Heart meds help Merck KGaA deliver steady growth

German science and technology company Merck (MRK: DE) reported a solid start to 2025, with group net sales rising 2.5% organically to 5.3 billion euros ($5.7 billion) in the first quarter. 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization pre (EBITDA pre) climbed 5.8% organically to 1.5 billion euros, while earnings per share pre increased from 2.06 euros to 2.12 euros. The EBITDA pre margin expanded to 29.1%, up 0.7 percentage points from the same period last year, reflecting lower research and development expenses in healthcare and ongoing cost discipline.

Growth was broad-based across all three business sectors. The Life Science division saw a robust recovery in its Process Solutions business, which posted double-digit organic growth. The Healthcare sector benefited from strong sales in the cardiovascular, metabolism, and endocrinology franchise. Electronics continued to perform well, driven by steady demand for semiconductor materials, especially those used in artificial intelligence applications.