After the spread of Covid-19 began in 2020, there were reportedly around 200 companies worldwide working on researching a vaccine. In the winter of 2020/2021, only a handful of companies received emergency authorization in the US and Europe and their vaccines were quickly deployed. The emergence of new coronavirus variants means that demand for vaccines is likely to remain high for some time to come, which could benefit the shares of vaccine manufacturers.
In this article, we present five companies that are among the most important manufacturers of vaccines against Covid-19 and whose shares you can trade on CapTrader.
Pfizer
- Company: Pfizer Inc
- Symbol (TWS): PFE
- ISIN: US7170811035
- Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
- Country: USA
- Currency: USD
- Market capitalization: USD 239.64 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 55.52 billion
Pfizer partnered with the German biotechnology company BioNTech in 2020 to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccine was the first to receive an "Emergency Use AuthorizatioN" in the U.S. and therefore quickly found strong sales.
Although Pfizer's vaccine is proving profitable, the pharmaceutical company's stock has not appreciated proportionately. Because of Pfizer's size, it is difficult for any one product to drive the stock price up significantly, and some of the company's other products have suffered clinical setbacks. Pfizer will also lose key patents for several drugs over the course of this decade.
Nevertheless, Pfizer appears to be well positioned to achieve solid share price growth for at least the next five years or longer. The company also pays an attractive dividend, which makes the stock attractive for "income investors" as well.
Biontech
- Company: BioNTech SE
- Symbol (TWS): BNTX
- ISIN: US09075V1026
- Stock exchange: Nasdaq
- Country: USA
- Currency: USD
- Market capitalization: USD 79.30 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 2.50 billion
As a Pfizer partner, BioNTech benefits from Pfizer's financial resources, global manufacturing capabilities and regulatory expertise. The company's messenger RNA (mRNA) technology was critical to the success of the jointly developed Covid19 vaccine. Whether BioNTech can expect continued strong revenues in the coming years depends heavily on demand for the booster vaccine.
In addition to the Covid-19 vaccine, BioNTech is working on an experimental mRNA therapy against tumors, as well as drugs against various types of cancer.
Moderna
- Company: Moderna, Inc
- Symbol (TWS): MRNA
- ISIN: US60770K1079
- Stock exchange: Nasdaq
- Country: USA
- Currency: USD
- Market capitalization:
- Market capitalization in USD: 139.17 billion USD
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 2.73 billion
Following BioNTech and Pfizer, Moderna also quickly obtained emergency approval for its Covid-19 vaccine in the United States.
Because the company does not have to share profits with a partner, Moderna will likely make more money on its coronavirus vaccine than Pfizer or BioNTech.
Moderna's success in the coming years will depend on returning demand for its COVID-19 vaccine.
As for other Moderna drugs, the company expects to move its cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine candidate into late-stage testing in 2021. Moderna also has a dozen other candidates in phase 1 or 2 clinical trials and plans to make further substantial investments.
Johnson & Johnson
- Company: Johnson & Johnson
- Symbol (TWS): JNJ
- ISIN: US4781601046
- Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
- Country: USA
- Currency: USD
- Market capitalization: USD 453.50 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 89.19 billion
Johnson & Johnson's vaccine was the third to be approved in the US. Unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, J&J's vaccine develops its full effect after only a single dose.
Johnson & Johnson is selling its COVID-19 vaccine at cost during the pandemic, which means it will not significantly affect the company's bottom line.
J&J is so big that its success doesn't depend on a single product. The company's diversified activities across the healthcare sector and its status as a reliable dividend stock make Johnson & Johnson stock a popular investment for long-term investors.
AstraZeneca
- Company: AstraZeneca plc
- Symbol (TWS): AZN
- ISIN: GB0009895292 / US0463531089
- Stock exchange: London Stock Exchange / Nasdaq
- Country: Great Britain / USA
- Currency: GBX (Pence Sterling) / USD
- Market capitalization: GBP 128.17 billion / USD 178.08 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 29.53 billion
AstraZeneca was an early favorite to win the biggest prize in the race for the COVID-19 vaccine. The British drugmaker secured a 300 million-dose supply contract with the U.S. government in 2020, but still has not received approval for its coronavirus vaccine in the United States.
In addition, the company is involved in a legal dispute with the European Union after allegedly failing to meet its supply obligations despite having received regulatory approval.
A look at the AstraZeneca share price chart shows that the company is nevertheless doing relatively well.
The pharmaceutical company's product portfolio includes several products with strong sales growth, in particular the cancer drugs Imfinzi and Lynparza. The company's drug pipeline is also well developed with more than 25 late-stage candidates.