Catch up on the weekend’s top five stories with this list compiled by The Fly: 1. Moderna (MRNA) announced that the Food and Drug Administration’s has authorized the emergency use of mRNA-1273, Moderna’s vaccine against COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age or older. The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is now authorized for distribution and use under an Emergency Use Authorization. Delivery to the U.S. Government will begin immediately, the company said. The company also said on Sunday that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend the use of the its COVID-19 vaccine in people 18 years of age and older under the Emergency Use Authorization issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The committee is comprised of independent health experts. 11 ACIP members voted in favor of the vaccine and 0 members voted against. ACIP recommendation follows the December 1, 2020 ACIP recommendation for a Phase 1a rollout in which the first priority for COVID-19 vaccines is given to healthcare personnel treating patients and residents in long-term care facilities. Meanwhile, FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx (FDX), announced that operations are in motion to transport Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines for McKesson Corp. (MCK) throughout the U.S. Following the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, FedEx Express will begin transport of the vaccine and kits of supplies for administration of the vaccine, using its FedEx Priority Overnight service supported by FedEx Priority Alert advanced monitoring. 2. After weeks of intense negotiations, congressional leaders have finally reached a deal on a $900B coronavirus relief package that will include a second round of direct payments, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Sunday night, Axios’ Alayna Treene and Oriana Gonzalez reported. It includes $300 per week in enhanced unemployment insurance for 11 weeks, $325B for small businesses, $600 stimulus checks and $90B for FEMA. 3. While Comcast (CMCSA; CMCSK) is trading near an all-time high, the stock has badly trailed rivals, up 28% in the past three years versus gains of 50% to 100% for key rivals, Daren Fonda wrote in this week’s edition of Barron’s. Yet Comcast’s stock could be a rock that starts to roll, as investors come to realize that Comcast’s diverse portfolio-including broadband, film studios, streaming, and theme parks-is well suited to a post-COVID-19 world, the author noted. 4. Lockheed Martin (LMT) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne (AJRD) for $56 per share in cash, which is expected to be reduced to $51 per share after the payment of a pre-closing special dividend. This represents a post-dividend equity value of $4.6B and a total transaction value of $4.4B including the assumption of net cash. As part of approving the transaction, Aerojet Rocketdyne announced a special cash dividend, revocable at its option through the payment date, of $5 per share to its holders of record of common stock and convertible senior notes as of the close of business on March 10, 2021, and payable on March 24, 2021. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2021 and is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and approval by Aerojet Rocketdyne’s stockholders. 5. Alphabet (GOOGL), Apple (AAPL), Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), Coca-Cola (KO), Eaton (ETN), Goldman Sachs (GS), Graham Holdings (GHC), Madison Square Entertainment (MSGE), Merck (MRK), and Newmont (NEM) saw positive mentions in this week’s edition of Barron’s.
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