Vaxcyte, Inc.

Средний индекс, значительно упал. Быки крепко уверены в своих позициях.

Medium index, significantly down. The bulls are very confident in their positions.

Сильный индекс, незначительно вырос. Рынок не поддерживает быков.

Strong index, slightly up. The market does not support the bulls.

Средний индекс, значительно вырос. Отток средств из лонгов на высоком уровне.

Medium index, significantly up. Outflow of funds from longs at a high level.

Investors in Vaxcyte Inc (Symbol: PCVX) saw new options begin trading today, for the July 2027 expiration. One of the key data points that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 277 days until expiration the newly trading contracts represent a potential opportunity for sellers of puts or calls to achieve a higher premium than would be available for the contracts with a closer expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the PCVX options chain for the new July 2027 contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.
The put contract at the $70.00 strike price has a current bid of $9.20. If an investor was to sell-to-open that put contract, they are committing to purchase the stock at $70.00, but will also collect the premium, putting the cost basis of the shares at $60.80 (before broker commissions). To an investor already interested in purchasing shares of PCVX, that could represent an attractive alternative to paying $71.97/share today.
Because the $70.00 strike represents an approximate 3% discount to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the put contract would expire worthless. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 64%. Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change, publishing a chart of those numbers on our website under the contract detail page for this contract. Should the contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 13.14% return on the cash commitment, or 17.32% annualized — at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost.
Below is a chart showing the trailing twelve month trading history for Vaxcyte Inc, and highlighting in green where the $70.00 strike is located relative to that history:
Turning to the calls side of the option chain, the call contract at the $75.00 strike price has a current bid of $11.00. If an investor was to purchase shares of PCVX stock at the current price level of $71.97/share, and then sell-to-open that call contract as a "covered call," they are committing to sell the stock at $75.00. Considering the call seller will also collect the premium, that would drive a total return (excluding dividends, if any) of 19.49% if the stock gets called away at the July 2027 expiration (before broker commissions). Of course, a lot of upside could potentially be left on the table if PCVX shares really soar, which is why looking at the trailing twelve month trading history for Vaxcyte Inc, as well as studying the business fundamentals becomes important. Below is a chart showing PCVX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $75.00 strike highlighted in red:
Considering the fact that the $75.00 strike represents an approximate 4% premium to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the covered call contract would expire worthless, in which case the investor would keep both their shares of stock and the premium collected. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 41%. On our website under the contract detail page for this contract, Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change and publish a chart of those numbers (the trading history of the option contract will also be charted). Should the covered call contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 15.28% boost of extra return to the investor, or 20.14% annualized, which we refer to as the YieldBoost.
The implied volatility in the put contract example is 55%, while the implied volatility in the call contract example is 54%.
Meanwhile, we calculate the actual trailing twelve month volatility (considering the last 250 trading day closing values as well as today's price of $71.97) to be 53%. For more put and call options contract ideas worth looking at, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Further PCVX Research:

