Healthcare week in review: Moderna and Pfizer lift outlooks, CVS falls on split plan

what happened

According to Seeking Alpha, US indexes ended mixed on Friday, with the Nasdaq Composite up 1.1% after its worst day in more than a year, the S&P 500 gaining 0.3% and the Dow losing 0.5%. The S&P 500 Health Care index rose 0.16% over the week. IDEXX Laboratories (+22.65%) and Moderna (+14.64%) led gainers, while Illumina (-9.75%) and CVS Health (-7.09%) were among the weakest.

Moderna shares rose premarket after its third-quarter report: revenue reached $1.3B, about 29% higher year on year and $409.8M above consensus, mainly due to COVID-19 vaccine sales abroad. The company raised its full-year topline growth outlook to 15%-25% from 10%. Pfizer lifted its 2026 revenue and adjusted EPS guidance even though quarterly revenue was roughly flat, and named Cecile Guegan as chief financial officer effective November 1.

CVS Health fell more than 12% on Wednesday to its lowest level since early May, despite a Q3 beat and higher guidance, as plans to split into two public companies in 2028 overshadowed the results. Novartis ADRs dropped on Thursday after SMA Europe flagged nine tumor cases in children treated with Zolgensma. Novartis said it had notified health authorities.

why it matters

Company results and guidance changes strongly influence large drugmakers, insurers and the wider healthcare sector. A restructuring can outweigh solid financials, as happened with CVS. Investors will watch how the spin-off reshapes CVS's earnings mix, and whether the Zolgensma reports lead to regulatory action.

market impact

Healthcare stocks: raised outlooks support Moderna and Pfizer, while the split plan and safety questions weigh on CVS and Novartis.

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