being satisfied.

When do Betty Larson’s Merck stock options and RSUs vest?

Both the stock options and restricted stock units vest in three equal installments. The vesting dates are 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, and 5/5/2029. Once vested, options may be exercisable through 5/4/2036, while vested RSUs are distributed as Merck common shares on those dates.

What is Betty Larson’s direct Merck (MRK) shareholding after these transactions?

The filing shows she directly owns 13,774 shares of Merck common stock following the reported transactions. This figure reflects her direct non-derivative holdings and is separate from the 23,283 stock options and 7,954 restricted stock units disclosed as derivative equity awards in the same report.

Are Betty Larson’s new Merck equity awards open‑market purchases or compensation grants?

They are compensation-related grants, not open-market purchases. The Form 4 uses transaction code A for both the stock options and restricted stock units, identifying them as grants, awards, or other acquisitions rather than market trades initiated by the executive.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Accepted by SEC EDGAR 05/07/2026 - 12:03 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Larson Betty D

(Last) (First) (Middle)

126 EAST LINCOLN AVENUE

(Street)

RAHWAY NEW JERSEY 07065

(City) (State) (Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Merck & Co., Inc. [ MRK ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	EVP, Chief HR Officer

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/05/2026

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock								13,774	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Unit	(1)	05/05/2026		A		7,954		05/05/2027(2)	05/05/2029	Common Stock	7,954	$0	7,954	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$113.15	05/05/2026		A		23,283		05/05/2027(3)	05/04/2036	Common Stock	23,283	$0	23,283	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock.

2. These restricted stock units vest and are distributed as shares of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock in three equal installments on 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, and, 5/5/2029.

3. The option vests and becomes exercisable in equal installments on 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, and, 5/5/2029.

	/s/ Kelly E. W. Grez as Attorney-in-Fact for Betty Larson	05/07/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)