Moderna has become the top-performing stock in the S&P 500 for 2026, recording a growth of 663% by the end of last week. The share price reached $225 on Friday, bringing the company's total market valuation to approximately $89.8 billion.
The surge follows an announcement on August 19 regarding successful final-stage clinical trials for an experimental cancer vaccine developed in partnership with Merck. This development marks a significant recovery for the firm, which had previously cut over 800 jobs due to declining COVID-19 vaccine sales.
Following its inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 index, Moderna shares saw additional buying pressure from over 200 funds managing more than $800 billion in assets. The company is now scheduled to release detailed trial data at a cancer conference in Madrid on October 24.
Despite the rally, market sentiment remains divided. While the S&P 500 has grown by 14% this year, some analysts, including Martin Shkreli, have expressed skepticism regarding the sustainability of the current stock price, suggesting a potential decline within six months.
