Vanguard Capital Management holds 186.3M Merck shares (MRK) — 7.53%

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Merck & Co Inc: Vanguard Capital Management reports beneficial ownership of 186,323,766 shares of Common Stock, representing 7.53% of the class. The filing shows sole voting power for 25,336,142 shares and sole dispositive power for 186,323,766 shares. The report is signed on 04/30/2026 and describes holdings exercised by Vanguard Capital Management LLC and specified affiliates under SEC Release No. 34-39538.

Insights

Institutional Ownership Analyst

Vanguard is a large, disclosed 7.53% holder of Merck with dispositive control over 186.3M shares.

Vanguard Capital Management reports beneficial ownership of 186,323,766 shares, equal to 7.53% of Merck common stock. The filing lists sole voting power on 25,336,142 shares and sole dispositive power on the full 186,323,766 shares.

These entries reflect managed accounts and funds controlled by Vanguard units as described; specific fund-level holdings or trading intentions are not stated in the excerpt, so future activity will depend on the separate decisions of those management units.

Governance & Regulatory Specialist

Schedule 13G disclosure indicates large passive/managed exposure and identifies voting/dispositive splits.

The filing cites SEC Release No. 34-39538 to explain aggregation across Vanguard business units and clarifies that no single outside person holds over 5% of the reported securities. It also notes dividends/proceeds rights for Vanguard-managed accounts.

Operational implications (voting coordination, fund-level trading) are not specified in this excerpt; related governance actions would appear in separate disclosures if taken.

Key Figures

Shares beneficially owned: 186,323,766 shares Percent of class: 7.53% Sole voting power: 25,336,142 shares +2 more

5 metrics

Shares beneficially owned 186,323,766 shares reported on Schedule 13G

Percent of class 7.53% percentage of Merck common stock

Sole voting power 25,336,142 shares shares with sole power to vote

Sole dispositive power 186,323,766 shares shares with sole power to dispose

Signature date 04/30/2026 date signed by reporting officer

Key Terms

Schedule 13G, Beneficially owned, Sole dispositive power, Investment Company Act

4 terms

Schedule 13G regulatory

"Item 1. | (a) | Name of issuer: Merck & Co Inc"

A Schedule 13G is a formal document that investors file with the government when they acquire a large ownership stake in a company, usually for investment purposes rather than control. It helps keep the public informed about who owns significant parts of a company's shares, which can influence how the company is managed and how investors make decisions. Filing this schedule is important for transparency and understanding the ownership landscape of publicly traded companies.

Beneficially owned regulatory

"Item 4. | Ownership (a) | Amount beneficially owned: 186323766"

Beneficially owned describes securities or assets where a person has the economic rights and control—such as the right to receive dividends and to direct voting—even if legal title is held in another name. Think of it like having the keys and using a car that’s registered to someone else: you get the benefits and make decisions. Investors care because beneficial ownership reveals who truly controls value and voting power, affecting corporate decisions and takeover dynamics.

Sole dispositive power regulatory

"Item 4. | (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 186323766"

Sole dispositive power is the exclusive legal authority to decide what happens to a security — for example, whether to sell, transfer, or retain shares — without needing anyone else’s permission. Investors care because it signals who truly controls the economic outcome of an investment: like holding the only key to a safe, the holder can realize gains or losses and may trigger regulatory reporting, insider rules, or influence over corporate ownership.

Investment Company Act regulatory

"Item 6. | A listing of the shareholders of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940"

The Investment Company Act is a law that sets rules for businesses whose main activity is managing and selling pooled money, such as mutual funds and other investment funds. It matters to investors because it requires clear reporting, limits managers from putting their own interests ahead of clients, and mandates safekeeping and oversight of assets—similar to safety inspections and traffic rules that help keep shared vehicles reliable and trustworthy.

