Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated $VRTX Shares Purchased by Capital International Sarl

Capital International Sarl raised its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 225,734 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,345 shares during the period. Vertex Pharmaceuticals accounts for approximately 1.5% of Capital International Sarl’s holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Capital International Sarl owned 0.09% of Vertex Pharmaceuticals worth $88,406,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the second quarter valued at about $1,593,974,000. Capital International Investors lifted its holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 77.9% during the 3rd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 4,689,059 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,836,550,000 after buying an additional 2,053,156 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 214.6% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 763,703 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $299,097,000 after acquiring an additional 520,949 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 23,973,777 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $10,673,126,000 after acquiring an additional 482,616 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 10.7% during the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 4,378,320 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,949,228,000 after acquiring an additional 424,808 shares in the last quarter. 90.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock opened at $460.87 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $117.07 billion, a PE ratio of 30.06 and a beta of 0.31. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a 12 month low of $362.50 and a 12 month high of $519.68. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $467.50 and a 200-day simple moving average of $435.79.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The pharmaceutical company reported $5.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.05 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $3.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.18 billion. Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a return on equity of 24.30% and a net margin of 32.94%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $3.98 EPS. Analysts expect that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 15.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on VRTX shares. Leerink Partners lifted their price objective on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $456.00 to $525.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, December 29th. Wolfe Research upgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $548.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Evercore boosted their target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $475.00 to $530.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $546.00 to $541.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Oppenheimer raised shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $540.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $542.00.

Key Stories Impacting Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Here are the key news stories impacting Vertex Pharmaceuticals this week:

• Positive Sentiment: RAINIER Phase 3 interim analysis met the primary endpoint and all secondary endpoints at Week 36, with treated patients showing the intended benefit versus placebo — a major validation step for povetacicept in IgA nephropathy. Vertex Announces Positive Week 36 Interim Analysis Results (BusinessWire)
• Positive Sentiment: Management plans an FDA filing for povetacicept by March, accelerating the regulatory timeline and shortening the path to potential commercialization if final data and review go smoothly. Vertex Stock Surges After Positive Kidney Disease Trial Results (Blockonomi)
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts have reiterated and strengthened bullish views — William Blair’s Myles Minter reiterated a Buy and highlighted increased confidence in povetacicept’s commercial potential, supporting upside to consensus models. Analyst Confidence Boosts Buy Thesis (TipRanks)
• Positive Sentiment: Market reaction: shares rallied in extended trading after the release; coverage notes the asset was acquired in a prior multibillion-dollar deal and is viewed as having “best‑in‑class” potential in a competitive kidney disease market. Vertex Kidney Drug Hits Mark in Late-Stage Study (BioPharmaDive)
• Neutral Sentiment: The result cited is an interim analysis of an ongoing trial — final RAINIER readout, full safety dataset, and regulatory review still lie ahead, so approval and peak sales remain subject to execution and FDA assessment. Press Release / Interim Analysis Details (Yahoo Finance)

Insider Transactions at Vertex Pharmaceuticals

In related news, EVP Duncan Mckechnie sold 4,910 shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $487.65, for a total value of $2,394,361.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 17,559 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,562,646.35. The trade was a 21.85% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Mark E. Bunnage sold 2,021 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $460.43, for a total transaction of $930,529.03. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 12,914 shares in the company, valued at $5,945,993.02. The trade was a 13.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 91,156 shares of company stock valued at $42,845,497 in the last ninety days. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc is a Boston-based biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapies for serious diseases. Founded in 1989, Vertex built its reputation on research-driven drug development and is best known for its work in cystic fibrosis (CF), where its portfolio of small-molecule CFTR modulators transformed standards of care for many people with the disease. The company operates research and development, manufacturing and commercial organizations and serves patients and healthcare systems in multiple international markets.

Vertex’s marketed products center on CFTR modulators that target the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis rather than just treating symptoms.