Moderna stock ends the day 12.3 percent higher at the close

At the close on September 21, 2026, Moderna stock finished the Nasdaq session up 12.3 percent at USD 172.94, near a new 52-week high, as investors reacted to progress on its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine and upcoming ESMO data presentations.

Moderna stock closed on the Nasdaq at USD 172.94 on September 21, 2026, gaining 12.3 percent from the prior close and marking one of its highest finishes this year. Compared with the broader U.S. market, the move was notably stronger, as the stock outpaced the S&P 500’s far smaller change on the day.

September 21, 2026 in numbers

Moderna Inc. (ISIN US60770K1079, Nasdaq: MRNA) opened the session on the Nasdaq below its closing level and during regular trading climbed to an intraday high around USD 176 before settling at USD 172.94, leaving the close comfortably within the day’s range. Per exchange data, the shares traded significantly above their average daily volume, and the close stood close to the stock’s recent 52-week high in U.S. dollars. The prior Nasdaq close provided the base for the 12.3 percent rise, underscoring that Moderna meaningfully outperformed typical healthcare peers and the S&P 500 on September 21, 2026.

As Stockminded reported, investors pushed the share price higher after another strong session for enthusiasm around Moderna’s experimental personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, which is being developed with Merck and has been driving a multi-week rally. Earlier in the day, MarketBeat noted that Moderna’s stock set a new 12-month high during trading, with the session’s high above USD 176 and a prior close around USD 154 providing the backdrop for the double-digit percentage advance.

After the bell today and the next session

According to Yahoo Finance, Moderna announced on September 21, 2026 that three abstracts for its investigational individualized mRNA cancer therapy have been accepted for presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2026 in late October, reinforcing the focus on its oncology pipeline after the close. As Morningstar/MarketWatch highlighted, Moderna is expected to reveal key data for its mRNA cancer vaccine at that meeting next month, a catalyst that investors may continue to watch on the next U.S. trading day and in the weeks ahead.