Moderna Shares Rise as Piper Sandler Raises Price Target to $69
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 23 2026
0mins
Should l Buy MRNA?
Source: Benzinga
- Price Target Increase: Piper Sandler raised Moderna's price target from $63 to $69 while maintaining an Overweight rating, reflecting analysts' confidence in the company's future growth, particularly in light of new product launches.
- Strong Sales Forecast: Moderna is expected to generate $2.07 billion in product sales by 2026, largely driven by the launch of its next-generation COVID vaccine, mNEXSPIKE, which will significantly boost revenue.
- Multiple Catalysts: The FDA is set to review Moderna's biologics license application for its seasonal flu vaccine, mRNA-1010, with a PDUFA date of August 5, which will support the company's future market performance.
- Robust Financial Position: Moderna ended 2025 with $8.14 billion in cash, exceeding its debt, providing ample financial flexibility to advance multiple late-stage programs simultaneously.
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Analyst Views on MRNA
Wall Street analysts forecast MRNA stock price to fall
20 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
16 Hold
3 Sell
Hold
Current: 50.030
Low
17.00
Averages
32.47
High
63.00
Current: 50.030
Low
17.00
Averages
32.47
High
63.00
About MRNA
Moderna, Inc. is a biotechnology company advancing a new class of medicines made of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). It is engaged in developing medicines across infectious disease vaccines, oncology therapeutics and rare disease therapeutics. Its platform incorporates advances across three components, mRNA, delivery, and the manufacturing process, to advance its medicines. Its products are Spikevax and mNEXSPIKE (its COVID vaccines), and mRESVIA (its vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)). It also has a diverse development pipeline that consists of 35 therapeutic and vaccine programs, six of which are in late-stage development. It has regulatory filings under review for its seasonal flu+COVID vaccine (mRNA-1083) in Europe and Canada and for its seasonal flu vaccine (mRNA-1010) in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia. Its rare disease programs are Propionic acidemia (mRNA-3927); Methylmalonic acidemia (mRNA-3705), and Cystic Fibrosis (mRNA-3692/VX-522).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Manufacturing Incentives: Drugmakers can reduce or avoid tariffs by relocating production to the U.S. or negotiating deals with the administration, aiming to stimulate domestic manufacturing and potentially leading to a resurgence of investments in the pharmaceutical sector.
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- Earnings Expectations: The company is projected to report an EPS of -$2.03, representing a 19.44% increase year-over-year, with quarterly revenue expected at $229.96 million, up 112.92% from the same period last year, highlighting significant revenue growth potential.
- Analyst Confidence: Recent adjustments to analyst earnings estimates for Moderna, despite a 1.69% decrease in the consensus EPS projection over the past month, typically indicate confidence in the company's future performance, which could influence short-term stock movements.
- Industry Ranking: Moderna operates within the Biomedical and Genetics industry, currently ranked 148 by Zacks, placing it in the bottom 40% of over 250 industries, suggesting overall underperformance that may negatively impact Moderna's market position.
See More
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- Surge in Moderna Options: Today, Moderna Inc's options volume reached 126,550 contracts, equivalent to approximately 12.7 million shares, representing a significant 141.5% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, indicating strong market interest in its future performance.
- High Call Option Activity: Within Moderna, the $53 strike call option has seen particularly high activity, with 17,074 contracts traded today, representing about 1.7 million shares, suggesting investor confidence in the stock's upward potential.
- Kodak Options Trading Overview: Eastman Kodak Co's options volume stands at 11,915 contracts, approximately 1.2 million shares, which is 108.2% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, reflecting market interest in its potential volatility.
- Kodak Call Option Activity: For Kodak, the $10 strike call option has recorded a trading volume of 4,162 contracts, representing around 416,200 shares, indicating investor expectations for future price increases.
See More
Investment Outlook for Healthcare Stocks
- Moderna's mRNA Platform: Moderna's mRNA vaccines are favored for their rapid production and strong immune responses, particularly with its flu vaccine seeking U.S. approval, which is expected to enhance market competitiveness and drive future growth.
- Personalized Cancer Vaccine Progress: The mRNA-4157, developed in partnership with Merck, shows promising results in significantly reducing recurrence or death risk in advanced melanoma patients, with five-year follow-up data indicating optimistic clinical prospects that could sustain stock price growth over the next five years.
- Abivax's Innovative Drug: Abivax's obefazimod demonstrates excellent efficacy in treating ulcerative colitis, with clinical trials showing that 47.3% of patients previously unresponsive to traditional treatments could benefit, positioning the company to challenge market giants and achieve sales growth if approved.
- Market Competition and Risks: While Abivax faces fierce competition from large pharmaceutical companies, the unique advantages of obefazimod may allow it to capture market share over the next five years; however, the risks associated with clinical trials require cautious consideration from investors.
See More
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- Moderna's mRNA Platform: Moderna's mRNA vaccines are produced faster than traditional vaccines and elicit stronger immune responses, with shares up 73% in 2023, indicating potential for continued growth over the next five years despite clinical and regulatory risks.
- Personalized Cancer Vaccine: The mRNA-4157 candidate, when combined with Keytruda, significantly reduced recurrence or death risk in advanced melanoma patients, showcasing its potential across various cancer types and likely enhancing future market performance for Moderna.
- Abivax's Innovative Drug: Abivax's obefazimod achieved its primary endpoint of clinical remission in a phase 3 trial, with 47.3% of patients previously treated unsuccessfully, positioning it as a strong competitor in the ulcerative colitis market, challenging established players if approved.
- Market Potential and Risks: If Abivax secures approval for obefazimod and expands into related conditions, its sales could soar over the next five years, but investors should remain cautious of potential clinical trial setbacks that could impact stock performance.
See More