Interesting PCVX Put And Call Options For July 2027

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) closed up by +0.58% on Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up by +0.49%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.48%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ26) rose +0.61%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ26) rose +0.52%.
Stock indexes settled higher on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting new all-time highs and the Dow Jones Industrials posting a 1-week high. Lower bond yields on Tuesday supported stock gains as the 10-year T-note yield fell -4 bp to 5.27%.
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Strength in the Magnificent Seven technology stocks and a rally in cybersecurity stocks also supported the overall market on Tuesday. In addition, earnings optimism is bullish for stock prices. According to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence, Q3 S&P 500 profits are expected to climb by +25% from a year earlier, up from a July estimate of 22%. Q3 earnings season begins next week when US money center banks report.
Weakness in chipmakers and AI stocks on Tuesday limited broader market gains. Also, hawkish comments on Tuesday from San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly weighed on stocks when she said she's concerned that AI spending, tariffs, and energy costs could keep inflation elevated longer, requiring more Fed tightening.
Tuesday’s US economic news was bearish for stocks after the Aug trade deficit increased to a 17-month high of -$105.6 billion, wider than expectations of -$102.1 billion and a negative factor for Q3 GDP.
Nov WTI crude oil prices (CLX26) settled little changed on Tuesday. Prices initially tumbled to a 1-month low Tuesday, on signs that more oil supplies are coming out of the Middle East. Kuwait said it is pumping about 75% of the level seen before the Iran war, and Iraq is seeking to hire additional vessels to send its oil cargoes through the Strait of Hormuz. Crude prices were also pressured on Tuesday after Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia said they retook the port city of Mokha and other areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Houthi militants.
However, short covering emerged, and crude prices finished little changed Tuesday on signs that Iran is ramping up attacks on tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations reported on Tuesday that the pace of attacks by Iran has increased in recent days, with nine vessels targeted over the last several days.
Markets are discounting a 19% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets settled higher on Tuesday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed up +0.48%. China's Shanghai Composite did not trade, with markets in China closed for the week-long Golden Week holidays. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average soared to a 3-month high and closed up +1.05%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) closed up +9 ticks on Tuesday. The 10-year T-note yield fell down -3.8 bp to 5.267%. T-notes finished higher on Tuesday and found early support from the decline in WTI crude oil prices to a 1-month low. Also, decent demand for the Treasury’s $58 billion auction of 3-year T-notes was supportive for prices after the auction produced a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.62, close to the 10-auction average of 2.64.
However, Tuesday’s rally in the S&P 500 curbed safe haven demand for T-notes. Also, hawkish comments from San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly limited gains in T-notes when she said inflation may last longer than expected, requiring additional Fed rate hikes.
European government bond yields moved lower on Tuesday. The 10-year German bund yield fell -1.5 bp to 3.478%. The 10-year UK gilt yield fell -4.3 bp to 5.375%.
