Moderna Stock Is Volatile Amid Bird Flu Developments
Moderna stock has been volatile this week as the first death in the U.S. connected to bird flu was reported. Here's what you need to know.


Moderna (MRNA) stock is spiraling Wednesday, down more than 8% at last check. Today's slide follows Tuesday's nearly 12% rally that was sparked by Monday's report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the first death in the U.S. connected to the H5N1 bird flu.
The CDC said "the risk to the general public remains low" and that "no person-to-person transmission spread has been identified," but the news has caused volatility in Moderna's stock because it is developing a bird flu vaccine.
In July 2024, Moderna received $176 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to accelerate the development of its pandemic influenza vaccine, mRNA-1018.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
"This subtype of influenza virus causes a highly infectious, severe disease in birds called avian influenza and poses a risk for spillover into the human population," the company said in a statement. Moderna's mRNA pipeline tracker currently shows that vaccine is in Phase 3 studies.
As of January 6, the CDC noted that there have been 66 confirmed cases of the H5N1 bird flu in the United States since 2024, with only one other case occurring between 2022 and 2024.
Is Moderna stock a buy, sell or hold?
Moderna hit its all-time high back in 2021 when the healthcare stock was capitalizing on surging demand for its COVID-19 vaccine. Since its price peak near $484 in August of that year, shares have tumbled almost 90%. And Wall Street remains cautious on the drugmaker.
According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the average analyst target price on the large-cap stock is $73.64, representing implied upside of about 70% to current levels. Despite the implied upside, the consensus recommendation is Hold.
Financial services firm Argus Research is one of those firms with a Hold rating on MRNA stock.
"We think that MRNA shares are appropriately valued at recent prices below $45," wrote Argus Research analyst Jasper Hellweg in a December 17 note. "We would consider an upgrade when the company is able to return to a period of earnings growth and when it has more of its product candidates approved and sold on the market."
Related Content
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Joey Solitro is a freelance financial journalist at Kiplinger with more than a decade of experience. A longtime equity analyst, Joey has covered a range of industries for media outlets including The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Market Realist, and TipRanks. Joey holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.
-
Stock Market Today: Have We Seen the Bottom for Stocks?
Solid first-quarter earnings suggest fundamentals remain solid, and recent price action is encouraging too.
By David Dittman
-
Is the GOP Secretly Planning to Raise Taxes on the Rich?
Tax Reform As high-stakes tax reform talks resume on Capitol Hill, questions are swirling about what Republicans and President Trump will do.
By Kelley R. Taylor
-
Stock Market Today: Have We Seen the Bottom for Stocks?
Solid first-quarter earnings suggest fundamentals remain solid, and recent price action is encouraging too.
By David Dittman
-
Social Security Is Taxable, But There Are Workarounds
If you're strategic about your retirement account withdrawals, you can potentially minimize the taxes you'll pay on your Social Security benefits.
By Todd Talbot, CFP®, NSSA, CTS™
-
Serious Medical Diagnosis? Four Financial Steps to Take
A serious medical diagnosis calls for updates of your financial, health care and estate plans as well as open conversations with those who'll fulfill your wishes.
By Thomas C. West, CLU®, ChFC®, AIF®
-
What Wall Street's CEOs Are Saying About Trump's Tariffs
We're in the thick of earnings season and corporate America has plenty to say about the Trump administration's trade policy.
By Karee Venema
-
To Stay on Track for Retirement, Consider Doing This
Writing down your retirement and income plan in an investment policy statement can help you resist letting a bear market upend your retirement.
By Matt Green, Investment Adviser Representative
-
How to Make Changing Interest Rates Work for Your Retirement
Higher (or lower) rates can be painful in some ways and helpful in others. The key is being prepared to take advantage of the situation.
By Phil Cooper
-
When to Sell Your Stock
Knowing when to sell a stock is a major decision investors must make. While there's no one correct answer, we look at some best practices here.
By Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA
-
Within Five Years of Retirement? Five Things to Do Now
If you're retiring in the next five years, your to-do list should contain some financial planning and, according to current retirees, a few life goals, too.
By Evan T. Beach, CFP®, AWMA®