Moderna Inc. stock gains after FDA flu vaccine approval and Q2 2026 update

Published on 09/14/2026 at 11:51 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Moderna Inc. stock is trading higher after Q2 2026 results showed a net loss of USD 782 million alongside a USD 950 million patent settlement as of September 13, 2026. The shares also react to recent FDA approval of Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine, highlighting both pipeline progress and profitability challenges.

Aquarellmalerei der Cambridge-Skyline mit modernen Forschungsgebäuden am Charles River — Moderna Inc. (US60770K1034) präsentiert eine stimmungsvolle Aquarell-Ansicht der Cambridge-Skyline mit modernen Biotech-Forschungsgebäuden am Flussufer, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Moderna Inc. stock (ISIN US60770K1034) is trading higher in mid-September after investors digested Q2 2026 figures showing a significant net loss of USD 782 million and a major USD 950 million patent settlement, while the mRNA specialist advances with an FDA-approved flu vaccine as of September 14, 2026.

Q2 2026 loss and patent settlement weigh on earnings

According to StockTitan on September 13, 2026, Moderna reported Q2 2026 revenue of USD 145 million, roughly flat year over year as net product sales fell to USD 94 million on lower COVID-19 vaccine demand.

In the same Q2 2026 filing, the company posted a net loss of USD 782 million, translating into earnings per share of negative USD 1.97, reflecting both weaker product sales and elevated costs tied to legal settlements, as highlighted by StockTitan.

For the first six months of 2026, revenue rose 114% to USD 534 million as international COVID-19 vaccine sales increased, yet cost of sales jumped 401% to USD 1,048 million, largely due to USD 884 million of royalties linked to a USD 950 million settlement with Arbutus and Genevant, per StockTitan.

Pipeline progress with FDA-approved flu vaccine reshapes narrative

A weekly sector overview from OriginBrief on September 14, 2026 notes that Moderna has obtained FDA approval for its mRNA-based flu vaccine, signaling that the company’s platform is gaining commercial diversification beyond COVID-19.

In the same report, OriginBrief emphasizes that Moderna’s work on lipid nanoparticle delivery beyond liver indications could unlock additional therapeutic areas, reinforcing the strategic value of the platform despite near-term profitability pressure.

For investors, the combination of a widening product portfolio and substantial legal and royalty costs means that Moderna’s future earnings path depends heavily on how quickly newly approved and late-stage pipeline products can offset the decline in pandemic-era COVID-19 revenues.

Stock performance, valuation signals and analyst context

A comparative analysis from Pluang dated September 13, 2026 states that Moderna stock trades at USD 143.97 on Nasdaq, up 5.38% on the day, supported by bullish technical signals from moving averages.

The same Pluang overview reports that Moderna has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters despite posting net losses, and notes that recent positive phase 3 cancer vaccine trial results have helped fuel a significant rally from earlier levels, as summarized by Pluang.

However, Pluang also highlights that analyst consensus remains cautious, with an average price target of USD 90.08, which is below the cited current price of USD 143.97, underscoring that valuation ratios such as a price-to-earnings multiple of 24.73 and a price-to-sales ratio of 25.63 are considered demanding.

In its sector commentary, Pluang argues that Moderna’s outlook balances promising pipeline catalysts, including the newly approved flu vaccine and oncology trials, against persistent profitability challenges stemming from high research and development spending and patent-related royalty obligations.

Short-term trading picture for Moderna Inc. stock

As of September 13, 2026, the quoted level of around USD 143.97 for Moderna Inc. stock on Nasdaq, with a cited daily gain of 5.38%, places the shares well above the average analyst target of USD 90.08, indicating that the market is currently pricing in a substantial premium for pipeline success relative to consensus expectations.