Eurozone Aug retail sales rose +0.1% m/m, weaker than expectations of +0.2% m/m.
German Aug factory orders fell -10.6% m/m, weaker than expectations of -1.0% m/m and the biggest decline in 7 months.
French Finance Minister Lescure said circumstances in France are very different from a decade earlier during the debt crisis and the country is far from needing help from the ECB.
Markets are discounting a 14% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Most Magnificent Seven technology stocks finished higher on Tuesday, a positive factor for the overall market. Amazon.com (AMZN) closed up more than +1%, and Microsoft (MSFT) closed up +0.85%. Also, Tesla (TSLA) closed up +0.47%, Alphabet (GOOGL) closed up +0.34%, Apple (AAPL) closed up +0.22%, and Nvidia (NVDA) closed up +0.15%. Conversely, Meta Platforms (META) closed down -0.34%.
Strength in cybersecurity stocks rallied on Tuesday. Zscaler (ZS) closed up more than +5%, and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Fortinet (FTNT) closed up more than +3%. Also, Crowdstrike Holdings (CRWD) and Gen Digital (GEN) closed up more than +2%, and SentinelOne (S) closed up more than +1%.
Airlines and cruise line operators found support on Tuesday from the decline in WTI crude oil to a 1-month low, which lowers fuel costs and boosts the profitability prospects of the companies. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) closed up more than +5% and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) closed up more than +4%. Also, Carnival (CCL) closed up more than +3%, and United Airlines Holdings (UAL), American Airlines Group (AAL), Alaska Air Group (ALK) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) closed up more than +1%.
Weakness in chipmakers and AI stocks on Tuesday limited gains in the broader market. Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) closed down more than -9% to lead losers in the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100. Also, Western Digital (WDC) closed down more than -6% and KLA Corp (KLAC) closed down more than -4%. In addition, Lam Research (LRCX) and Intel (INTC) closed down more than -3%, and Sandisk (SNDK) and Applied Materials (AMAT) closed down more than -2%.
Option Care Health (OPCH) closed up more than +32% after McKesson and Clayton Dubilier & Rice agreed to acquire the company for $5.8 billion, including debt.
Constellation Energy (CEG) closed up more than +12% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100 after announcing a long-term deal with Google to bring 890 MW of new nuclear capacity over 20 years onto the PJM grid in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Apogee Enterprises (APOG) closed up more than +11% after boosting its 2027 adjusted EPS estimate to $3.00 to $3.40 from a prior view of $2.70 to $3.25, well above the consensus of $2.92.
Lam Weston Holdings (LW) closed up more than +7% after boosting its 2027 adjusted EPS forecast to $3.05 to $3.35 from a previous estimate of $2.95 to $3.25, stronger than the consensus of $3.02.
Marvell Technology (MRVL) closed up more than +5% after saying at an investor day conference that it sees $20 billion in total revenue for fiscal 2028.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) closed up more than +2% after CEO Lisa Su predicted “very high” chip demand continuing for the next few years.
Vaxcyte (PCVX) closed down more than -9% after announcing that it will offer $500 million worth of shares and pre-funded warrants.
Gentex (GNTX) closed down more than -1% after Goldman Sachs downgraded the stock to sell from neutral with a price target of $20.
Earnings Reports (10/7/2026)
Applied Digital Corp (APLD), Richardson Electronics Ltd/Uni (RELL), ZenaTech Inc (ZENA).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Stocks Finish Higher on Lower Bond Yields and Earnings Optimism

