Merck KGaA (OTCMKTS:MKGAF) Shares Gap Up – Still a Buy?

Merck KGaA (OTCMKTS:MKGAF) gapped up before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $149.9670, but opened at $158.3510. Merck KGaA shares last traded at $158.3510, with a volume of 10 shares changing hands.

Merck KGaA Trading Down 2.0%

The stock has a market cap of $19.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.54 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.31. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $160.86 and its 200 day moving average is $149.90.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Merck KGaA

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. North Star Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Merck KGaA during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,411,000. MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH bought a new position in Merck KGaA during the second quarter valued at $4,896,000. Ames National Corp bought a new position in Merck KGaA during the second quarter valued at $1,009,000. Elefante Mark B purchased a new stake in shares of Merck KGaA in the second quarter valued at $617,000. Finally, Pinnacle Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Merck KGaA in the second quarter valued at $1,487,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Merck KGaA Company Profile

Merck KGaA is a Germany-based science and technology company headquartered in Darmstadt. Founded in 1668, it is one of the world’s oldest operating pharmaceutical and chemical companies. The business serves customers in more than 60 countries through three operating sectors: Healthcare, Life Science and Electronics.

The Healthcare sector develops and markets prescription medicines and specialty therapies, with activities focused on areas including oncology, neurology and immunology, fertility, and endocrinology.