Latest news with #COVIDvaccine
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
After a Strong Quarterly Result, Is It Finally Safe to Buy Pfizer Stock Again?
Key Points Pfizer's revenue rose by 10% last quarter, exceeding market expectations. The drugmaker has been cutting costs, which has paid off at the bottom line. However, the industry is feeling government pressure to bring drug prices down. 10 stocks we like better than Pfizer › Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) was a hot stock during the pandemic, but it has been crashing in recent years. The company's COVID vaccine resulted in the business posting record sales and profits in 2022. But then, as things went back to normal and demand diminished for its vaccine, so too did interest in Pfizer's stock. What's startling, however, is the stock hasn't simply gone back to the levels it was at back before the pandemic -- it has been on a full-blown crash. Since 2023, the healthcare stock has lost more than half of its value. This year, it's reached levels it hasn't seen in 13 years. It seems like a steal of a deal. Except, no one is in a rush to buy Pfizer's stock. Investors are concerned about what lies ahead for the business and there are many question marks about its future growth. Recently, the company released some positive earnings numbers. Could they mark a turning point for this struggling stock, and could now be a good time to invest in Pfizer? Pfizer posts strong Q2 numbers and boosts guidance On Aug. 5, Pfizer released its second-quarter earnings for 2025. Revenue for the June quarter totaled $14.7 billion, rising 10% year over year. And it easily came in above analyst estimates of $13.6 billion. On the bottom line, its adjusted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.78, also smashing expectations of $0.58. It also raised its guidance, now projecting adjusted EPS between $2.90 and $3.10 for the full year (versus its previous guidance of $2.80 to $3.00). With a result like that, you might have expected shares of Pfizer to take off. Not only did it beat expectations, it performed the highly coveted beat-and-raise combo. And yet, the stock has barely moved since releasing its quarterly numbers. The stock is now being weighed down by other factors Pfizer can't catch a break. Its strong earnings performance comes at a time when the U.S. government is threatening tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals and is trying to get pharma companies to reduce drug prices. This doesn't bode well for the company, as these types of developments could lead to shrinking numbers on both its top and bottom lines. The good news is that this isn't a Pfizer-specific problem. These are industry headwinds weighing down healthcare stocks as a whole. The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund has declined by 13% in the past 12 months, which is similar to how Pfizer has performed over that stretch. The bad news, however, is that there is so much uncertainty about how all these factors might play out, how they might impact Pfizer's financials, and how long they may last. With so many question marks, it's easy to see why investors may be looking elsewhere to invest. Pfizer may be an ideal buy-and-wait stock I don't know how government policies will play out, or how they'll affect Pfizer's business in particular. But I am confident that in the long run, policies will be put in place to incentivize pharma companies to develop life-saving drugs and treatments, not deter them. That's why regardless of what happens in the short term with respect to government actions, I don't believe that in the long run they will weigh down and impede Pfizer and other top healthcare businesses, which continually invest in their growth and the development of new drugs. It may take a while before optimism returns to the healthcare sector, and Pfizer's stock may not end up rallying in the days or weeks ahead. But with the business's cost-cutting efforts paying off and the company exhibiting a lot of growth with the potential for even more in the long run, Pfizer may be one of the best stocks to put in your portfolio right now and simply forget about. Plus, with a dividend yield of 7%, there's plenty of incentive to remain patient with the stock. Should you buy stock in Pfizer right now? Before you buy stock in Pfizer, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Pfizer wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $649,544!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,113,059!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,062% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 13, 2025 David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. After a Strong Quarterly Result, Is It Finally Safe to Buy Pfizer Stock Again? was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
10-08-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Transcript: Former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Aug. 10, 2025
