Earnings Per Share
EPS (Basic)
Merck & Co. EPS (Basic) decreased by 242.1% to $-1.72 in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 185.6%, from $2.01 to $-1.72. Over 3 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), EPS (Basic) shows an upward trend with a 12.3% CAGR. This decline may warrant attention — for this metric, higher values are generally preferred.
Analysis
StatementIncome Statement
SectionEarnings Per Share
CategoryProfitability
SignalHigher is better
VolatilityModerate
First reportedQ1 2013
Last reportedQ1 2026
How to read this metric
An increase indicates improved profitability or a reduction in share count, while a decrease suggests declining earnings or equity dilution.
Detailed definition
Basic earnings per share represents the portion of a company's profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stoc...
Peer comparison
Investors compare this across large-cap technology peers to assess the efficiency of earnings generation relative to the equity base.
Metric ID:
eps_basicHistorical Data
19 periods
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $0.61 | $1.81 | $1.48 | $1.70 | $1.56 | $1.28 | $1.19 | $1.11 | -$2.35 | $1.87 | $1.88 | $2.15 | $1.25 | $1.48 | $2.01 | $1.76 | $2.32 | $1.21 | -$1.72 |
| QoQ Change | — | +196.7% | -18.2% | +14.9% | -8.2% | -17.9% | -7.0% | -6.7% | -311.7% | +179.6% | +0.5% | +14.4% | -41.9% | +18.4% | +35.8% | -12.4% | +31.8% | -47.8% | -242.1% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +155.7% | -29.3% | -19.6% | -34.7% | -250.6% | +46.1% | +69.4% | +191.5% | -33.2% | — | +6.9% | -18.1% | +85.6% | -18.2% | -185.6% |
Range-$2.35 – $2.32
CAGR+25.9%
Avg YoY Growth-2.4%
Median YoY Growth-18.2%
Current Streak2 quarters decline
EPS (Basic) at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Merck & Co.'s eps (basic)?
- Merck & Co. (MRK) reported eps (basic) of $-1.72 in Q1 2026.
- How has Merck & Co.'s eps (basic) changed year-over-year?
- Merck & Co.'s eps (basic) decreased by 185.6% year-over-year, from $2.01 to $-1.72.
- What is the long-term trend for Merck & Co.'s eps (basic)?
- Over 3 years (2021 to 2025), Merck & Co.'s eps (basic) has grown at a 12.3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $5.16 to $7.30.
- What does eps (basic) mean?
- The amount of profit a company makes for every single share of its common stock currently held by investors.