Merck (NYSE: MRK) EVP nets more shares after RSU vesting
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
4
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Merck & Co., Inc. executive Richard R. DeLuca, EVP and President of Merck Animal Health, reported routine equity compensation activity. On April 29, 2026, he exercised 2,518 restricted stock units, receiving an equivalent number of Merck common shares.
To cover tax obligations, 1,241 common shares were disposed of at $110.03 per share through a tax-withholding transaction, leaving a net increase in his directly held stock. After these transactions, DeLuca directly holds 161,537.07 shares of common stock and indirectly holds 1,320.9907 shares through a 401(k) plan. Footnotes note that restricted stock units convert into one common share each and vest in three equal installments on April 29, 2026, 2027, and 2028, with remaining units outstanding.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
2,518 shares exercised/converted
Mixed
4 txns
Insider
DeLuca Richard R.
Role
EVP&Pres, Merck Animal Heallth
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Restricted Stock Unit | 2,518 | $0.00 | -- |
| Exercise | Common Stock | 2,518 | $110.03 | $277K |
| Tax Withholding | Common Stock | 1,241 | $110.03 | $137K |
| holding | Common Stock - 401(k) Plan | -- | -- | -- |
Holdings After Transaction:
Restricted Stock Unit — 5,037 shares (Direct, null);
Common Stock — 162,778.07 shares (Direct, null);
Common Stock - 401(k) Plan — 1,320.991 shares (Indirect, By 401(k))
Footnotes (1)
- Holdings include shares acquired in dividend reinvestment transactions. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock. These restricted stock units vest and are distributed as shares of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock in three equal installments on 4/29/2026, 4/29/2027 and 4/29/2028.
Key Figures
RSUs exercised: 2,518 units
Tax-withholding shares: 1,241 shares
Tax-withholding price: $110.03 per share
+3 more
6 metrics
RSUs exercised
2,518 units
Restricted stock units converted to Merck common stock on April 29, 2026
Tax-withholding shares
1,241 shares
Shares delivered to cover tax liability at $110.03 per share
Tax-withholding price
$110.03 per share
Value used for 1,241-share tax-withholding disposition
Direct common stock holdings
161,537.07 shares
Direct Merck common shares following transactions
401(k) Merck holdings
1,320.9907 shares
Indirect holdings in Merck stock through 401(k) plan
Remaining RSUs
5,037 units
Restricted stock units outstanding after the reported exercise
Key Terms
Restricted Stock Unit, tax-withholding disposition, 401(k) Plan, derivative exercise/conversion, +1 more
5 terms
Restricted Stock Unit financial
"Restricted Stock Unit ... represents a contingent right to receive one share of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock."
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.
tax-withholding disposition financial
"Payment of exercise price or tax liability by delivering securities"
A tax-withholding disposition is an event or transaction—such as selling or transferring securities, exercising options, or receiving compensation—that triggers a requirement to hold back part of the payment and remit it to tax authorities. It matters to investors because it reduces the cash they receive immediately and can change the timing and amount of taxable income, like a cashier taking a portion of your sale proceeds to pay taxes before you get the rest.
401(k) Plan financial
"Common Stock - 401(k) Plan"
A 401(k) plan is a workplace retirement account that lets employees set aside part of their pay into a tax-advantaged savings pot, often with employers adding matching contributions — like a workplace piggy bank for future income. It matters to investors because the amount people save and how employers fund these plans influence consumer spending, corporate payroll costs and the flow of money into financial markets, which can affect stock prices and company valuations.
derivative exercise/conversion financial
"transaction_action: derivative exercise/conversion"
dividend reinvestment transactions financial
"Holdings include shares acquired in dividend reinvestment transactions."
FAQ
What insider transactions did Merck (MRK) executive Richard DeLuca report?
Richard DeLuca reported exercising 2,518 restricted stock units into Merck common stock and a related tax-withholding disposition of 1,241 shares at $110.03 per share. These actions reflect routine equity compensation and associated tax payments.
What does the tax-withholding disposition mean in Merck (MRK) DeLuca’s filing?
The tax-withholding disposition reflects 1,241 shares of Merck common stock delivered at $110.03 per share to satisfy tax liabilities from the equity award. This is not an open-market sale, but a standard mechanism to cover taxes on vested stock units.
How do Richard DeLuca’s restricted stock units in Merck (MRK) work?
Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one Merck common share. The filing states that these units vest and are distributed in three equal installments on April 29, 2026, April 29, 2027 and April 29, 2028.
What 401(k) holdings does Richard DeLuca report in Merck (MRK) stock?
The Form 4 lists 1,320.9907 shares of Merck common stock held indirectly through a 401(k) plan. A footnote explains that these holdings also include shares acquired via dividend reinvestment transactions within the plan.
Does this Merck (MRK) Form 4 show any open-market buying or selling by DeLuca?
No open-market purchases or sales are indicated. The key activities are a derivative exercise of 2,518 RSUs and a tax-withholding disposition of 1,241 shares. These are compensation-related, not discretionary market trades.