The following is the transcript of an interview with Dr. Jerome Adams, the former U.S. surgeon general during President Trump's first term, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Aug. 10, 2025. MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, who served in the first Trump administration. Welcome back to Face The Nation. FORMER U.S. SURGEON GENERAL DR. JEROME ADAMS: Thank you, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to ask you about this tragic shooting Friday in Atlanta. I understand there were at least four CDC buildings that were shot at, and our colleagues are reporting investigators are looking at the motives, including that the suspect believed he was sick as a result of the COVID vaccine. What do you make of the incident itself, as well as the broader impact on the health workers there on the grounds of the CDC? DR. ADAMS: Yes. Well, first off, on behalf of the American people, I want to say thank you to the dedicated professionals at the CDC and to all public health and medical workers across this country. And I also want to honor Officer David Rose who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting those families and people who've worked at the CDC. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, his friends and his colleagues. And finally, I want to be clear, because our secretary of HHS has not been. Violence is never the answer, no matter your level of frustration or anger with the system. We have to find better, more peaceful ways to express our concerns and work towards solutions. Now, Margaret, quickly you asked about the secretary and how you respond to a crisis defines a leader, and quite frankly, Secretary Kennedy has failed in his first major test in this regard. It took him over 18 hours to issue a tepid response to these horrific shootings, and that's not even considering how his inflammatory rhetoric in the past have actually contributed to a lot of what's been going on. MARGARET BRENNAN: Those are some strong words. I mean, the secretary did issue a statement saying no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others. You think he needs to more directly condemn this shooter and his alleged motivations? I mean, there has been, to be fair, a lot of angry rhetoric against health officials for years now. Why do you think the secretary himself needs to address it? DR. ADAMS: Well, the secretary, before he was considering running for president or secretary, was involved in an outbreak in American Samoa where 83 people died, over 70 of them children, in response to a measles outbreak, which local officials on the ground there said he helped inflame. As president, he said, I will drain the cesspool at the CDC and hold people responsible, when he was running for president, he made this statement just last year. Unfortunately, someone beat him to trying to hold people responsible. And again, as secretary of HHS, it took him 18 hours to respond to this shooting, and he still has not unequivocally condemned the violence. He said no one should be harmed while working to protect the public. There's an out there, Margaret. If you don't believe that people are working to protect the public, then that means it's okay to commit violence, at least in some people's eyes. Dr. Vinay Prasad, who [audio gap] the lieutenant HHS Secretary Kennedy, said, I don't believe in forgiveness because in my opinion these pieces of, and he said, human excrement are still lying. So I'm upset. I'm upset because people at the CDC were calling me while this was going on, asking for cover that they couldn't get from their secretary. MARGARET BRENNAN: What were they asking you to do? DR. ADAMS: They were asking me to make a public statement because they felt under attack. They didn't know if this was going to continue. They were scared, and they wanted someone, someone who they felt had had a public voice to go out there and say this is wrong. Violence is wrong. This is not the answer. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, absolutely, I think all of us want to be careful in the language we use and precise, certainly on this program. And I think what you were referring to are some of what Secretary Kennedy said when he was a presidential candidate. But even in office, the FDA commissioner on this program said he wrote an article "why the people don't trust the CDC." The Secretary himself has said in the past, the CDC is a cesspool of corruption. You, to be clear, want the leaders of our health institutions to come out and say they have confidence in the CDC now? DR. ADAMS: Exactly. I wrote a recent op-ed that is in STAT News where I talked about this. As leaders, we have to be responsible with what we're saying and how we're saying it. We have to understand people are listening. And when you call the CDC a cesspool, when you say I will hold people responsible, when you make claims that have been proven false time and time again about safety and efficacy of vaccines, that can cause unintended consequences. And so while I don't know Secretary Kennedy personally, and I don't want to make, make assertions about his character, I will say based on his actions and his rhetoric he is, he's adding, he's fanning the flames that lead to situations like we saw at the CDC. MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to ask you about health policy, because days earlier, Secretary Kennedy made an announcement that the U.S. is halting $500 million for vaccine research into that technology known as mRNA. You're very familiar with it because it was used during Operation Warp Speed to very quickly get that COVID vaccine. Secretary Kennedy said, though, mRNA vaccines quote, "don't work against upper respiratory infections." Do you know what he means? And what does stopping this research do for pandemic preparations? DR. ADAMS: Well, that- that's simply not true. We know that- that by the most conservative estimates, over 2 million lives have been saved because of mRNA technology. It helped us develop COVID-19 vaccines in record time. And it's, quite frankly, President Trump's greatest achievement. It's fascinating to me that in this conversation about whether he should receive the Nobel Prize for something, the thing that he should be considered for the Nobel Prize for, his health secretary is trying to undermine. For folks who may not be familiar, though, Margaret, mRNA stands for messenger mRNA, it's a natural molecule that's in all of our bodies. It's like a recipe card that tells your body how to make a protein. And this idea, again, helps