Vaccine maker Moderna (MRNA) is on everyone’s radar, with shares rocketing from the $20 level in January to over $60 today. Moderna stock got another small boost yesterday after the inventor of a leading coronavirus vaccine proposal was reported to be nearing a deal to sell its vaccine to Israel. Citing unnamed sources within the Israeli Health Ministry, news site Ynet.com noted that with Phase 2 clinical trials of the vaccine — mRNA-1273 — nearly complete, Israel is already "in final negotiations" to buy supplies of the vaccine for distribution to its populace. Which is great news, but here's the thing: Moderna stock was in fact already primed to go higher even before the Israeli news was announced.Over the weekend, you see, investment bank J.P. Morgan released an update on a recent discussion it had with Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel and CFO David Meline. In that note, J.P. Morgan analyst Cory Kasimov admitted that he struggles "to appropriately capture COVID-19 in MRNA's valuation given all the unknowns around COVID-19 and the ultimate opportunity." Regardless, Kasimov believes that as progress is made on the mRNA-1273 vaccine, and as the company issues updates on this progress, positive news flow is likely to keep Moderna stock rising at least in the "near term."So what should investors be looking for from Moderna in the weeks and months ahead?First and foremost, Kasimov notes that initial data on the Phase 1 study of mRNA-1273 should be just "weeks" away. With Phase 1 complete, of course, Moderna itself already has all the data available "in house" and should be able to write it up in prose form in a matter of days. The trick is that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has control over the precise date for releasing this information. Dr. Anthony Fauci, however, who heads NIAID, has indicated that a release of the data is imminent.Incidentally, it's unlikely NIAID could sit long on this information even if it wanted to. Providing color to the procedure for issuing its updates, Moderna's management confided that one reason it released initial Phase 1 data in mid-May, rather than waiting for the complete data to be assembled, was out of a desire to adhere to SEC regulation FD, and "out of caution so that the data would not be leaked."Simply put, with 14 billion ears around the globe straining for any news of a coronavirus vaccine, leaks are going to happen. To get ahead of such leaks, therefore, both Moderna and NIAID have an interest in releasing new data almost as soon as it is produced. On the one hand, this should minimize inside trading on such news. On the other hand, it practically ensures that there will be a steady flow of new updates on mRNA-1273's (and other vaccine candidates') progress, which should help keep the stock prices of vaccine makers rising.In Moderna's case, this news flow should continue throughout 2020, including a likely "end of September" date for injecting mRNA-1273 into all patients participating in a Phase 3 clinical trial of the vaccine, and culminating in the filing of a Biologics License Application, or BLA, permitting Moderna to produce the vaccine for use in interstate commerce, "by the end of the year."It remains to be seen, however, precisely how much higher such news can drive Moderna's stock price. Although Kasimov has an "overweight" rating on the stock, he values the stock only at $62 a share. Compare that to Modern's stock price at close of trading Monday — $66.57 — and you'll see why this analyst struggles "to appropriately capture COVID-19 in MRNA's valuation." (To watch Kasimov's track record, click here)Kasimov is somewhat conservative compared to the general Wall Street view here. Moderna has a Strong Buy analyst consensus rating, based on 11 Buy ratings and 2 Holds set in recent weeks. The average price target is significantly higher than Kasimov, at $90.40, and implies an upside potential of 40.5% from the $64.34 share price. (See MRNA's stock-price forecast on TipRanks)To find good ideas for biotech stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.
