12 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Invest in According to Analysts

1. Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA)

Average Share Price Upside Potential as of January 31: 70.12%

Market Cap: $15.17 billion

Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) is a biotechnology company renowned for its groundbreaking mRNA technology and expertise in developing vaccines and therapeutics for complex diseases.

On January 17, the U.S. government awarded Moderna a $590 million contract to accelerate the development of its bird flu vaccine. The company’s share price has surged 33% since the announcement, as of the close of the day on January 28. Last year, Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) also received a $176 million award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for an mRNA-based vaccine against the H5N1 avian influenza.

In another positive development, Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA)’s cancer-fighting jab, called mRNA-4359, has shown early promise in trials. It has been designed to prepare the body to identify and fight cancer cells. According to a report, 19 patients with advanced tumors were tested in the jab’s first-in-human study. They were given between one and nine doses of the mRNA-4359. Results showed that eight of the trial’s participants did not experience tumor progression or the emergence of new tumors. Moreover, the company claimed that there were no significant negative effects and that the treatment was well tolerated.

Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) reported strong results for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, with revenue posted at $1.9 billion, up 5.6% from last year and primarily driven by higher sales in the U.S. market. GAAP net income stood at $13 million, a notable improvement from a net loss of $3.6 billion during Q3 2023.

Wall Street analysts anticipate a 70.12% uptick, on average, in Moderna’s share price, making it the best large-cap stock to invest in according to analysts.

Overall, MRNA ranks first among the 12 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Invest in According to Analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of MRNA, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MRNA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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