us develop vaccines and new treatments for everything from cancer, melanoma, which my wife has, to HIV, to better flu vaccines, and Zika. The- these are advances that are not going to happen now. People are going to die because we're cutting short funding for this technology. MARGARET BRENNAN: It's interesting you talk about President Trump's great achievement there, because he was asked by my colleague, Nancy Cordes, about Operation Warp Speed, and this is what he said this week. Take a listen. [BEGIN SOUND ON TAPE] DONALD TRUMP: Operation Warp Speed was, whether you're Republican or Democrat, considered one of the most incredible things ever done in this country. The efficiency, the- the way it was done, the distribution, everything about it was- has been amazing. [END SOUND ON TAPE] MARGARET BRENNAN: What would have happened in 2020 if we didn't have mRNA vaccines? DR. ADAMS: If we did not have mRNA vaccines, the best experts at the time, Bill Gates, Tony Fauci, were saying it would have taken at least 18 to 24 additional months to get a vaccine. The record before that, Margaret, was six years to get a vaccine using the technology that Secretary Kennedy said he wants to go back to, whole virus technology. And so, as I mentioned, by the most conservative estimates, at least 2 million lives were saved. Many people say that up to 20 million lives were saved because of the vaccines. It is President Trump's greatest achievement, bar none. MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Bill Cassidy, who I think you know, Republican, a doctor, he voted for Secretary Kennedy's confirmation, said it's "unfortunate the Secretary just canceled a half a billion dollars worth of work, wasting the money which is already invested," in other words, not getting it back. And he said it's "conceding to China this important technology." Here's the thing, Secretary Kennedy did say, mN- mN- excuse me, Secretary Kennedy did say this technology is helpful against cancers. Can you have it both ways? Can you stop the investment but then still take the parts of it and sort of preserve that? DR. ADAMS: Well, that's a great question, and it's absolutely the case that you cannot denigrate mRNA technology. Even if you do develop a new technology for other areas, people aren't going to trust it. There aren't- they aren't going to take it. And the way research works is that a lot of what we've learned about mRNA technology, and developing the COVID vaccines, has led to the excitement, the innovation, the advancements, which now present opportunities for cancer. So it risks stalling process- progress in many of the most promising areas of modern medicine. MARGARET BRENNAN: Dr. Adams, thank you for your time this morning. DR. ADAMS: Thank you so much. I appreciate it. And if you have questions about vaccines, talk to your doctor, because unfortunately, our current secretary is not spreading information that is knowledgeable, that's appropriate, and that is- not fanning the flames that cause situations like happen- happened at the CDC. MARGARET BRENNAN: Dr. Adams, I appreciate your time. We'll be back in a moment.
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man who killed police officer 'blamed COVID jab for making him depressed and suicidal'
A man who opened fire on the headquarters of America's national public health agency - leaving a police officer dead - had blamed the COVID vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal. Patrick Joseph White, a 30-year-old from Georgia, had tried to enter the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta but was stopped by guards, a law enforcement official said. They added that White then drove to a pharmacy across the street before opening fire late on Friday afternoon. He was armed with five guns - including at least one long gun. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, who had three children, was shot dead while responding to the incident. White also died, but authorities haven't said whether he was killed by police or if he killed himself. His father had contacted police and identified his son as the possible gunman. White's father also said his son had been upset over the death of his dog and had become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, whose scepticism of vaccines has been a cornerstone of his career, voiced support for CDC employees yesterday. But some laid-off CDC employees said Mr Kennedy shares responsibility for the violence and should resign. Mr Kennedy has a history as a leader in the anti-vaccine movement, but he reached new prominence by spreading distrust of COVID-19 vaccines. For example, he called it "criminal medical malpractice" to give these jabs to children. He said after the shooting: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDC's Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose. "We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others." Sarah Boim, a former CDC communications staffer who was fired this year during a wave of terminations, said the shooting was the "physical embodiment of the narrative that has taken over, attacking science, and attacking our federal workers". White's 'distrust of COVID vaccines' A neighbour of White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the gunman spoke with her multiple times about his distrust of COVID-19 jabs. Nancy Hoalst, who lives on the same street as White's family, said he seemed like a "good guy" but he would bring up vaccines even in unrelated conversations. "He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people." Ms Hoalst told the Atlanta newspaper. "He emphatically believed that." However, she said she never believed White would be violent and added: "I had no idea he thought he would take it out on the CDC."
