Merck (MRK) tech chief exercises 52,847 stock options, sells all shares
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Merck & Co., Inc. executive David Michael Williams, EVP and Chief Information & Digital Officer, exercised stock options covering 52,847 shares of common stock on August 5, 2026 at strike prices of $77.6200, $75.3600 and $73.7300 per share. He then sold all 52,847 shares at a weighted average price of $128.7707, with individual sale prices ranging from $128.7050 to $128.9700.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
Exercise and Sale: 52,847 shares ($2.87M approx. pre-tax spread)
Exercise and Sale
9 txns
Insider
Williams David Michael
Role
EVP,Chief Info&Digital Officer
Sold
52,847 shs ($6.81M)
Approx. gross sale proceeds
$6.81M
Approx. exercise cost
$3.94M
Approx. pre-tax spread
$2.87M
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Stock Option (Right to Buy) F2 | 4,600 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Exercise | Stock Option (Right to Buy) F3, F4 | 13,542 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Exercise | Stock Option (Right to Buy) F3, F5 | 34,705 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Exercise | Common Stock | 4,600 | $77.62 | $357K |
| Sale | Common Stock F1 | 4,600 | $128.7707 | $592K |
| Exercise | Common Stock | 13,542 | $75.36 | $1.02M |
| Sale | Common Stock F1 | 13,542 | $128.7707 | $1.74M |
| Exercise | Common Stock | 34,705 | $73.73 | $2.56M |
| Sale | Common Stock F1 | 34,705 | $128.7707 | $4.47M |
Holdings After Transaction:
Stock Option (Right to Buy) — 0 shares (Direct);
Common Stock — 31,716.037 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (5)
- F1. The price reported is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $128.7050 to $128.9700, 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.
- F2. The option vested and became exercisable in three equal installments on 5/3/2020, 5/3/2021, and 5/3/2022.
- F3. Exercise price and holdings reflect the adjustments that occurred as of June 2, 2021 in connection with the Organon & Co. ("Organon") spin-off as described in the registration statement on Form 10 filed with the SEC by Organon (the "Form 10"). As reported in the Form 10, all Merck stock option awards outstanding as of immediately prior to the distribution date were converted on the distribution date into adjusted Merck awards for Merck employees to preserve the same intrinsic value and general terms and conditions (including vesting) as were in place immediately prior to the adjustments.
- F4. The option vested and became exercisable in three equal installments on 5/1/2021, 5/1/2022 and 5/1/2023.
- F5. The option vested and became exercisable in three equal installments on 5/4/2022, 5/4/2023, and 5/4/2024.
Key Figures
Shares exercised: 52847 shares
Shares sold: 52847 shares
Weighted average sale price: $128.7707 per share
+5 more
8 metrics
Shares exercised
52847 shares
Total common shares from stock options exercised on 2026-08-05
Shares sold
52847 shares
Total Merck common shares sold on 2026-08-05
Weighted average sale price
$128.7707 per share
Average price for shares sold in multiple trades on 2026-08-05
Sale price range
$128.7050–$128.9700 per share
Price range for the multiple sale transactions reported in footnote F1
Option exercise price 1
$77.6200 per share
Strike price for 4,600 stock options exercised into common shares
Option exercise price 2
$75.3600 per share
Strike price for 13,542 stock options adjusted in connection with Organon spin-off
Option exercise price 3
$73.7300 per share
Strike price for 34,705 stock options adjusted in connection with Organon spin-off
Transaction date
2026-08-05
Date of option exercises and related common stock sales
Key Terms
weighted average price, spin-off, intrinsic value, distribution date
4 terms
weighted average price financial
"The price reported is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple"
Weighted average price is the average price of a security where each trade or component is counted according to its size, so bigger trades pull the average more than smaller ones. Think of it like calculating the average cost of a grocery haul where items you bought more of have greater influence on the final per-item cost. Investors use it to understand the true average price paid or received, judge execution quality, and compare trading performance against market movement.
spin-off financial
"adjustments that occurred as of June 2, 2021 in connection with the Organon & Co. ("Organon") spin-off"
A spin-off happens when a company creates a new, independent business by separating part of itself, like splitting off a division into its own company. This often happens so the new company can focus better on its own goals or attract different investors. It matters because it can lead to more growth opportunities and clearer focus for both companies.
intrinsic value financial
"converted on the distribution date into adjusted Merck awards ... to preserve the same intrinsic value and general terms"
Intrinsic value is the true or actual worth of an asset based on its fundamental qualities, such as its income-generating ability or underlying assets, rather than its current market price. It helps investors determine whether an asset is overvalued or undervalued by comparing its real worth to its market value, much like estimating the true value of a used car beyond its sticker price based on its condition and history.
distribution date financial
"outstanding as of immediately prior to the distribution date were converted on the distribution date into adjusted Merck awards"
The distribution date is the day a company, fund, or trust actually pays out cash or other assets to its shareholders or unitholders. Think of it as the payday when owners receive dividends, interest, or capital gains distributions; it matters to investors because it determines when you get the money, can affect the security’s price that day, and has tax and cash-flow consequences.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
FAQ
What insider transaction did Merck (MRK) executive David Michael Williams report?
David Michael Williams reported exercising stock options for 52,847 shares of Merck common stock and then selling the same 52,847 shares. The transactions occurred on August 5, 2026, reflecting a classic option exercise-and-sale sequence disclosed in a Form 4.
Did any corporate actions affect the option terms in this Merck (MRK) Form 4?
Yes. A footnote explains that certain option exercise prices and holdings reflect adjustments made in connection with the Organon & Co. spin-off. These adjustments were designed to preserve the options’ intrinsic value and general terms as of the spin-off distribution date.