Clinical readouts are among the most important catalysts for biotechnology stocks, as study results can materially shift investor expectations about a drug candidate’s efficacy, safety, regulatory prospects and commercial potential. Positive or negative data can therefore lead to sharp stock-price moves as investors reassess the value of a company’s pipeline.
The impact can be especially significant for clinical-stage biotech companies without marketed products, since their valuations are driven largely by the perceived potential of their development programs rather than established product sales. As a result, upcoming phase II and phase III study data readouts can serve as major valuation inflection points and are closely watched by investors.
Against this backdrop, Kodiak Sciences KOD, Celldex Therapeutics CLDX, Rapport Therapeutics RAPP and Vaxcyte PCVX are worth watching this fall. The companies are approaching potentially important mid- to late-stage readouts spanning ophthalmology, immunology, neuroscience and vaccines, with outcomes that could influence the development and commercial prospects of their respective pipelines. While CLDX, RAPP and PCVX carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each, KOD has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Kodiak Sciences
Kodiak is on track to report top-line data this month from the phase III DAYBREAK study evaluating Zenkuda (tarcocimab tedromer) and KSI-501 for treatment-naïve wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). The study is testing both candidates against Regeneron’s Eylea (aflibercept), with the one-year primary endpoint assessing non-inferiority in change in visual acuity from baseline. Zenkuda is an anti-VEGF antibody-biopolymer conjugate designed to combine rapid activity with extended durability, with individualized dosing ranging from every four weeks to as long as six months. KSI-501 adds anti-IL-6 activity to VEGF inhibition and is intended to address both angiogenesis and inflammation. Kodiak identifies the opportunity across retinal vascular diseases as targeting a roughly $15-billion anti-VEGF market.
Kodiak Sciences Inc. Price and Consensus
Kodiak has several additional late-stage opportunities that could extend the impact of its retinal portfolio. KSI-101 is being evaluated in the phase III PEAK and PINNACLE studies for macular edema secondary to inflammation, with PEAK top-line data expected in December 2026. Meanwhile, KOD has initiated enrolment in the phase III ALTO study of KSI-501 versus Eylea for diabetic macular edema. The company is also advancing earlier ABCD-platform programs aimed at retinal diseases, including glaucoma and geographic atrophy.
Celldex Therapeutics
Celldex expects a September/October 2026 top-line data readout from its phase III EMBARQ-CSU1 and EMBARQ-CSU2 studies evaluating barzolvolimab in adults with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), including patients who remain symptomatic despite antihistamines and advanced therapies. The humanized monoclonal antibody targets the KIT receptor, which is critical for mast-cell survival and function, thereby directly reducing mast-cell activity. This distinguishes barzolvolimab mechanistically from established approaches such as antihistamines and IgE-directed therapy. With 1,939 patients enrolled, the late-stage CSU program is designed to support a planned regulatory submission for the candidate in 2027.
Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. Price and Consensus
Barzolvolimab also remains in phase III development for cold urticaria and symptomatic dermographism, where Celldex says no advanced therapies are approved. Separately, a phase II study is also evaluating the candidate for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, with top-line data expected in late 2026. The company is additionally advancing CDX-622, an early-stage bispecific antibody targeting soluble stem cell factor and TSLP in mild-to-moderate asthma, aiming to combine mast-cell depletion with inhibition of type II inflammation.
Rapport Therapeutics
Rapport is targeting October 2026 to report top-line results from its phase II study of RAP-219 for bipolar mania. RAP-219 is a TARPγ8-specific AMPA receptor negative allosteric modulator designed to selectively influence AMPA signaling in brain regions such as the hippocampus and neocortex. The company believes this neuroanatomical specificity could differentiate RAP-219 from broader-acting neuroscience medicines. A successful readout would provide an important clinical validation for RAP-219 beyond epilepsy and could support discussions with the FDA on a potential phase III program for bipolar mania.
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc. Price and Consensus
The RAP-219 franchise has multiple additional development paths. Rapport recently initiated the phase III FOCUS 1 and FOCUS 2 studies of the candidate for focal onset seizures and plans to initiate a phase III program for primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in the first half of 2027. The company is also developing a long-acting injectable formulation of RAP-219, with phase I pharmacokinetic data expected in 2027. Beyond RAP-219, Rapport is advancing RAP-641, an α6β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, through clinical development-enabling studies as a potential non-opioid, non-CNS treatment for chronic pain and migraine.
Vaxcyte expects to report top-line safety, tolerability and immunogenicity data from the phase III OPUS-1 study of VAX-31, a 31-valent next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia in adults, by the end of October 2026. OPUS-1 is a pivotal noninferiority study directly comparing VAX-31 with Prevnar 20 and Capvaxive. VAX-31 uses Vaxcyte’s carrier-sparing, site-specific conjugation approach and is designed to cover 31 serotypes, potentially broadening protection beyond current standard-of-care PCVs. Vaxcyte says the candidate is designed to cover approximately 95% of invasive pneumococcal disease and 88% of pneumococcal pneumonia in U.S. adults aged 50 and older.
Vaxcyte, Inc. Price and Consensus
The OPUS-1 readout is part of Vaxcyte’s broader VAX-31 franchise. The company is also evaluating VAX-31 in the phase III OPUS-2 study in pneumococcal vaccine-naïve adults receiving a seasonal influenza vaccine and the phase III OPUS-3 study in adults previously vaccinated against pneumococcal disease, with data from both studies expected in the first half of 2027. Separately, a phase II study is evaluating VAX-31 in healthy infants for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease, with data from the primary immunization series and booster expected by the end of the first half of 2027. Results from the adult phase III program, together with a manufacturing consistency study, are expected to support a planned regulatory submission.
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4 Biotech Stocks With Key Clinical Readouts Expected This Fall

