Merck (MRK) EVP Jennifer Zachary awarded 11,583 shares

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Merck & Co., Inc. executive Jennifer Zachary, EVP and General Counsel, reported an acquisition of 11,583 shares of common stock on January 26, 2026. The shares were distributed as net after-tax stock upon satisfying performance criteria for performance share units granted on March 31, 2023, which paid out at 94 percent of target and included dividends accrued over a three-year performance period ending December 31, 2025.

Following this transaction, Zachary directly holds 68,915.671 shares of Merck common stock.

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

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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)
01/26/2026

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	01/26/2026		A		11,583(1)	A	$107.4	68,915.671(2)	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

Explanation of Responses:

1. Distribution of net after tax shares of common stock on satisfaction of performance criteria for performance share units granted on 3/31/23. Performance shares were paid out at 94 percent of target awards. Includes dividends accrued over the three-year performance period ending December 31, 2025.

2. Holdings include shares acquired in dividend reinvestment transactions.

	/s/ Kelly E. W. Grez as Attorney-in-Fact for Jennifer Zachary	01/28/2026
	** 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).
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FAQ

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

Merck reported that EVP and General Counsel Jennifer Zachary acquired 11,583 shares of common stock. These shares were distributed as net after-tax stock from a performance share unit award after performance criteria were satisfied at 94 percent of target.

When did Jennifer Zachary’s Merck (MRK) stock award transaction occur?

The stock award transaction for Jennifer Zachary occurred on January 26, 2026. On that date, she received 11,583 Merck common shares as a distribution of net after-tax shares from previously granted performance share units tied to multi-year performance.

What was the price per share for Jennifer Zachary’s Merck (MRK) stock acquisition?

The reported price per share for the acquisition was $107.4. This price applies to the 11,583 Merck common shares distributed to Jennifer Zachary as part of the payout of performance share units granted on March 31, 2023.

How many Merck (MRK) shares does Jennifer Zachary own after this transaction?

After the transaction, Jennifer Zachary beneficially owns 68,915.671 Merck common shares directly. This total includes the 11,583 net after-tax shares distributed upon satisfaction of performance criteria and shares acquired through dividend reinvestment transactions.

What performance outcome triggered Jennifer Zachary’s Merck (MRK) share distribution?

The distribution was triggered when performance criteria for performance share units granted on March 31, 2023 were met. These performance shares were paid out at 94 percent of target awards and included dividends accrued over the three-year performance period ending December 31, 2025.

What type of compensation is reflected in Jennifer Zachary’s Merck (MRK) Form 4 filing?

The filing reflects equity compensation in the form of performance share units settling in common stock. Upon meeting performance criteria, Jennifer Zachary received 11,583 net after-tax shares, plus dividend equivalents from the three-year performance period, as part of her executive compensation.