Merck EVP awarded new options and RSUs

Merck & Co., Inc. executive Zachary Jennifer, EVP and General Counsel, reported new equity compensation awards.

Accepted by SEC EDGAR 05/07/2026 - 12:18 PM EDT Learn about SEC filing dates

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Merck & Co., Inc. executive Zachary Jennifer, EVP and General Counsel, reported new equity compensation awards. She received stock options for 35,312 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $113.15 per share, vesting in three equal installments on 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, and 5/5/2029, and expiring on 5/4/2036. She was also granted 12,064 restricted stock units, each representing a contingent right to one share of common stock, vesting and distributing in three equal installments on 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, and 5/5/2029. Following these awards, she directly holds 70,897.254 shares of Merck common stock.

Insider Trade Summary

Grant/Award: 47,376 shares

Grant/Award 2 txns

Insider Zachary Jennifer

Role EVP, General Counsel

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Restricted Stock Unit	12,064	$0.00	$0.00
Grant/Award	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	35,312	$0.00	$0.00
Holding	Common Stock	--	--	--

Holdings After Transaction: Restricted Stock Unit — 12,064 contracts (Direct); Stock Option (Right to Buy) — 35,312 contracts (Direct); Common Stock — 70,897.254 shares (Direct)

Holdings Before and After: Restricted Stock Unit, 0 to 12,064 contracts (Direct); Stock Option (Right to Buy), 0 to 35,312 contracts (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

Common stock held: 70,897.254 shares Stock options granted: 35,312 options Option exercise price: $113.15 per share +4 more

7 metrics

Common stock held 70,897.254 shares Direct holdings after reported transactions

Stock options granted 35,312 options Right to buy Merck common stock

Option exercise price $113.15 per share Exercise price for 35,312 stock options

Option expiration 5/4/2036 Final expiration date of stock options

RSUs granted 12,064 units Each represents one Merck common share

First vesting date 5/5/2027 Initial vesting for options and RSUs

Final RSU vesting 5/5/2029 Last installment for RSU distribution

Key Terms

Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Option (Right to Buy), vests and becomes exercisable

3 terms

Restricted Stock Unit financial

"Each 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.

Stock Option (Right to Buy) financial

"Stock Option (Right to Buy) with an exercise price of 113.1500 and expiration date 2036-05-04."

vests and becomes exercisable financial

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

FAQ

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

What equity awards did Merck (MRK) EVP Zachary Jennifer receive?

Zachary Jennifer received stock options on 35,312 Merck shares at a $113.15 exercise price and 12,064 restricted stock units. Both awards are compensation grants that give her future rights to Merck common stock, subject to vesting conditions over several years.

How do the new Merck (MRK) stock options for Zachary Jennifer vest?

The 35,312 Merck stock options granted to Zachary Jennifer vest in three equal installments on 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, and 5/5/2029. Once vested, she can exercise them at $113.15 per share any time before their 5/4/2036 expiration date.

When will Zachary Jennifer’s Merck (MRK) restricted stock units pay out?

The 12,064 restricted stock units vest and are distributed as Merck common stock in three equal installments on 5/5/2027, 5/5/2028, and 5/5/2029. Each vested unit delivers one Merck share, aligning her compensation with long-term shareholder value.

How many Merck (MRK) shares does Zachary Jennifer hold after these awards?

After the reported awards, Zachary Jennifer directly holds 70,897.254 shares of Merck common stock. This figure reflects her ownership position as of the Form 4 date and sits alongside the newly granted stock options and restricted stock units.

Are Zachary Jennifer’s new Merck (MRK) awards open-market purchases?

No, the Form 4 shows the awards coded as “A,” meaning grant or award acquisitions, not open-market purchases. They represent compensation-based stock options and restricted stock units granted by Merck rather than shares bought in the market.

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

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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 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, General Counsel

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								70,897.254	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		12,064		05/05/2027(2)	05/05/2029	Common Stock	12,064	$0	12,064	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$113.15	05/05/2026		A		35,312		05/05/2027(3)	05/04/2036	Common Stock	35,312	$0	35,312	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 Jennifer Zachary	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)