Key Points
Andrew Guggenhime surrendered 2,705 shares at $61.18 per share on August 31 and September 2, representing a transaction value of $165,492.
The transaction size represents 2% of the total equity stake held before the filing.
All 2,705 shares were disposed of directly, while 61,850 shares remain held indirectly through an LLC.
President and CFO Andrew Guggenhime reported the disposition of 2,705 shares of Vaxcyte, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCVX), according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summary
Transaction value
~$165,492
Shares sold (directly held)
2,705
Post-transaction shares (total)
164,321
Post-transaction shares (directly held)
102,471
Post-transaction shares (indirectly held)
61,850
Post-transaction value
$10.12 million
Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($61.18); post-transaction value based on the September 2 market close ($61.58).
Key questions
What was the specific nature of this disposition?
The transaction involved 2,705 shares that were surrendered directly to the company to satisfy tax withholding obligations. This occurred automatically upon the vesting of restricted stock units and was not a discretionary open-market sale.
How is the insider's total equity structured?
Guggenhime retains about 164,000 shares of Vaxcyte, consisting of 102,000 shares held directly and 61,850 shares held indirectly via ALG 2025 Grat Holdings LLC. The total position was valued at $10.12 million based on the September 2 market close.
What is the recent performance context for the security?
Vaxcyte shares have seen a 95% return over the one-year period ending September 2. This performance context coincides with the ongoing clinical development of the company's experimental vaccine candidates, including VAX-24.
Company Overview
Share Price (as of market close 2026-09-01)
$60.81
Market Capitalization
$9.0 billion
Net Income (TTM)
-$1.1 billion
Company Snapshot
Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative protein-based vaccines to prevent and manage bacterial infectious diseases, with its lead candidate VAX-24, a 24-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine currently in clinical trials.
The company operates a development-stage business model centered on advancing proprietary vaccine candidates through clinical trials with the objective of eventual commercialization and licensing partnerships with established pharmaceutical entities.
Vaxcyte's primary target markets include healthcare systems, public health agencies, and pharmaceutical partners seeking next-generation vaccines to address unmet medical needs in infectious disease prevention, particularly in immunocompromised and elderly populations.
Vaxcyte, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology enterprise headquartered in San Carlos with 507 employees, focused on developing next-generation protein-based vaccines addressing significant gaps in infectious disease prevention. The company's strategic approach leverages advanced conjugate vaccine technology to create multi-valent formulations with enhanced immunogenicity and broader pathogen coverage compared to existing therapeutic options. With a market capitalization of $9.0 billion and a one-year share price appreciation of 95.12%, Vaxcyte represents investor confidence in its clinical pipeline and the substantial market opportunity within the global vaccine sector.
What this transaction means for investors
Guggenhime handed 2,705 shares back to Vaxcyte to settle taxes on vested restricted stock, roughly 1.6% of the 164,000 shares he holds directly and through a family entity. More importantly, he carries the president and CFO titles at a company with no revenue, which makes the financing question his to answer.
On that front, Vaxcyte held $2.51 billion in cash and investments at the end of June, up slightly from $2.44 billion at the end of last year, and Guggenhime said in the August 5 release that the balance sheet leaves the company "well positioned to execute" on clinical, manufacturing and commercial-readiness milestones, as spending climbs to meet those milestones. Operating expenses reached $302.8 million in the second quarter against $226.2 million a year earlier, and the six-month net loss came to $604.9 million.
Some of that spending funds manufacturing for a commercial launch that requires trial data Vaxcyte doesn't have yet, but good results potentially coming in the fourth quarter make the buildout look prescient. Anything short of that leaves the company having pre-paid for a product it can't yet sell, with more readouts to get through before it can even file.
Should you buy stock in Vaxcyte right now?
Before you buy stock in Vaxcyte, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vaxcyte 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 $421,997!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,413,876!*
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Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Vaxcyte Has $2.5 Billion in Cash and a $605 Million Half-Year Loss. Here's How to Read Its CFO's Latest Insider Filing

