Traders Purchase High Volume of Call Options on Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA)

Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) was the target of some unusual options trading on Friday. Investors purchased 146,946 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 75% compared to the average volume of 83,847 call options.

Key Stories Impacting Moderna

Here are the key news stories impacting Moderna this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat expectations: Moderna reported a narrower-than-expected loss (GAAP EPS -$2.11) and revenue above estimates, driven by stronger COVID-19 vaccine sales; management reiterated a ~10% revenue growth target for 2026, pushing near-term sentiment. Moderna beats fourth-quarter revenue estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually large bullish options flow: Traders bought about 146,946 call contracts Friday (≈75% above typical call volume), signalling outsized short-term bullish positioning that can amplify upside moves if momentum continues.
• Neutral Sentiment: Technical picture is mixed but showing early bull signals: Several technical analysts point to support holding after a sharp YTD rally and highlight possible breakout targets above recent resistance — this supports momentum trading but also implies higher volatility. Moderna Price Forecast: Breakout Signals New Bull Trend
• Neutral Sentiment: Pipeline & operational updates: Norovirus Phase 3 is fully enrolled and other trials progressed; management also highlighted international manufacturing capacity — positive for long-term value but timeline-driven. Q4 press release / slide deck
• Negative Sentiment: Major regulatory setback: The U.S. FDA issued a refusal-to-file for Moderna’s new mRNA flu vaccine application, citing trial issues; Moderna has requested a Type A meeting, but the decision raises near-term uncertainty for one of its key pipeline catalysts and could pressure valuation. FDA refuses Moderna’s application for new mRNA flu vaccine
• Negative Sentiment: Volatility and mixed market reaction: Despite the beat, some outlets note the stock’s sharp pullback from the 52-week high and intraday swings after earnings — a sign investors are split between near-term optimism and longer-term execution/regulatory risks. Moderna Reports a Narrower-Than-Expected Loss. The Stock Falls After Earnings.

Insider Transactions at Moderna

In other news, Director Noubar Afeyan sold 23,853 shares of Moderna stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.48, for a total value of $703,186.44. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 3,924 shares in the company, valued at approximately $115,679.52. This trade represents a 85.87% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 10.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Moderna

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MRNA. AQR Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Moderna during the 1st quarter worth approximately $415,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Moderna by 732.7% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 11,575 shares of the company’s stock worth $328,000 after purchasing an additional 10,185 shares during the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new position in Moderna during the first quarter valued at $230,000. Focus Partners Wealth boosted its holdings in Moderna by 58.7% in the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 23,547 shares of the company’s stock valued at $668,000 after purchasing an additional 8,706 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in Moderna by 66.2% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,792 shares of the company’s stock worth $77,000 after purchasing an additional 1,112 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.33% of the company’s stock.

Moderna Trading Up 5.3%

Shares of Moderna stock opened at $42.23 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $37.26 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $29.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.81 and a beta of 1.32. Moderna has a 12-month low of $22.28 and a 12-month high of $55.20.

Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 13th. The company reported ($2.11) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($2.79) by $0.68. Moderna had a negative net margin of 139.61% and a negative return on equity of 29.81%. The business had revenue of $678.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $611.14 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($2.91) earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 33.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Moderna will post -9.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on MRNA. UBS Group downgraded Moderna from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $40.00 to $34.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Citigroup reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Moderna in a research report on Monday, January 19th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Moderna from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, January 17th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Moderna in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Moderna from $26.00 to $25.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and five have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $28.77.

About Moderna

Moderna, Inc is a biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines. The company’s platform leverages synthetic mRNA to instruct cells to produce proteins that can prevent or treat diseases. Since its founding in 2010, Moderna has advanced from early-stage research into a broad pipeline of vaccine and therapeutic candidates designed to address infectious diseases, rare genetic disorders and chronic illnesses.

Moderna’s flagship product is its mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, which was the first of its kind to receive emergency use authorization and later full approval in multiple jurisdictions.