Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) ranks among the 14 safe stocks to buy now for a starter stock portfolio. Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) ranks among the 14 safe stocks to buy now for a starter stock portfolio. On March 2, Leerink Partners boosted its price target for Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) to $129 from $128, with an Outperform rating, highlighting potential upside for the company's cancer medicine belzutifan. The firm stated that belzutifan has been an underrated growth engine for Merck. In fiscal year 202 ...