Key Points
The transactions represented a combined value of about $378,000 based on weighted average prices of $61.12 per share.
Jim Wassil traded shares equal to 4% of the stake held before the filing.
The disposition involved 2,705 shares withheld for tax obligations and the exercise and sale of 2,250 options under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
Jim Wassil, Chief Operating Officer of Vaxcyte, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCVX), reported the sale of 6,182 shares of common stock on August 31 and September 1, totaling $378,000, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summary
Transaction value
~$378,000
Shares sold (directly held)
6,182
Post-transaction shares (directly held)
153,609
Post-transaction value
~$9.46 million
Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($61.12); post-transaction value based on the September 2 market close ($61.58).
Key questions
What was the impact of the derivative transactions?
Wassil exercised 2,250 options at an exercise price of $5.35 per share, representing a significant discount to the weighted average execution price of $61.12. These shares were sold immediately as part of the total disposition.
How much of the trading volume was non-discretionary?
A portion of the activity involved 2,705 shares surrendered to the company to cover tax withholding obligations realized upon the vesting of restricted stock units. The remaining open-market sales were executed under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on December 9, 2025.
What is the current status of the insider's equity position?
Following these transactions, Jim Wassil maintains direct ownership of 153,609 shares of common stock, which represents a 0.11% ownership interest in the company. The insider also holds 66,648 derivative securities.
How does the current stock price compare to the transaction level?
Shares of Vaxcyte were priced at $60.81 as of the September 1 market close, which is 0.51% below the weighted average price of $61.12 achieved during the reported transactions.
Company Overview
Share Price (as of market close 2026-09-01)
$60.81
Market Capitalization
$9.0 billion
Net Income (TTM)
-$1.1 billion
Company Snapshot
Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative protein-based vaccines to prevent and manage bacterial infectious diseases, with its lead candidate VAX-24, a 24-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine currently in Phase 1/2 clinical trials.
The company operates a development-stage business model centered on advancing proprietary vaccine candidates through clinical trials with the objective of eventual commercialization and licensing partnerships with established pharmaceutical entities.
Vaxcyte's primary target markets include healthcare systems, public health agencies, and pharmaceutical partners seeking next-generation vaccines to address unmet medical needs in infectious disease prevention, particularly in immunocompromised and elderly populations.
Vaxcyte, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology enterprise headquartered in San Carlos with 507 employees, focused on developing next-generation protein-based vaccines addressing significant gaps in infectious disease prevention. The company's strategic approach leverages advanced conjugate vaccine technology to create multi-valent formulations with enhanced immunogenicity and broader pathogen coverage compared to existing therapeutic options. With a market capitalization of $9.0 billion and a one-year share price appreciation of 95%, Vaxcyte represents investor confidence in its clinical pipeline and the substantial market opportunity within the global vaccine sector.
What this transaction means for investors
Wassil exercised 2,250 options struck at $5.35 and sold the shares along with the rest as part of a grant that predates most of what Vaxcyte has become. He scheduled the open-market portion under a plan adopted December 9, 2025, and had 2,705 shares withheld for taxes on vesting stock, leaving 153,609 shares plus 66,648 exercisable options.
Wassil runs operations, which at Vaxcyte means building the manufacturing base for a vaccine that isn't yet approved. Research and development spending hit $267.9 million in the second quarter against $194.2 million a year earlier, and the company attributed the increase partly to manufacturing activities supporting potential future commercial launches. Vaxcyte also needs a lot-to-lot consistency study, the trial proving it can make the same vaccine batch after batch, as the last Phase 3 piece before it can file with the FDA. Vaxcyte must wait to file for approval once that study finishes and the OPUS-2 and OPUS-3 results come in during the first half of 2027.
Should you buy stock in Vaxcyte right now?
Before you buy stock in Vaxcyte, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vaxcyte 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 $421,997!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,413,876!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 978% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 213% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

