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Research Alert: CFRA Maintains Hold Rating On Shares Of Moderna, Inc. After Q1 Earnings

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-- CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:

After reviewing Q1 results, we up our target to $48 from $39, based on our NPV analysis. We widen our 2026 LPS view to -$7.95 from -$7.16 and keep our 2027 LPS view at -$4.82. MRNA reported a strong Q1, exceeding revenue expectations and demonstrating significant Y/Y growth. During the analyst call, management highlighted key regulatory approvals in Europe for its respiratory vaccine portfolio and oncology pipeline advancements, which we find encouraging. Despite a GAAP net loss widened by a one-time litigation settlement, underlying financial discipline and cost reduction efforts are noteworthy. Yet, revenue guidance for Q2 is relatively low at $50M-$100M (CFRA: $92M), which points to a 65%-30% Y/Y deceleration (CFRA: 35%) but also signals a significant swing Q/Q after the company recorded $153M in sales in Q1. While we think the progress in the oncology pipeline with the partnership with Merck & Co. (MRK 112 ****) is promising and progressing well, we continue to view MRNA as a wait and see story.

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Research Alert: CFRA Maintains Hold Opinion On Shares Of Dominion Energy, Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We keep our 12-month target at $64, 17.8x our next-12-month EPS estimate of $3.61, above D's five-year average of 17.1x but below peers to reflect expectations for no near-term dividend growth and the weakest near-term and long-term EPS growth in our Multi-Utilities coverage. We trim our 2026 EPS view by $0.01 to $3.59 and initiate 2027 EPS at $3.81. We think D faces elevated execution risk from the CVOW project's reduced contingency buffer (now 6% of remaining costs). Project delays add further risk, estimated at an additional $150M-$200M in costs for each delayed quarter. The current $11.4B budget does not reflect the estimated $200M-$300M impact from revised Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper. While potential PJM network upgrade cost reassessments could provide an offset, the magnitude and timing are uncertain. We still see D as a key enabler of the AI boom given its location in the world's largest data center market. Contracted data center capacity is now 51.0 GW, up from 48.5 GW in Q4.

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Research

Research Alert: CFRA Keeps Hold Opinion On Shares Of Franklin Templeton

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We lift our 12-month target price by $2 to $31, valuing BEN shares (which currently yield 4.5%) at 11x our FY 26 (Sep.) adjusted EPS estimate of $2.80 (raised by $0.23) and at 10.5x our FY 27 EPS estimate of $2.95 (raised by $0.15). Our target multiple compares to BEN's one-year average forward multiple of 10x and a disparate peer average of 16x. BEN reported Mar-Q adjusted EPS of $0.71 vs. $0.47 a year ago, beating the consensus estimate of $0.55 and our forecast of $0.56. Operating revenues rose 9% Y/Y, exceeding our 5%-8% growth forecast, with investment management fees up 9%, while operating margins improved to 14.1% from 6.9% on contained expense growth. We now see revenue growth of 6% to 10% in 2026 and 2027. Weighing the improved Q1 results with the Western Asset Management unit's ongoing legal issues, we think the shares are fairy valued compared to historical averages, but worth holding.

$BEN
Equities

Trump Signals Diplomacy Over Military Action On Iran, Despite Frustration With Talks

President Donald Trump said he is dissatisfied with ongoing negotiations with Iran but indicated a preference for diplomacy over further military action in the nine-week conflict disrupting global energy markets, Bloomberg reported on Friday."They want to make a deal but I'm not satisfied with it," Trump told reporters, adding that while progress has been made, he is uncertain whether an agreement will be reached, the report said.Iran has put forward a new proposal via Pakistan, according to state media, offering to discuss conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz while seeking US commitments to halt attacks and lift its blockade.Trump, however, said the US is not ready to end the conflict, touting what he described as a "complete" shutdown of the strategic waterway, a key chokepoint for global oil supplies.