With defensive healthcare stocks in demand, the Merck stock price forecast indicates resilience during broader sector volatility. Moving averages suggest short-term momentum leaning bullish despite macroeconomic headwinds. An M&A Spark: In the last two years, major biotech firms including AbbVie , Johnson & Johnson , Novartis , AstraZeneca , Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb have announced acquisitions meant to expand and strengthen their cancer treatment portfolios, but overall M&A in the space has been lagging. BMO analysts said in a note Monday that they were “encouraged” that Genmab’s acquisition and Pfizer’s $4.9 billion takeover of obesity drugmaker Metsera, announced last week, “could start to spur broader M&A in the sector.” Student Visionaries: Celebrating Teen Leaders Raising Money To End Blood Cancers | Paid Program The prescription drug market’s positive growth trajectory supports the Merck stock price forecast of steady gains. The stock’s beta remains low, making it a defensive asset in rising-interest-rate environments.