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First Majestic Silver (AG) has asked Canada’s Mexican ambassador to intervene in an escalating $209 million tax dispute, reports Reuters.“We’ve been trying to get somebody to the table to finally put this behind us,” First Majestic CEO Keith Neumeyer told Reuters. The company owns seven silver mines in Mexico and wants ambassador Graeme Clark to set up a meeting with President Lopez Obrador so the dispute can be resolved.According to Neumeyer, Mexican tax authorities have rejected three settlement offers, leading the Vancouver-based company to commence a trade challenge last month.Meanwhile President Lopez Obrador recently stated that some Canadian miners are behind on their tax payments. He has asked the Canadian government to put pressure on these miners to prevent the matter proceeding to international tribunals.Shares in AG have plunged 25% year-to-date, and analysts have a cautiously optimistic take on the stock’s outlook. Its Moderate Buy Street consensus breaks down into 3 buy ratings vs 5 holds, while the $10 average analyst price target indicates 8% upside potential lies ahead.Speaking for the bulls, HC Wainwright analyst Heiko Ihle reiterated his First Majestic buy rating on June 12 with a $10.50 price target.He made the call after AG announced an agreement to purchase a stream on 50% of payable silver from the Springpole project in Ontario, Canada for $22.5 million in cash and shares from First Mining Gold Corp.Springpole maintains a compelling precious metal resource with long-term production potential and is located in a geopolitically safe jurisdiction, the analyst told investors.“We believe that this acquisition provides First Majestic with a potentially de-risked revenue source, as the company has no ongoing operational obligations, and the transaction may ultimately yield incremental returns in an improving silver market” Ihle wrote.Thanks to this new silver stream he now believes that First Majestic’s exposure to an upward trending silver price will span beyond its currently producing assets in Mexico. (See AG stock analysis on TipRanks).Related News: AT&T Mulls $4 Billion Sale Of Gaming Division- Report American Express Scores China Go-Ahead In Milestone Moment E-Signature Pioneer DocuSign To Join Nasdaq-100 Next Monday More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * KKR-Led Consortium Buys 6% Stake In Vietnam’s Vinhomes For $650 Million * Eli Lilly Leaps 13% On Positive Results For Its Verzenio Breast Cancer Therapy * iQIYI Pops 35% In Pre-Market On Report Tencent Seeks To Buy Big Stake * First Horizon, IberiaBank Get U.S. Regulatory Nod For Merger
Dave Portnoy spurred a new generation of retail traders, but the Barstool Sports founder said Monday on CNBC's "Fast Money" he can't be responsible for the actions of others.'Barstooling It': The rise in retail trading activity is in part due to Portnoy branding himself as "Davey Day Trader." His newfound popularity in the trading universe is merely a function of "doing something the financial community hasn't seen before and making it fun," Portnoy said."We are 'Barstooling' it, we are making hype videos, we are getting behind it, we are live-streaming it," he said. "And I think a lot of the old-time guys just don't know what the hell is going on with us so they don't know what to make of us."See Also: Are Robinhood Retail Traders Fueling The Rally? It Depends Who You Ask'Clear What We Are': Portnoy makes it "clear what we are" and admits he has no "great knowledge" of stocks. If retail investors follow his actions and potentially lose money on a rare penny stock mention, he "can't be held responsible for total idiots."Portnoy has made some profitable trades among well-known brands, including personally buying and recommending Spirit Airlines Incorporated (NYSE: SAVE) near $8 per share. Anyone who took his advice is sitting on a hefty profit with the stock trading north of $20. The stock needs to "crash significantly for about a week straight" to erase all of the gains."People have to make decisions for themselves, obviously," he said. "If you want to jump on, you jump on. The facts are I'm not going to feel bad when I have like 400% returns since I started doing this."See Also: Dave Portnoy Trades And Entertains, But Whitney Tilson Says He's Reminiscent Of The 'Proverbial Shoeshine Boy'The Buffett Call: Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has been buying and selling stocks for decades, but Portnoy has no ambition to follow suit. He said once the COVID-19 pandemic is over, he needs to return to his "pretty busy job" at Barstool Sports.In the meantime, Portnoy said it's factually correct to say he 's outperforming Buffett after loading up on airliner stocks near the bottom: "because I am."Buffett is also pushing 90 years old so even claiming he is past his prime shouldn't be seen as an insult, Portnoy said."I have said all along, he is the greatest investor of all time," he said. "But right now, in this market, I'm doing better."Top Stock Pick: Davey Day Trader's top pick in this current environment: Smith & Wesson Brands Inc (NASDAQ: SWBI). Photo screenshot via CNBC.See more from Benzinga * Ex-SEC Chief Pitt Surprised At Investor Gullibility, Says They're Buying 'Garbage' * McDonald's Serves Up April, May Metrics, COVID-19 Update * What Data From Yelp And OpenTable Tells Us About The State Of Restaurants(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.