Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) Trading Up 7.2% Following Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA)’s stock price shot up 7.2% during mid-day trading on Friday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock traded as high as $44.57 and last traded at $43.0150. 3,985,118 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 69% from the average session volume of 12,994,413 shares. The stock had previously closed at $40.11.

The company reported ($2.11) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($2.79) by $0.68. Moderna had a negative return on equity of 29.81% and a negative net margin of 139.61%.The business had revenue of $678.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $611.14 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned ($2.91) earnings per share. The company’s revenue was down 33.2% on a year-over-year basis.

Moderna News Roundup

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.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Moderna in a research note on Monday, January 5th. TD Cowen reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Moderna in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Moderna from $30.00 to $28.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Leerink Partners reaffirmed an “underperform” rating on shares of Moderna in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Moderna in a research report on Monday, January 19th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and five have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $28.77.

Insider Buying and Selling

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

Institutional Trading of Moderna

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rothschild Investment LLC increased its position in Moderna by 94.1% during the second quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 920 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 446 shares during the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp acquired a new position in Moderna in the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new stake in shares of Moderna in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Whittier Trust Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Moderna during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Moderna during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. 75.33% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Moderna Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $16.50 billion, a PE ratio of -5.23 and a beta of 1.32. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $37.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $29.87.

Moderna Company Profile

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.