Israel is in advanced talks to buy Moderna Inc.’s (MRNA) experimental coronavirus vaccine candidate, the country’s news portal Ynet reported.The talks come after Moderna last week announced that it is commencing with the late-stage testing of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273, according to the report, which cited unnamed officials at Israel’s Health Ministry. Additional details weren’t provided.The biotech company, which has already finalized the Phase 3 study protocol for the vaccine candidate is expected to start a trial of 30,000 participants enrolled in the U.S. in July. The trial’s primary endpoint will be the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19 disease, while key secondary endpoints include prevention of infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease.Shares in Moderna more than tripled this year, as investors piled into the stock amid hopes for the potential of its virus vaccine. The stock rose 3% to $62 on Friday.It looks like the rally has not yet run out of steam. Five-star analyst Edward Tenthoff at Piper Sandler last week reiterated a Buy rating on the stock with a $100 price target (61% upside potential) after the company finalized the Phase III trial protocol for the vaccine candidate.Tenthoff added that Moderna has already completed mRNA-1273 manufacturing required to begin Phase III trial vaccinations in July with supply agreements supporting manufacturing of 500 million to 1 billion 100 microgram doses per year.The rest of the Street has a bullish stance on Moderna’s stock. It boasts 11 Buy ratings versus 2 Hold ratings which add up to a Strong Buy consensus. Despite the recent share bonanza, the $90.40 average price target still indicates another 46% upside potential from current levels. (See Moderna stock analysis on TipRanks).Related News: 5 Promising Covid-19 Vaccines Picked For Trump’s Operation Warp Speed AstraZeneca Inks Europe Deal For 400M Covid-19 Vaccine Doses Sorrento Edges Higher On Debt Repayment As Top Analyst Says Buy More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * Extraction Oil & Gas Files For Bankruptcy; Announces $125M Funding Plan * First Majestic Seeks Help In Mexico Tax Dispute, As Analyst Applauds Springpole Deal * Amazon Now Also Under Investigation By Washington State – Report * Blackstone To Invest $337 Million In Medtronic’s Diabetes Programs

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Jun.15 — Retail outlets in England selling non-essential items are opening today for the first time since March, as the government eases restrictions put in place to curb the coronavirus. Kyle Monk of the British Retail Consortium assesses the outlook for the sector in an interview on “Bloomberg Markets: European Open.”

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AT&T (T) is considering selling its Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment gaming unit for around $4 billion to reduce its heavy debt burden, people familiar with the matter have told CNBC.According to the sources, potential buyers include major gaming companies Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO), Electronic Arts (EA) and Activision Blizzard (ATVI). However, they added that no deal is assured or imminent at this point.One option for a deal could include a commercial licensing agreement which would allow AT&T to continue to drive revenue from its intellectual property, CNBC reported.However VentureBeat reported a separate source suggesting a price closer to $2 billion because the gaming division does not own some of the key franchises at the core of its major games like “Harry Potter” and “Game of Thrones.”Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is made up of 10 game studios including TT Games, and owns the “Mortal Kombat” and the “Scribblenauts” series. It was snapped up by AT&T as part of the $109 billion Time Warner deal which closed in 2018 and left T struggling to manage a $150 billion debt.Ex WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey will replace Randall Stephenson as CEO at AT&T on July 1. He takes the helm of America’s second-largest wireless service provider at a notably challenging time.Shares in T are currently trading down 22% year-to-date, with AT&T recently reporting soft first quarter earnings alongside ~ $433M ($0.05 per share) of EBITDA headwinds due to COVID-19 disruptions.“AT&T will continue to slash expenses and is aiming for $6B over the next three years” commented Oppenheimer analyst Timothy Horan. He has a buy rating and $47 price target on the stock explaining “Importantly, the dividend seems safe and debt reduction can continue with what we and the company estimate to be a 60% payout ratio.”Overall, analysts have a Moderate Buy T consensus, with 8 recent buy ratings, 12 holds and 2 sells. Meanwhile the average analyst price target of $34 indicates 11% upside potential from current levels. (See T stock analysis on TipRanks).Related News: Activist Investor Jana Partners Builds 5.9% Stake in Perspecta; Stock Jumps 9% In Pre-Market Lululemon Drops 5% in Extended Trading After Quarterly Results Miss Bankrupt Hertz Pops 51% In Pre-Market On $1 Billion Share Sale Plan More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * Extraction Oil & Gas Files For Bankruptcy; Announces $125M Funding Plan * Israel Is Said To Be In Talks To Buy Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine Candidate * First Majestic Seeks Help In Mexico Tax Dispute, As Analyst Applauds Springpole Deal * Amazon Now Also Under Investigation By Washington State – Report

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