Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform, led by Keytruda, is a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business aimed at preventing pediatric diseases, as well as Gardasil for human papillomavirus. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, 47% of the company's sales are generated from US human health (pharmaceuticals and vaccines).

• Gross Margin: Achieving a high gross margin of 77.69%, the company performs well in terms of cost management and profitability within its sector.

• Earnings per Share (EPS): Merck & Co's EPS is notably higher than the industry average. The company achieved a positive bottom-line trend with a current EPS of 2.32.

• Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The P/E ratio of 14.14 is lower than the industry average, implying a discounted valuation for Merck & Co's stock.

• Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: The Price to Sales ratio is 4.19, which is lower than the industry average. This suggests a possible undervaluation based on sales performance.

• EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization): Merck & Co's EV/EBITDA ratio, lower than industry averages at 10.43, indicates attractively priced shares.

From a legal standpoint, the term "insider" pertains to any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities as outlined in Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This encompasses executives in the c-suite and significant hedge funds. These insiders are mandated to inform the public of their transactions through a Form 4 filing, to be submitted within two business days of the transaction.

Taking a closer look at transactions, investors often prioritize those unfolding in the open market, meticulously cataloged in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C denotes the conversion of an option, and transaction code A signifies a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.