Moderna Faces Challenges as COVID Vaccine Sales Drop
Moderna's Sales Decline: A Closer Look
This past week, Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) experienced a setback as it reported its fourth-quarter earnings, highlighting a significant loss in earnings per share (EPS). The company posted an EPS loss of $(2.91), which fell short of the projected $(2.62) and marked a downturn from a positive EPS of $0.55 in the same quarter last year. This financial report has raised concerns over the company’s future performance.
Financial Highlights of Q4
Moderna’s fourth-quarter sales totaled $966 million, contrasting sharply with $2.81 billion a year earlier. Notably, this figure did exceed analysts' expectations set at $942.8 million, but the overall decline from the previous year remains a significant point of concern for investors.
Sales Breakdown
The company observed a 66% drop in net product sales for the fourth quarter, totaling $938 million. This decrease can primarily be attributed to the earlier rollout of the updated COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, which shifted a portion of sales to the preceding quarter. Additionally, international sales have not fared well, showing continued decline as advance purchase agreements phase out.
Sales from Spikevax
Sales from Spikevax, Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, were reported at $923 million during the fourth quarter. This included $244 million from U.S. sales and $679 million from international markets. For the entirety of 2024, total sales of Spikevax reached $3.1 billion, indicating robust demand despite the recent challenges.
Future Agreements and Expectations
In a positive development, Moderna has secured a contract to supply the European Union with its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This agreement enables Moderna to offer the vaccine in various formats over a four-year period, potentially stabilizing some of the revenue streams.
Additional Vaccine Sales and Costs
In terms of other vaccine performance, the company reported $15 million in mRESVIA sales, designated for the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine. Overall, mRESVIA sales totaled $25 million for the year.
Cost of Sales and Financial Outlook
Moderna's cost of sales for the fourth quarter stood at $739 million, which encapsulated third-party royalties, inventory write-downs, and expenses linked to contract terminations. Looking ahead, Moderna has reaffirmed its revenue outlook for 2025, estimating revenues between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, compared to the consensus of $2.43 billion. Anticipation of approximately $0.2 billion in revenue for the first half of the year reflects seasonal trends in the respiratory market.
Strategic Goals Moving Forward
Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, expressed optimism regarding the company's strategic plans. "We aim to drive sales and deliver up to 10 product approvals by 2027 while cutting costs significantly," Bancel stated. The company aims to achieve nearly $1 billion in cost reductions by the end of 2025, supporting long-term sustainability.
Capital Management and Projections
The company’s projections include approximately $1.2 billion in sales costs and $4.1 billion in research and development (R&D) expenses. Furthermore, capital expenditures for 2025 are estimated to reach around $0.4 billion, with expected cash and investments totaling approximately $6 billion by year-end.
Market Reaction
Following the report, MRNA’s stock experienced a downward trend, dropping 3.70% to $30.46 in premarket trading, reflecting the market's immediate response to the disappointing earnings and revenue outlook.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Moderna's Q4 earnings for 2024?
Moderna reported a fourth-quarter EPS loss of $(2.91), missing the expected $(2.62).
How much did Moderna generate in sales during Q4 2024?
Moderna generated $966 million in sales for the fourth quarter, down from $2.81 billion a year ago.
What is the outlook for Moderna's revenue in 2025?
Moderna projects revenue between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion for 2025, with a more precise estimate of $0.2 billion for the first half.
What are the key products affecting Moderna's revenue?
Major products affecting revenue include Spikevax and mRESVIA, with Spikevax sales totaling $923 million in Q4 2024.
How did the market react to Moderna's recent earnings report?
MRNA's stock fell by 3.70% to $30.46 in response to the disappointing earnings results and lowered sales forecasts.
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