From Zacks Investment Research: 2025-02-18 10:28:13

Last Friday, Moderna announced fourth-quarter 2024 results, with earnings and sales beating estimates but declining significantly year over year. The company reiterated its total revenue guidance for 2025, expecting $1.5-$2.5 billion mainly from COVID-19 and RSV vaccines. Moderna plans to launch 10 new products in the next three years, aiming to reduce dependence on the COVID-19 vaccine. The company’s pipeline progress is promising, with over 40 mRNA-based investigational candidates in various stages of clinical studies.

However, Moderna faces competition from large pharmaceutical players like Pfizer and GSK. The company’s stock performance has underperformed the industry, sector, and S&P 500 in the past year. Moderna appears to be trading at a premium compared to the industry based on the price/sales ratio. Estimates for 2025 and 2026 loss per share have slightly improved recently. Short-term investors are advised to avoid the stock due to negative sentiment and concerns over top-line growth. Investors are advised to stay invested in MRNA, a Zacks Rank #3 company with a strong pipeline of products. The rapid development of mRNA-based vaccines sets MRNA apart from competitors. Analysts predict growth with consistently improving estimates. The stock is currently trading at a premium to the industry, making it a favorable long-term investment option.



Read more at Zacks Investment Research: Should You Buy, Hold or Sell Moderna Stock Post Q4 Earnings Release? – February 18, 2025