MRK Covered Calls: Premium Income for Merck
Merck & Co. is a global pharmaceutical company. Moderate IV and defensive healthcare exposure make it a steady covered call pick.
This week's MRK covered call snapshot (scan date 2026-07-22)
One covered call contract on MRK (100 shares) collected about $248.50 in premium at the $133.00 strike expiring 2026-08-14 — an annualized yield of about 32.4% at the time of the scan.
| Stock price | $127.22 |
|---|---|
| Strike | $133.00 |
| Premium per share | $2.49 |
| Premium per contract | $248.50 |
| Annualized yield | 32.4% |
| Days to expiration | 22 |
| Delta | 0.33 |
Numbers are a snapshot from the most recent market-day scan and change with price and volatility. Run the live screener for current MRK strikes ranked by premium-per-day.
MRK covered call FAQ
How much premium does a MRK covered call pay?
In the most recent Friday scan, the top-ranked MRK covered call collected about $2.49 per share — roughly $248.50 per contract (100 shares) — at the $133.00 strike expiring in 22 days. That worked out to about 32.4% annualized at scan time. Premiums change with the stock price and volatility, so run the live screener for current numbers.
Do I need 100 shares of MRK to sell a covered call?
Yes. One options contract covers 100 shares, so selling one covered call on MRK requires owning at least 100 shares. If you own fewer, the position would not be "covered."
What is the risk of selling covered calls on MRK?
The main trade-off is capped upside: if Merck rises above your strike price by expiration, your shares can be called away at the strike. You keep the premium either way, but you give up gains beyond the strike. You also keep full downside exposure to the stock itself. This page is educational information, not investment advice.
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MRK covered call calculator · This week's Golden Triangle watchlist
Educational information only — not investment advice. Options involve risk, including capped upside and full downside exposure to the underlying stock.