10 Best Performing S&P 500 Stocks So Far in 2026

7. Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA)

Year-to-Date Performance: 66.40%

Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks so far in 2026. On April 21, the European Commission granted marketing authorization for mCOMBRIAX (mRNA-1083), making it the world’s first mRNA combination vaccine for influenza and COVID-19 to receive such approval. Authorized for adults aged 50 and older, the single-dose vaccine is valid across all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

This milestone marks Moderna’s fourth authorized product, aiming to simplify immunization schedules and reduce the burden on healthcare systems by protecting against two major respiratory viruses simultaneously. The approval is supported by pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial data involving approximately 8,000 adults. The study met all primary endpoints, showing that mRNA-1083 elicited statistically significantly higher immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 and three influenza strains (A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B/Victoria) compared to co-administered licensed flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) plans to roll out mCOMBRIAX across the EU following national regulatory and access procedures. The vaccine builds on the technology used in Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine (mNEXSPIKE) and its seasonal influenza candidate (mRNA-1010).

Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) makes mRNA medicines and vaccines to protect against illnesses like the flu, COVID-19, and some other viruses. The company also works on treatments for cancer and rare diseases.