Nykredit A S Acquires New Holdings in Moderna, Inc. $MRNA

Key Points

• Nykredit A/S acquired 13,042 Moderna shares worth approximately $913,000 during the second quarter. Institutional investors collectively own 75.33% of Moderna, with BlackRock and other firms also establishing significant new positions.
• Moderna’s stock has rallied sharply on optimism surrounding its Phase 3 personalized melanoma vaccine results, expanding oncology and respiratory-vaccine pipeline, and reported FDA approval of an mRNA flu vaccine.
• Despite improving sentiment, analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating with a $76.72 price target, highlighting valuation and execution risks after the stock’s substantial gain; insiders have also sold shares under pre-arranged trading plans.

Nykredit A S purchased a new stake in shares of Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA - Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 13,042 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $913,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in Moderna during the second quarter worth $2,142,877,000. Capital World Investors acquired a new position in Moderna during the 4th quarter worth about $378,299,000. Theleme Partners LLP purchased a new position in Moderna during the 2nd quarter valued at about $564,272,000. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Moderna during the 4th quarter valued at about $79,707,000. Finally, Merck & Co. Inc. acquired a new position in Moderna in the 2nd quarter valued at about $161,642,545. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.33% of the company's stock.

Moderna News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Moderna this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Positive melanoma vaccine results remain the main catalyst. Moderna and Merck’s personalized cancer vaccine, intismeran autogene, met key Phase 3 endpoints in high-risk melanoma when used with Keytruda. Investors are now looking ahead to a detailed data presentation and additional late-October updates, which could support the potential for a major commercial oncology opportunity. MRNA Hits 52-Week High: How Melanoma Study Results Keep Rally Going
• Positive Sentiment: Investors are responding to Moderna’s expanding pipeline. CEO Stéphane Bancel said the company “has never been” just a COVID-19 vaccine business, highlighting opportunities in cancer, respiratory diseases and other mRNA applications. That message has helped reinforce confidence that future growth can extend beyond declining pandemic-related revenue. Moderna CEO's Surprising Comment Gives Clues About Where Drugmaker Is Going Next
• Positive Sentiment: Reported FDA approval of an mRNA flu vaccine adds commercial validation. Coverage of the newly approved vaccine is strengthening expectations that Moderna can build a meaningful respiratory-vaccine franchise alongside its oncology programs. mRNA flu vaccine wins FDA approval, promising a faster shot
• Positive Sentiment: Broader biotechnology and AI links are supporting the growth narrative. Moderna co-founder Bob Langer’s advisory role with an AI-focused drug developer adds to investor interest in the company’s scientific network, though it is not a direct near-term revenue driver. Moderna Tied To AI Drug Push As Bob Langer Takes New Advisory Role
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and execution risks are becoming more prominent. After an exceptionally large one-year gain, some analysts argue MRNA now looks expensive and that much of the cancer-pipeline optimism is already reflected in the stock. Any disappointing clinical data, regulatory delay or slower commercial adoption could trigger substantial volatility. Moderna Stock Looks Very Expensive As Shares Surge Over 1 Year

Moderna Stock Performance

NASDAQ:MRNA opened at $182.11 on Thursday. Moderna, Inc. has a 12 month low of $22.28 and a 12 month high of $192.31. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $72.70 billion, a PE ratio of -22.79 and a beta of 1.10. The business's fifty day moving average price is $106.41 and its 200 day moving average price is $72.94.

Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 31st. The company reported ($1.97) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($2.03) by $0.06. Moderna had a negative return on equity of 28.30% and a negative net margin of 141.43%.The business had revenue of $145.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $102.93 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted ($2.13) EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Moderna, Inc. will post -6.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MRNA has been the subject of several recent research reports. Piper Sandler reissued an "overweight" rating on shares of Moderna in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Bank of America raised shares of Moderna from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 19th. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Moderna from an "underperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 25th. Argus upgraded Moderna from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $180.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 28th. Finally, CLSA raised Moderna to an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, August 28th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $76.72.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Jamey Mock sold 34,836 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $134.49, for a total transaction of $4,685,093.64. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 59,375 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,985,343.75. The trade was a 36.98% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, President Stephen Hoge sold 40,281 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.07, for a total transaction of $5,883,845.67. Following the completion of the transaction, the president directly owned 1,562,029 shares in the company, valued at $228,165,576.03. This trade represents a 2.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 118,882 shares of company stock valued at $16,862,280. 10.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Moderna Company Profile

Moderna, Inc is a biotechnology company that develops messenger RNA (mRNA) medicines and vaccines. Its platform is designed to provide cells with instructions to produce proteins that may help prevent or treat infectious diseases, cancer and other medical conditions.

The company's commercial products include Spikevax, an mRNA vaccine for COVID-19, and mRESVIA, an mRNA vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in older adults. Moderna also maintains a pipeline of investigational programs in areas such as seasonal influenza, cytomegalovirus, oncology and rare diseases.

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Moderna serves markets in the United States and internationally through regulatory approvals, commercial partnerships and distribution arrangements.

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