Coronavirus Vaccine Stocks: Top Biotech Companies to Invest In

UTC by Darya Rudz · 6 min read
Coronavirus Vaccine Stocks: Top Biotech Companies to Invest In
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Of course, there is always risk involved in investing, regardless of which industry or what kind of company it is. In the case of coronavirus vaccine stocks, you should bear in mind that not all of the vaccine candidates will be successful.

The whole world is casting a wary eye at companies involved in COVID-19 vaccine development. Investors are taking a tender interest in those pharma companies as well, assessing their stocks and choosing which are the best to invest in. Earlier, we wrote about the leading COVID-19 vaccines in progress, and now it’s time to look at top coronavirus vaccine stocks worth buying.

Incredible Growth of Moderna Stock

Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA) stock has shown tremendous growth since the beginning of 2020. The annual change has already totaled 240.95%. Moderna stock’s opening price of the year was $19.23 but now it is trading at over $66 per share. On Friday, it closed at $66.69, slightly declined after hours, to $66.19, but is up in the pre-market trading today. At the moment of writing, Moderna stock makes up $68.88 per share. The market cap is $25 billion.

Such growth is due to the progress the biotech company made in the COVID-19 vaccine development. Moderna became the first race player to start human trials of its mRNA-1273 drug which is one of the top coronavirus vaccine candidates. In the long-run, Moderna stock seems to be a good buy.

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Stock: 306.97% Annual Change

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: INO) stock has also benefited from the work on the vaccine. Its annual change, for now, has made as much as 306.97%. Inovio began the year at $3.21, now it is maintaining the $13 level. On May 15, INO stock’s closing price was $13.43, after hours it declined to $13.30. In the pre-market today, it is trading at $13.26. But despite this low-key drop, Inovio remains the front-runner both in the COVID-19 vaccine race and among coronavirus vaccine stocks.

Inovio’s vaccine development is supported by a $9m grant from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Besides, Inovio received $6.9 million to work with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the Korea National Institute of Health (KNIH). The company’s vaccine candidate is easier for handling and storage than other developers’, which is a big edge for Inovio.

Novavax Stock’s Rapid Growth

Novavax Inc (NASDAQ: NVAX) stock has grown by 996.23% this year, which is the most remarkable annual change it has seen in its 25-year history. The price of Novavax shares at the beginning of 2020 was $4.49, now it is by ten folds higher. On May 15, Novavax stock ended at $43.63. In pre-market today, it is 6.56% up, at $46.49. 

Some say NVAX stock has a significant downside risk, as the company does not have any products besides a flu vaccine that is in the late stages of development. However, if its COVID-19 vaccine succeeds, all the concerns will be alleviated, and Novavax shares will have an entirely different price.

To advance the development of the vaccine, Novavax has received $4m in funding from CEPI, which is strong support for the company. In April, Novavax announced that it was ready to start trials of its vaccine candidate.

Johnson & Johnson Stock’s New Record

Due to participating in the vaccine race, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) stock has hit a new record. Its all-time high totaled $155.51 on April 23. On Friday, Johnson & Johnson stock’s closing price reached $150.44. In pre-market today, it is 0.14% up, at $150.65. The annual change of JNJ stock to date is 3.13%, the market cap is $397 billion.

To develop the vaccine, Johnson & Johnson pledged over $1 billion of investment in partnership with the federal biomedical Advanced research and Development Authority. In September, the company will start phase 1 human clinical study. If successful, the vaccine will be available early next year for emergency use.

Pfizer’s Stock Performance

Pfizer‘s BNT162 is one of the top promising coronavirus vaccines as well. To work on the drug, Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) is collaborating with German biotech company BioNTech. On May 4, Pfizer dosed the first participants of the vaccine Phase 1/2 clinical trial in the US. By September, Pfizer plans to expand the trials and conduct tests in thousands of people.

Pfizer (PFE) stock closed 0.42% down on May 15, at $37.76, but has rebounded before the opening today. At the moment of writing, PFE shares are trading at $38.19. The annual PFE stock change is 3.62% down, but the company’s progress seems to be promising. Therefore, Pfizer shares must never be underestimated, as the company will have a chance to show itself in the best light.

Vaxart Stock to Consider

Vaxart Inc (NASDAQ: VXRT) stock has not lately boasted a significant growth, however, its annual change this year is something to be surprised of. To date, it is making up as much as 696.01%, and this credit goes to the company’s progress in the COVID-19 vaccine development. Its candidate is an oral recombinant vaccine in tablet formulation developed on its proprietary oral vaccine platform, VAAST.

On Friday, Vaxart stock closed 7.31% down, at $2.79. But after hours, it rebounded by 2.15% to $2.85 and is further up in pre-market, trading at $2.81 right now.

Sanofi Stock’s Ups and Downs

Sanofi SA (NASDAQ: SNY) has joined forces with GlaxoSmithKline to work on the coronavirus vaccine. While Sanofi contributes the antigen, GSK provides its pandemic adjuvant technology, which helps to reduce the amount of vaccine protein required per dose.

The latest closing price for Sanofi stock as of May 15 was $47.26. At the moment of writing, it is trading at $47.02. Last week, it got in the red, as Sanofi entered into a partnership with the United States government’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to select the COVID-19 strain sequence used in the design of the vaccine candidate, using the recombinant technology. In other words, Sanofi gave the U.S. priority access to its vaccine, which is “unacceptable” for the French government. This led to the Sanofi stock plummet, but hopefully, it will not last long, as the company is still up-and-coming for investors.

Coronavirus Vaccine Stocks: Possible Risks

Of course, there is always risk involved in investing, regardless of which industry or what kind of company it is. In the case of coronavirus vaccine stocks, it is should be born in mind that not all of the vaccine candidates will be successful. Besides, only one vaccine will be the leader in terms of global approval and the speed of acceptance. Therefore, we believe it is worth investing in those companies whose stocks would be in the green regardless of what happens with their COVID-19 vaccine programs. If their coronavirus vaccines fail, they will still have solid growth prospects in the long run.

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