Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA – Get Free Report) shares were up 5.3% on Friday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock traded as high as $267.50 and last traded at $254.19. Approximately 16,261,017 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 29% from the average daily volume of 12,646,072 shares. The stock had previously closed at $241.46.
The company reported $0.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($1.10) by $1.48. Moderna had a negative return on equity of 28.30% and a negative net margin of 141.43%. The business had revenue of $1.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $890.25 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned ($0.51) earnings per share. Moderna’s revenue was up 29.2% compared to the same quarter last year.
Moderna News Summary
Here are the key news stories impacting Moderna this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Moderna reported third-quarter earnings of $0.38 per share, versus expectations for a loss of about $1.10, while revenue rose 29% year over year to $1.31 billion—well above estimates. Strong overseas COVID-19 vaccine sales, including sales linked to government deals, drove the beat. Reuters report on Moderna’s revenue forecast
- Positive Sentiment: Management raised its 2026 revenue-growth outlook to 15%–25%, from a previous forecast of up to 10%. The company also expects revenue of $2.2 billion–$2.4 billion, above the cited analyst consensus of $2.1 billion. CNBC report on Moderna’s outlook
- Positive Sentiment: Canada authorized Moderna’s mRNA seasonal flu vaccine and its combined flu-COVID vaccine for adults 50 and older, creating a potential new commercial opportunity beyond standalone COVID shots. Health Canada vaccine authorization announcement
- Positive Sentiment: Moderna and GSK settled a patent dispute involving Moderna’s COVID and RSV shots, potentially removing a source of legal uncertainty. Reuters report on the patent settlement
- Negative Sentiment: The earnings strength was led by COVID vaccine sales, so sustaining growth may depend on continued demand. Moderna also cut R&D spending, which can support near-term costs but raises a question about investment in its longer-term pipeline. The Motley Fool earnings reaction
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of brokerages have recently commented on MRNA. Brookline Capital Markets reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Moderna in a research report on Wednesday, August 19th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Moderna from $170.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, October 9th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “hold” rating and issued a $150.00 price objective (up from $60.00) on shares of Moderna in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating on shares of Moderna in a research note on Tuesday, September 22nd. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Moderna from $48.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, August 24th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Moderna presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $107.10.
View Our Latest Stock Report on MRNA
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other news, President Stephen Hoge sold 39,145 shares of Moderna stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.72, for a total value of $8,640,084.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the president directly owned 1,636,565 shares in the company, valued at approximately $361,222,626.80. The trade was a 2.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Shannon Klinger sold 3,471 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.95, for a total value of $485,766.45. Following the sale, the insider owned 74,129 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,374,353.55. The trade was a 4.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders have sold a total of 197,251 shares of company stock worth $33,875,904 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 10.80% of the company’s stock.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Moderna in the third quarter worth about $29,000. Allied Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Moderna in the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. CENTRAL TRUST Co boosted its position in shares of Moderna by 36.5% in the third quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 172 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the period. Next Level Wealth Planning LLC purchased a new position in Moderna during the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Archer Investment Corp purchased a new position in Moderna during the second quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Institutional investors own 75.33% of the company’s stock.
Moderna Trading Up 5.3%
The firm’s 50 day moving average is $189.62 and its 200 day moving average is $90.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 2.29 and a quick ratio of 2.18. The company has a market cap of $101.48 billion, a PE ratio of -31.81 and a beta of 1.16.
Moderna Company Profile
Moderna, Inc is a biotechnology company that develops medicines and vaccines using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. Its platform is designed to instruct cells to produce proteins that can help prevent or treat disease.
The company’s commercial products include Spikevax, a vaccine against COVID-19, and mRESVIA, a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Moderna also researches potential mRNA-based vaccines and treatments for infectious diseases, cancer, and rare diseases.
Founded in 2010 as Moderna Therapeutics, the company is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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