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Data last updated: Oct 19, 2026
Snapshot (as of Oct 19, 2026): Merck KGaA (MKGAF) pays a $2.20 annual dividend, yielding 1.59% at $161.80/share. Next ex-dividend date 2026-04-27. Source: Yahoo Finance, aggregated by MerryDiv.
Dividend Yield: 1.59%
Annual Dividend: $2.20 per share
Payout Ratio: 40.4%
Ex-Dividend Date: 2026-04-27
Dividend Frequency: annually
Sector: Healthcare
Years of Dividend History: 31
Merck KGaA dividend investors are looking at a 355-year-old science and technology company spanning Life Science, Healthcare, and Electronics. The current yield is 1.68%, with a trailing annual dividend rate of $2.20 per share paid annually. MKGAF's next ex-dividend date is April 28, 2026. With a beta of 0.825, this is a lower-volatility stock that suits income investors who prioritize capital preservation alongside a modest payout.
Merck KGaA pays out 43.8% of earnings as dividends, a payout ratio classified as moderate (40–60%). That level leaves meaningful earnings retained within the business, which spans prescription oncology drugs, semiconductor materials, and life science tools serving pharmaceutical and biotech clients. Merck KGaA dividend safety benefits from this diversification across three distinct revenue streams. The most data-supported pressure point is currency: MKGAF pays in euros but trades as a dollar-denominated ADR, so exchange rate swings directly affect the per-share dollar amount investors receive.
Merck KGaA dividend history shows a CAGR of 7.2% per year from 2007 to 2025. Per-share payments grew from $0.7166 to $2.5072 over that period (2026 is a partial year and excluded from the CAGR calculation). The history window contains at least one year-over-year decline exceeding 5%, so growth has not been linear. 7.2% annualized is a meaningful pace for an annual payer, but income investors should note the dividend has moved in both directions across the available data.
| Period | CAGR | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Year | +7.8% | $2.00 (2022) | $2.51 (2025) |
| 5-Year | +11.7% | $1.44 (2020) | $2.51 (2025) |
| 10-Year | +8.8% | $1.08 (2015) | $2.51 (2025) |
MKGAF fits dividend investors who want exposure to a diversified science and technology business and can accept a low starting yield. At 1.68%, the yield is classified as low (below 2%), though it sits above the stock's own 5-year average of 1.45%, which means current buyers are getting a slightly better entry yield than the historical norm. The 43.8% payout ratio supports the current payment level without stretching earnings. What an investor gains here is a growing dividend backed by three distinct business segments; what they accept is a yield that will not satisfy income-first portfolios on its own.
| Payment Date | Amount per Share |
|---|---|
| 2026-04-28 | $2.5770 |
| 2025-04-29 | $2.5072 |
| 2024-04-29 | $2.3540 |
| 2023-05-02 | $2.4150 |
| 2022-04-25 | $1.9990 |
| 2021-04-26 | $1.6940 |
| 2020-05-29 | $1.4439 |
| 2019-04-29 | $1.3940 |
| 2018-04-30 | $1.5160 |
| 2017-05-02 | $1.3082 |
| Year | Total Dividends |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $2.5770 |
| 2025 | $2.5072 |
| 2024 | $2.3540 |
| 2023 | $2.4150 |
| 2022 | $1.9990 |
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