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Starboard Increases Salesforce Stake Amid Stock Weakness

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Activist hedge fund Starboard Value, which first pushed for changes at Salesforce (CRM.N) three years ago, raised its stake in the U.S. software company by nearly 50% in the second quarter, according to a regulatory filing on Thursday.

As of June 30, Starboard owned 1.3 million shares, up from 849,679 shares at the end of the first quarter when it had already boosted its stake by almost 52%. The move comes amid a nearly 30% drop in Salesforce’s stock price since January and a 9% decline over the past year.

Salesforce, valued at $223 billion, faced pressure from activist investors in late 2022 and early 2023. Many of these investors reduced or exited their positions after the company reported strong results, added a new board director, and implemented other changes. Starboard, known for revisiting past investments if a company backslides on promised reforms, appears to be increasing pressure again.

Starboard CEO Jeffrey Smith previously said Salesforce still had potential to improve efficiency and profitability. The hedge fund also boosted its stake in Pfizer (PFE.N) by 10.5% to 8.5 million shares and reduced its holding in Autodesk (ADSK.O) by nearly 27% after settling a prior engagement with the company.

The filing is a 13F report, which reflects fund holdings at the end of the previous quarter and is closely watched for insights into investment trends.

BioNTech Settles Royalties Dispute with NIH and University of Pennsylvania

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BioNTech has reached two separate settlement agreements to resolve royalty payment disputes over its COVID-19 vaccine. The German biotech company, in collaboration with Pfizer, said it will pay $791.5 million to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to address a default notice. Additionally, BioNTech will pay $467 million to the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) to settle a lawsuit alleging underpayment of royalties.

The agreements stem from the NIH’s and Penn’s claims to royalties linked to foundational patents used in the mRNA technology behind the COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer, BioNTech’s partner in the vaccine’s development, has agreed to reimburse BioNTech for part of the settlement costs—up to $170 million for Penn’s royalties and $364.5 million for NIH royalties from 2020-2023 vaccine sales.

The settlements also involve amendments to BioNTech’s licensing agreements with both NIH and Penn, with BioNTech agreeing to pay a low single-digit percentage of its vaccine sales. The agreements also include provisions for future licensing to use NIH and Penn’s patents in combination products.

Neither party admitted liability in the settlements. NIH and Penn did not respond to requests for comment.

 

Pfizer Sees Stable Vaccine Policy Under Trump Despite RFK Jr. Appointment

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Pfizer does not anticipate major changes to U.S. vaccine policies under the Trump administration in 2025, even though President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Speaking at an investor conference, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla confirmed he had met with both Trump and RFK Jr. over dinner and described their relationship as positive. “If he’s confirmed, we will work with him to advance the right policies,” Bourla said.

Kennedy has long been criticized for questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines, which have been instrumental in combating disease worldwide. While he rejects the “anti-vaccine” label, Kennedy has indicated that he would not block access to vaccines. Trump, meanwhile, has suggested that he may end certain childhood vaccination programs if concerns about safety arise.

Bourla highlighted Trump’s commitment to reforming the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), middlemen in the U.S. healthcare system who negotiate drug prices. Trump announced plans to eliminate PBMs, which Bourla argued could significantly lower patient out-of-pocket costs for medications.

Vaccine Market Outlook

Pfizer, which produces vaccines for COVID-19, pneumococcal disease, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), has faced market pressure since Trump’s announcement of Kennedy as his HHS nominee. However, Bourla reassured investors that Pfizer expects 2025 sales for its COVID-19 vaccine and treatment to remain consistent with 2024 levels.

Financial Performance and Turnaround Strategy

Pfizer’s financial outlook provided some relief to investors amid ongoing concerns over its future performance. The company forecasts 2025 adjusted profit between $2.80 and $3.00 per share, in line with analysts’ average estimate of $2.88. It also projects revenue between $61 billion and $64 billion, slightly below Wall Street’s consensus of $63.26 billion.

Shares rose 3.7% to $26.20 following the forecast, though Pfizer’s stock has dropped nearly 12% this year and remains well below its pandemic-era peak. The pharmaceutical giant has faced investor criticism, most notably from hedge fund Starboard Value, over its acquisition strategy and the lack of profitable drugs resulting from recent deals and internal research efforts.

In response, Bourla defended Pfizer’s strategy, which includes aggressive cost-cutting measures and the sale of non-core businesses to reduce debt. The company is under increasing pressure to introduce new blockbuster drugs to offset revenue declines from top sellers set to lose patent protection.

Conclusion

Despite concerns surrounding Trump’s choice of RFK Jr. for HHS and broader investor criticism, Pfizer remains cautiously optimistic about vaccine policies and its financial performance in 2025. The company continues to focus on cost efficiency, innovation, and policy collaboration to stabilize its outlook in a challenging post-pandemic environment.