A Vaxcyte Executive Just Cashed Options Struck at $5.35. Here's What Long-Term Investors Should Know

Key Points
The disposition of 6,289 shares at $61.20 per share represented a transaction value of about $384,900.
The transaction involved shares equal to 0.87% of the total equity stake held before the filing, resulting in a minor reduction of the overall position.
The shares were withheld by the issuer to satisfy tax obligations related to the vesting of restricted stock units.
Grant Pickering, the chief executive officer of Vaxcyte, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCVX), disposed of 6,289 shares of common stock in a non-discretionary transaction, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summary
Shares sold
6,289
Transaction value
~$384,900
Post-transaction shares (directly held)
~447,000
Post-transaction shares (indirectly held)
~266,400
Post-transaction value
$43.93 million
Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($61.20); post-transaction value based on the September 2 market close ($61.58).
Key questions
Was the disposal a discretionary market sale?
The transaction was non-discretionary, as the shares were surrendered to the issuer solely to cover tax withholding obligations realized upon the vesting of restricted stock units.
How has the stock performed leading up to this filing?
Vaxcyte common stock has delivered a 95% total return over the 12-month period ending on the August 31 transaction date.
What is the breakdown of the CEO's indirect equity holdings?
Pickering's indirect position of 266,430 shares is divided equally between two separate trusts, with 133,215 shares held for his son and 133,215 shares held for his daughter.
What is the status of Vaxcyte's clinical pipeline?
The biotechnology company is currently focused on the clinical development of VAX-24, an experimental 24-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in trials designed to address invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia.
Company Overview
Share Price (as of market close 2026-09-01)
$60.81
Market Capitalization
$9.0 billion
Net Income (TTM)
-$1.1 billion
Company Snapshot
Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative protein-based vaccines to prevent and manage bacterial infectious diseases, with its lead candidate VAX-24, a 24-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine currently in clinical trials.
The company operates a development-stage business model centered on advancing proprietary vaccine candidates through clinical trials with the objective of eventual commercialization and licensing partnerships with established pharmaceutical entities.
Vaxcyte's primary target markets include healthcare systems, public health agencies, and pharmaceutical partners seeking next-generation vaccines to address unmet medical needs in infectious disease prevention, particularly in immunocompromised and elderly populations.
Vaxcyte, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology enterprise headquartered in San Carlos with 507 employees, focused on developing next-generation protein-based vaccines addressing significant gaps in infectious disease prevention. The company's strategic approach leverages advanced conjugate vaccine technology to create multivalent formulations with enhanced immunogenicity and broader pathogen coverage than existing therapeutic options. With a market capitalization of $9.0 billion and a one-year share price appreciation of 95.12%, Vaxcyte represents investor confidence in its clinical pipeline and the substantial market opportunity within the global vaccine sector.
What this transaction means for investors
Pickering surrendered 6,289 shares to Vaxcyte for taxes when restricted stock vested, a rounding error against the 266,430 shares sitting in trusts for his two children. More importantly, he co-founded the company and runs it, and what he's running now relies on data set for release in the near future.
Vaxcyte expects topline data in the fourth quarter from OPUS-1, the pivotal Phase 3 trial testing VAX-31, its 31-strain pneumococcal vaccine, head to head against Pfizer's Prevnar 20 and Merck's Capvaxive in about 4,000 adults aged 50 and up. Two supporting trials read out in the first half of 2027, and only then does a filing for approval follow. The company remains "on track" for that release, Pickering said in an August 5 release.
Meanwhile, Vaxcyte burned $284.3 million in the June quarter alone, with R&D up 38% year over year to $267.9 million as manufacturing scales for a launch that hasn't been approved. The $2.5 billion in cash buys time, but a miss in OPUS-1 spends it on a vaccine that never sells. Right now, the company certainly has momentum so investors should stay focused on whether trial data helps that hold up.
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Vaxcyte's CEO Parted With Shares for Taxes. Here's What Long-Term Investors Should Know About the Firm

