Merck KGaA (ETR:MRK) reported what executives described as a “solid start” to 2026, with organic growth in its Life Science and Electronics businesses offsetting a decline in Healthcare, and raised its full-year outlook after stronger momentum late in the quarter.
Group Chief Executive Officer Kai Beckmann said on the company’s first-quarter investor call that organic group sales rose 2.9%, while EBITDA pre increased 5.3% organically. Reported net sales declined 2.8% to 5.134 billion euros, as foreign-exchange headwinds outweighed organic growth. Reported EBITDA pre slipped 0.3% to 1.530 billion euros, while EPS pre was 2.11 euros, compared with 2.12 euros in the prior-year period.