Sky News
10-08-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Man who killed police officer 'blamed COVID jab for making him depressed and suicidal'
A man who opened fire on the headquarters of America's national public health agency - leaving a police officer dead - had blamed the COVID vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal. Patrick Joseph White, a 30-year-old from Georgia, had tried to enter the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta but was stopped by guards, a law enforcement official said. They added that White then drove to a pharmacy across the street before opening fire late on Friday afternoon. He was armed with five guns - including at least one long gun. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, who had three children, was shot dead while responding to the incident. White also died, but authorities haven't said whether he was killed by police or if he killed himself. His father had contacted police and identified his son as the possible gunman. White's father also said his son had been upset over the death of his dog and had become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, whose scepticism of vaccines has been a cornerstone of his career, voiced support for CDC employees yesterday. But some laid-off CDC employees said Mr Kennedy shares responsibility for the violence and should resign. Mr Kennedy has a history as a leader in the anti-vaccine movement, but he reached new prominence by spreading distrust of COVID-19 vaccines. For example, he called it "criminal medical malpractice" to give these jabs to children. He said after the shooting: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDC's Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose. "We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others." Sarah Boim, a former CDC communications staffer who was fired this year during a wave of terminations, said the shooting was the "physical embodiment of the narrative that has taken over, attacking science, and attacking our federal workers". White's 'distrust of COVID vaccines' A neighbour of White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the gunman spoke with her multiple times about his distrust of COVID-19 jabs. Nancy Hoalst, who lives on the same street as White's family, said he seemed like a "good guy" but he would bring up vaccines even in unrelated conversations. "He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people." Ms Hoalst told the Atlanta newspaper. "He emphatically believed that."
Reuters
01-08-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Moderna cuts sales forecast on UK revenue delay, shares fall
Aug 1 (Reuters) - Moderna (MRNA.O), opens new tab trimmed its 2025 revenue forecast on Friday after UK deliveries of some COVID vaccines were deferred to next year, overshadowing lower-than-expected second-quarter loss and sending its shares down 7%. The revised forecast of between $1.5 billion and $2.2 billion reflects ongoing headwinds for the vaccine maker, which is grappling with slumping demand for COVID-19 shots, a slower-than-expected RSV rollout and regulatory delays in its new product pipeline. The company is also facing pressure to reduce costs and reestablish growth after pandemic-era profits faded. Moderna said 40% to 50% of this year's revenue would be recognized in the third quarter, with the remainder expected in the fourth. "The timing shift is due to the government's use of its fiscal year minimum product purchase for the spring campaign in 2026," finance chief James Mock said, adding it does not impact the total value of Moderna's multiyear contract with the UK. The company reported quarterly revenue of $142 million, a 41% drop from last year, but still ahead of analyst estimates of $112.9 million, according to LSEG data. On an adjusted basis, Moderna posted a quarterly loss of $2.13 per share, while analysts on average were expecting a loss of $2.97 per share. Mock attributed the results to spring COVID booster shot uptake, which was down 11% year-over-year but higher than anticipated and $800 million in cost cuts in the first half of 2025. "I don't think analysts thought we could get that much (in costs) out of the business," he told Reuters. Mock added that the spring sales boost could signal solid demand for COVID vaccines this autumn. The sentiment was echoed by company President Steven Hogue, but he noted that "we really won't know until the end of the third quarter." The Spikevax COVID-19 shot delivered $114 million in sales, beating the expected $87 million for the quarter, but a far cry from its 2022 pandemic peak, when the vaccine brought in $18.4 billion. Moderna is counting on new mRNA products such as its experimental COVID-flu combo shot to revive growth. The company said it did not expect a material impact on the cost of sales from the newly introduced tariffs. Moderna also said it planned to cut operating costs by $400 million in 2025, bringing them down to $5.9 billion to $6.1 billion.