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Merck & Co Inc

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

58933Y105

(CUSIP Number)

03/31/2026

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

Rule 13d-1(b)

Rule 13d-1(c)

Rule 13d-1(d)

schemaVersion:

SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP Number(s): 58933Y105

1

Names of Reporting Persons

Vanguard Capital Management

2

Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions)

(a)
(b)

3

Sec Use Only

4

Citizenship or Place of Organization

PENNSYLVANIA

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With:

5	Sole Voting Power 25,336,142.00
6	Shared Voting Power 0.00
7	Sole Dispositive Power 186,323,766.00
8	Shared Dispositive Power 0.00

9

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

186,323,766.00

10

Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions)

11

Percent of class represented by amount in row (9)

7.53 %

12

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IA

Comment for Type of Reporting Person: In accordance with SEC Release No. 34-39538 (January 12, 1998), this Schedule 13G reflects the securities beneficially owned, or deemed to be beneficially owned, by Vanguard Capital Management LLC and the following affiliates of Vanguard Capital Management LLC or business divisions of such affiliates: Vanguard Asset Management Limited, Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company, Vanguard Global Advisers, LLC and Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd. This Schedule 13G includes securities held by Vanguard funds, or sleeves thereof, over which Vanguard Capital Management LLC exercises dispositive power, in addition to securities held by clients over which the affiliates or business divisions of such affiliates indicated above exercise dispositive and/or voting power. This Schedule 13G does not include securities, if any, beneficially owned by other subsidiaries or affiliates of Vanguard Capital Management LLC, or business divisions of such subsidiaries, whose ownership of securities is disaggregated from that of the reporting business unit in accordance with such release.

SCHEDULE 13G

Item 1.
(a)	Name of issuer: Merck & Co Inc
(b)	Address of issuer's principal executive offices: 126 East Lincoln Avenue, PO Box 2000, Rahway, NJ, 07065
Item 2.
(a)	Name of person filing: Vanguard Capital Management
(b)	Address or principal business office or, if none, residence: 100 Vanguard Blvd,, Malvern, PA, 19355
(c)	Citizenship: PA
(d)	Title of class of securities: Common Stock
(e)	CUSIP Number(s): 58933Y105
Item 3.	If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
(a)	Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o);
(b)	Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
(c)	Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
(d)	Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8);
(e)	An investment adviser in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f)	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g)	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h)	A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i)	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
(j)	A non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:
(k)	Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
Item 4.	Ownership
(a)	Amount beneficially owned: 186323766
(b)	Percent of class: 7.53 %
(c)	Number of shares as to which the person has:
	(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 25336142
	(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0
	(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 186323766
	(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0
Item 5.	Ownership of 5 Percent or Less of a Class.
	Not Applicable
Item 6.	Ownership of more than 5 Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
	If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this item and, if such interest relates to more than 5 percent of the class, such person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required. Vanguard Capital Management, including investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other managed accounts, have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the securities reported herein.No one other person's interest in the securities reported herein is more than 5%.
Item 7.	Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.
	Not Applicable
Item 8.	Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
	Not Applicable
Item 9.	Notice of Dissolution of Group.
	Not Applicable

Item 10.

Certifications:

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under § 240.14a-11.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Vanguard Capital Management

Signature:	Ashley Grim
Name/Title:	Head of Global Fund Administration
Date:	04/30/2026

FAQ

How many Merck (MRK) shares does Vanguard Capital Management report owning?

Vanguard reports beneficial ownership of 186,323,766 shares of Merck common stock. This stake is disclosed as representing 7.53% of the class and is reported on the Schedule 13G signature dated 04/30/2026.

What voting and dispositive powers does Vanguard report for MRK shares?

Vanguard reports sole voting power for 25,336,142 shares and sole dispositive power for 186,323,766 shares. The filing separates voting authority from dispositive authority across the reported holdings.

Does the filing identify which Vanguard entities hold the Merck shares?

The filing attributes holdings to Vanguard Capital Management LLC and specified affiliates such as Vanguard Global Advisers and Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company. It cites SEC Release No. 34-39538 for aggregation rules across those business units.

Is any other person reported as having more than 5% of Merck shares in this filing?

No single other person is identified as holding more than 5% of the class. The filing states that no one other person's interest in the reported securities exceeds 5%.

When was the Schedule 13G signed for Vanguard's Merck holdings?

The Schedule 13G is signed by Ashley Grim, Head of Global Fund Administration, with the signature date shown as 04/30/2026. That date is the attestation on the provided excerpt.