Merck is the better post-spinoff pick

Article Excerpt

On June 3, 2021, Merck completed the spinoff of its Women’s Health, biosimilars (cheaper copies of complex biologic drugs) and older legacy businesses as one firm. Investors received one share in the new firm—called Organon & Co. (New York symbol OGN)—for every 10 MRK shares they held. As part of the transaction, Organon paid Merck a special dividend of $9 billion. The former parent is now using that cash to fund a major acquisition that could fuel its profits for years to come. Organon should also benefit from the split, but we prefer Merck for your new buying. MERCK & CO. INC. $81 is a buy. The stock (New York symbol MRK; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 2.5 billion; Market cap: $202.5 billion; Dividend yield: 3.4%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.merck.com) lets you tap one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Merck has now agreed to buy Acceleron Pharma (Nasdaq symbol XLRN) for $11.5 billion. Acceleron’s lead product is an experimental drug for pulmonary arterial hypertension, a disease caused by…