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Merck (NYSE: MRK) EVP Zachary sells shares after option exercises

Filing Impact
(Very High)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
4

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Merck & Co., Inc. executive vice president and general counsel Jennifer Zachary reported option exercises and related share sales in company stock. On 02/09/2026, she exercised three stock option grants covering 25,946, 56,792 and 38,835 shares of common stock, which had previously vested in scheduled installments. On the same date, she sold corresponding amounts of Merck common shares at a weighted average price of $119.1522 per share, with individual sale prices ranging from $118.9600 to $119.5100. Following these transactions, she directly held 68,915.671 shares of Merck common stock.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.
Insider Zachary Jennifer
Role EVP, General Counsel
Sold 121,573 shs ($14.49M)
Type Security Shares Price Value
Exercise Stock Option (Right to Buy) 25,946 $0.00 --
Exercise Stock Option (Right to Buy) 56,792 $0.00 --
Exercise Stock Option (Right to Buy) 38,835 $0.00 --
Exercise Common Stock 25,946 $119.1522 $3.09M
Sale Common Stock 25,946 $119.1522 $3.09M
Exercise Common Stock 56,792 $119.1522 $6.77M
Sale Common Stock 56,792 $119.1522 $6.77M
Exercise Common Stock 38,835 $119.1522 $4.63M
Sale Common Stock 38,835 $119.1522 $4.63M
Holdings After Transaction: Stock Option (Right to Buy) — 0 shares (Direct); Common Stock — 94,861.671 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (1)
  1. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $118.9600 to $119.5100, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Merck & Co., Inc., any security holder of Merck & Co., Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth above in this footnote. The option vested and became exercisable in three equal installments on 5/1/2021, 5/1/2022 and 5/1/2023. The option vests and becomes exercisable in three equal installments on 5/4/2022, 5/4/2023 and 5/4/2024. The option vests and becomes exercisable in equal installments on 5/3/2023, 5/3/2024 and 5/3/2025.
Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →
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*
Zachary Jennifer
(Last) (First) (Middle)
MERCK & CO., INC.
126 EAST LINCOLN AVENUE
(Street)
RAHWAY NJ 07065
(City) (State) (Zip)
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, General Counsel
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/09/2026
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
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 02/09/2026 M 25,946 A $119.1522(1) 94,861.671 D
Common Stock 02/09/2026 S 25,946 D $119.1522(1) 68,915.671 D
Common Stock 02/09/2026 M 56,792 A $119.1522(1) 125,707.671 D
Common Stock 02/09/2026 S 56,792 D $119.1522(1) 68,915.671 D
Common Stock 02/09/2026 M 38,835 A $119.1522(1) 107,750.671 D
Common Stock 02/09/2026 S 38,835 D $119.1522(1) 68,915.671 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
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $75.36 02/09/2026 M 25,946 05/01/2021(2) 04/30/2030 Common Stock 25,946 $0 0 D
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $73.73 02/09/2026 M 56,792 05/04/2022(3) 05/03/2031 Common Stock 56,792 $0 0 D
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $87.1 02/09/2026 M 38,835 05/03/2023(4) 05/02/2032 Common Stock 38,835 $0 0 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $118.9600 to $119.5100, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Merck & Co., Inc., any security holder of Merck & Co., Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth above in this footnote.
2. The option vested and became exercisable in three equal installments on 5/1/2021, 5/1/2022 and 5/1/2023.
3. The option vests and becomes exercisable in three equal installments on 5/4/2022, 5/4/2023 and 5/4/2024.
4. The option vests and becomes exercisable in equal installments on 5/3/2023, 5/3/2024 and 5/3/2025.
/s/ Kelly E. W. Grez as Attorney-in-Fact for Jennifer Zachary 02/09/2026
** 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.

Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

FAQ

What insider transactions did Merck (MRK) report for EVP Jennifer Zachary?

Merck reported that EVP and general counsel Jennifer Zachary exercised three stock option grants and sold matching amounts of common stock on 02/09/2026. These transactions involved multiple blocks of shares, with her remaining direct ownership reported at 68,915.671 shares after the activity.

How many Merck (MRK) stock options did Jennifer Zachary exercise?

Jennifer Zachary exercised three stock option awards covering 25,946, 56,792 and 38,835 shares of Merck common stock. The options had vesting schedules in equal installments across 2021–2025, as detailed in the disclosure’s footnotes describing when each grant became exercisable.

At what price were Jennifer Zachary’s Merck (MRK) shares sold?

The reported weighted average sale price was $119.1522 per Merck share. Footnotes explain the sales occurred in multiple transactions, with individual prices ranging from $118.9600 to $119.5100, and the executive offers to provide full breakdowns upon request to shareholders or regulators.

How many Merck (MRK) shares does Jennifer Zachary own after these transactions?

After the reported option exercises and related sales on 02/09/2026, Jennifer Zachary directly held 68,915.671 shares of Merck common stock. This post-transaction balance is disclosed in the Form 4’s non-derivative table as the amount beneficially owned following the reported trades.

What were the exercise prices and vesting details of Merck (MRK) options involved?

The exercised stock options had exercise prices of $75.36, $73.73, and $87.10 per share. Footnotes state these options vested in equal installments on dates in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, after which they became exercisable for Merck common stock.

Is Jennifer Zachary’s Merck (MRK) ownership direct or through another entity?

The filing shows Jennifer Zachary’s post-transaction holdings of 68,915.671 Merck common shares as held with Direct (D) ownership. No footnotes indicate indirect ownership through trusts, partnerships, or other entities for the reported derivative or non-derivative transactions.