Moderna (MRNA) has fallen more than 18% in the past two weeks since topping out above $212. This followed a sharp run-up in mid-December on news its personalized vaccine candidate reduces the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 44% when given to patients in combination with Merck’s (MRK) Keytruda.
Some of the selling can likely be attributed to profit-taking. Additionally, the stock sold off this week on news that Moderna is putting its COVID-19 vaccine revenue to use in its first-ever acquisition. Moderna said it will buy Japanese DNA supplier OriCiro Genomics K.K. for $85 billion.
This acquisition and the immense potential of Moderna’s cancer vaccine bode well for the stock long term, and I expect the sell-off in shares to be short-lived.
I am recommending we roll our put out two weeks and to a lower strike price to avoid potential assignment. While we will need to spend some cash to do so, we are reducing our strike price by $10, thus lowering our risk.
Let’s also roll our SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) put out one week to generate more income and flip our net debit to cash in hand. If possible, we will exit the position around breakeven in the coming week.
MRNA Jan Week One (1/6) 180 Put
Current Stock Price: $172.98
Net Debit: $22.55
Action:
- Buy to close the MRNA Jan Week One (1/6) 180 Put for around $7.80
- Sell to open the MRNA Jan Monthly (1/20) 170 Put for around $6.60
- Set initial debit limit at $1.20, but adjust as needed to roll today
New Net Debit: $23.75
XBI Jan Week One (1/6) 80 Put
Current Stock Price: $82.50
Net Debit: $0.40
Action:
- Buy to close the XBI Jan Week One (1/6) 80 Put for around $0.24
- Sell to open the XBI Jan Week Two (1/13) 80 Put for around $1.13
- Set initial credit limit at $0.89, but adjust as needed to roll today
New Cash in Hand: $0.49