Merck & Co Inc (MRK)

Merck & Co, is a leading global research-driven pharmaceutical products and services company. The company discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of innovative products to improve human and animal health, directly and through its joint ventures. Its products, generally sold by prescription, include therapeutic and preventive agents for the treatment of human disorders and animal health supplies. The companys products are sold, primarily, to drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, clinics, government agencies and managed healthcare providers, such as health maintenance organisations and other institutions. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated from the German parent and has been an independent company ever since.

Merck & Co has had a very steady dividend for some years and has started to increase it slightly in recent years.