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Novavax (NVAX) to Report Q2 Earnings: What's in the Cards?

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We expect investors to focus on the sales performance of Novavax’s (NVAX - Free Report) protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, its sole marketed product, when it reports second-quarter 2022 results.

In the year so far, shares of Novavax have plunged 60.6% compared with the industry’s 19.5% decline.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

NVAX’s surprise record has been dismal so far, as its earnings missed expectations in each of the last four quarters. It has a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 184.49%, on average. In the last reported quarter, Novavax witnessed a negative earnings surprise of 23.12%.

Let’s see how things have shaped up for the quarter to be reported.

Factors to Note

Novavax continued to garner authorizations for use of its COVID-19 vaccine in additional countries and for additional patient populations during the second quarter. In the second quarter, NVAX gained authorizations for use of its COVID vaccine in Japan, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand. All of these authorizations will aid NVAX to generate product revenues from the sale of its COVID vaccine. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total revenues in the second quarter stands at $1.04 billion.

After a long-awaited period of time, NVAX secured emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA for its COVID vaccine as a primary two-dose regimen in adultsearlier this month. Though Novavax started shipping vaccine doses in the United States, it is not likely to recognize product revenues in the country until the beginning of the third quarter.

Following completion of the activities required under the agreements with the U.S. Government, we expect Novavax to record lower grant revenues during the quarter under review.

Novavax is also advancing the clinical development of booster studies of its COVID vaccine. In December 2021, the company initiated dosing patients in an extension of the phase III PREVENT-19 study to evaluate the third/booster dose of NVX-CoV2373. In April 2022, NVAX received the first approval for the use of a booster dose of NVX-CoV2373 in adults in Japan. Topline data from clinical studies evaluating its Omicron-specific booster vaccine is expected in second-half 2022. The company is also currently evaluating the booster dose of the vaccine in an ongoing late-stage study in adolescents.

We also expect management to provide an update on Novavax’s other pipeline candidates.

ResVax, Novavax’s potential respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, is being evaluated in a phase III study to protect infants by immunizing their mothers against the disease.

Novavax also completed a phase III pivotal study on its nanoparticle seasonal influenza vaccine candidate NanoFlu for patients aged 65 years and above. The study met all the eight primary endpoints. An update on the timeline for regulatory filing of the vaccine is expected during the upcoming earnings call.

NVAX is also evaluating a COVID-19-influenza combination (CIC) vaccine candidate in a phase I/II study. The CIC vaccine is a combination of NVX-CoV2373 and NanoFlu in a single formulation. In April 2022, Novavax announced initial data from this study, which demonstrated the CIC vaccine to be feasible and immunogenic. The immune responses were comparable to the standalone NanoFlu and standalone NVX-CoV2373 formulations. NVAX expects to begin a phase II dose confirmation study by year end.

Earnings Whispers

Our proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Novavax this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here as you will see below. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Earnings ESP: Novavax’s Earnings ESP is 0.00% as both the Most Accurate Estimate and Zacks Consensus Estimate stand at $5.51 per share.

Zacks Rank: Novavax currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Novavax, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

 

Novavax, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Novavax, Inc. price-eps-surprise | Novavax, Inc. Quote

 

Stocks to Consider

Here are a few other stocks worth considering, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.

AstraZeneca (AZN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.38% and a Zacks Rank #3.

AstraZeneca’s stock has risen 15.9% this year so far. AstraZeneca topped earnings estimates in two of the last four quarters, missed on one occasion and met the mark on the remaining one. AZN has a four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.32%, on average. AstraZeneca is scheduled to release its second-quarter 2022 results on Jul 29.

Bayer (BAYRY - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +5.26% and a Zacks Rank #3.

Bayer’s performance has been pretty impressive, with the company exceeding earnings expectations in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 17.71%.

Bayer is scheduled to release its second-quarter 2022 results on Aug 4. BAYRY is up 10.3% this year so far.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +27.61% and a Zacks Rank #2.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ stock has risen 27.0% this year so far. Ionis Pharmaceuticals topped earnings estimates in two of the last four quarters while missing the mark on the other two occasions. IONS has a four-quarter earnings surprise of 24.35%, on average.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals is scheduled to release its second-quarter 2022 results on Aug 9.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

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