(RTTNews) - Vaxcyte, Inc. (PCVX), a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company, announced the appointments of Luis Jodar as Chief Medical Officer and David McAvoy as Chief Legal Officer. In addition, the company said that topline safety, tolerability and immunogenicity data from the Phase 3 OPUS-1 trial of VAX-31 are now expected by the end of October, ahead of previous guidance for a fourth-quarter 2026 readout.
The pivotal Phase 3 OPUS-1 trial is a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled clinical trial evaluating VAX-31 for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and pneumonia in adults. The study is being conducted at approximately 50 sites in the United States.
Luis Jodar has more than 30 years of experience in vaccine development and launch across industry and health organisations. He spent 17 years at Pfizer Inc. and most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases.
David McAvoy brings more than three decades of legal leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry to Vaxcyte. He joins the company from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer.
"Luis and David join Vaxcyte at a pivotal time for the company," said Grant Pickering, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Vaxcyte.
PCVX has traded between $30.81 and $65.00 over the last year. The stock closed Thursday's trade at $61.17, down 0.67%.
In the after-hours market, PCVX is down 1.24% at $60.41.
For more such biotechstock news visit www.rttnews.com.

Vaxcyte Appoints Luis Jodar, David McAvoy To Leadership Team; Accelerates Phase 3 VAX-31 Timeline

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in UnitedHealth Group Inc (Symbol: UNH), where a total volume of 124,149 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 12.4 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 151.6% of UNH's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 8.2 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $400 strike call option expiring May 15, 2026, with 10,664 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.1 million underlying shares of UNH. Below is a chart showing UNH's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $400 strike highlighted in orange:
MongoDB Inc (Symbol: MDB) options are showing a volume of 21,608 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 2.2 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 139.5% of MDB's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.5 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $177.50 strike put option expiring May 22, 2026, with 1,830 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 183,000 underlying shares of MDB. Below is a chart showing MDB's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $177.50 strike highlighted in orange:
And Vaxcyte Inc (Symbol: PCVX) saw options trading volume of 19,518 contracts, representing approximately 2.0 million underlying shares or approximately 136.2% of PCVX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.4 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $50 strike put option expiring October 16, 2026, with 5,446 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 544,600 underlying shares of PCVX. Below is a chart showing PCVX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $50 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for UNH options, MDB options, or PCVX options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable Tuesday Option Activity: UNH, MDB, PCVX

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Vaxcyte Inc (Symbol: PCVX), where a total volume of 10,776 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 1.1 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 76.3% of PCVX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.4 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $45 strike put option expiring October 16, 2026, with 3,067 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 306,700 underlying shares of PCVX. Below is a chart showing PCVX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $45 strike highlighted in orange:
Marvell Technology Inc (Symbol: MRVL) saw options trading volume of 160,810 contracts, representing approximately 16.1 million underlying shares or approximately 72% of MRVL's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 22.3 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $100 strike call option expiring March 27, 2026, with 34,867 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 3.5 million underlying shares of MRVL. Below is a chart showing MRVL's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $100 strike highlighted in orange:
And Corcept Therapeutics Inc (Symbol: CORT) options are showing a volume of 10,145 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.0 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 71.8% of CORT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.4 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $50 strike call option expiring April 17, 2026, with 2,322 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 232,200 underlying shares of CORT. Below is a chart showing CORT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $50 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for PCVX options, MRVL options, or CORT options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable Wednesday Option Activity: PCVX, MRVL, CORT

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Crane Co (Symbol: CR), where a total of 3,621 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 362,100 underlying shares. That amounts to about 96.2% of CR's average daily trading volume over the past month of 376,265 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $180 strike put option expiring April 17, 2026, with 1,500 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 150,000 underlying shares of CR. Below is a chart showing CR's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $180 strike highlighted in orange:
Vaxcyte Inc (Symbol: PCVX) options are showing a volume of 11,180 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 88.9% of PCVX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.3 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $45 strike put option expiring October 16, 2026, with 3,750 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 375,000 underlying shares of PCVX. Below is a chart showing PCVX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $45 strike highlighted in orange:
And Piper Sandler Companies (Symbol: PIPR) options are showing a volume of 1,647 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 164,700 underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 81% of PIPR's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 203,395 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $265 strike call option expiring September 18, 2026, with 820 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 82,000 underlying shares of PIPR. Below is a chart showing PIPR's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $265 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for CR options, PCVX options, or PIPR options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Vaxcyte, Inc.

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