Meet the New Nasdaq-100 Stock That’s Crushing Nvidia, Micron, and Sandisk. Is It Too Late to Buy?

Moderna (MRNA) has surged more than 600% in 2026, leaving AI darlings Nvidia (NVDA), Micron (MU), and Sandisk (SNDK) far behind. The newly minted Nasdaq-100 member now trades 61% above Wall Street's average price target of $122, a gap that puts the rally well ahead of analyst models.

The catalyst is oncology. Progress in the company's pipeline, led by its personalized cancer vaccine candidate intismeran autogene, has driven the repricing. The move marks a shift in how the market sees MRNA: from a coronavirus vaccine company to a broader biotech platform with cancer-focused upside.

Interpretation: a 61% premium to the consensus target suggests investors are pricing in clinical success well before analysts have raised their estimates. That leaves the stock exposed to any pipeline disappointment, and also leaves room for targets to chase the price higher if oncology data keeps delivering.

The source analyst's view is cautious: the story has promise, but waiting for a pullback is the preferred entry. Peer Merck (MRK) is relevant context only as a named comparison in the sector; the article's focus is MRNA's outperformance versus the AI hardware trade.