Moderna, Inc.

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈNASDAQ Global Select
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Somewhat Bullish +50

Moderna Is Up 94% This Year: Is It Outperforming Other Vaccine Stocks Like Pfizer and Novavax? - 24/7 Wall St.

πŸ“ˆ Moderna stock jumped 9% today, extending a 94% year-to-date gain and outperforming peers Pfizer (+4%) and Novavax (+41%).

πŸ—οΈ The company announced a leadership restructuring to prepare for up to three product launches by 2027-2028, including flu-plus-COVID and norovirus vaccines.

βœ… EU approval was granted for mCOMBRIAX, the world's first flu-plus-COVID combination vaccine, reinforcing the commercialization narrative.

πŸ“… A critical PDUFA decision for the seasonal flu candidate mRNA-1010 is scheduled for August 5.

βš–οΈ Q1 2026 included an $878 million non-recurring litigation charge tied to the Arbutus/Genevant patent settlement.

πŸ“‰ Wall Street maintains a cautious outlook with an average one-year price target of $37 and a consensus 'Reduce' rating.

πŸ” An FDA advisory committee vote on mFlusiva for adults 50+ is scheduled for June 18, serving as a key near-term catalyst.

πŸ“Š Moderna's Q1 2026 GAAP loss widened to $1.34 billion due to the litigation charge and declining revenue from Comirnaty (-59%) and Paxlovid (-63%).

Bullish Signals
  • Moderna stock has delivered a remarkable 94% return year-to-date, significantly outperforming major vaccine competitors Pfizer and Novavax.
  • The leadership restructuring signals a strategic shift toward commercial scale, preparing the company for multiple product launches in 2027-2028.
  • Regulatory momentum is strong with recent EU approval for mCOMBRIAX and an upcoming PDUFA decision for mRNA-1010 on August 5.
  • The pipeline includes diverse candidates such as a flu-plus-COVID combo vaccine, seasonal flu vaccine, and norovirus vaccine, diversifying future revenue streams.
Risk Factors
  • Moderna recorded a $878 million non-recurring litigation charge in Q1 2026 related to the Arbutus/Genevant patent settlement.
  • Revenue from key products is declining, with Comirnaty down 59% and Paxlovid down 63% year-over-year in Q1 2026.
  • The company reported a widened GAAP loss of $1.34 billion for the first quarter of 2026.
  • Analyst consensus remains cautious with an average one-year price target of $37 and a 'Reduce' rating.
  • The stock is still down 74% from its pandemic-era peaks, indicating significant downside from historical highs.
Full Analysis
Moderna (MRNA) shares surged 9% today, extending a remarkable 94% gain year-to-date to trade near $57. This performance significantly outpaces peers Pfizer (PFE), which is up 4%, and Novavax (NVAX), which is up 41%. The rally is driven by corporate restructuring rather than new clinical data, as the company reorganizes its leadership to prepare for a major wave of product launches scheduled for 2027 and 2028. The restructuring involves expanding President Stephen Hoge's role to oversee R&D, manufacturing, and commercial operations across three franchises, signaling a shift toward commercial scale. This operational backbone aligns with plans to launch up to three products by 2027-2028, including a flu-plus-COVID combination vaccine (mCOMBRIAX), a seasonal flu vaccine, and a norovirus vaccine. The company recently received EU approval for mCOMBRIAX and faces a key PDUFA decision on its seasonal flu candidate, mRNA-1010, on August 5. Despite the strong stock performance, Moderna faces headwinds including a recent $878 million non-recurring litigation charge related to an Arbutus/Genevant patent settlement, which widened its Q1 2026 GAAP loss to $1.34 billion. Analyst sentiment remains cautious with an average one-year price target of $37 and a consensus 'Reduce' rating. The stock is still down 74% from its pandemic-era highs, framing the current rally as a rebound rather than a return to previous peaks. Key upcoming events include an FDA advisory committee vote on June 18 regarding mFlusiva for adults 50 and older. A constructive readout could further support the stock, while a mixed verdict might test whether the 94% YTD gain is fully priced in. Investors are advised to monitor whether MRNA holds the $50 support level through these critical regulatory milestones before making position adjustments.