American Trust Makes New $680,000 Investment in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

American Trust acquired a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 1,463 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock, valued at approximately $680,000.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in VRTX. Whalen Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the third quarter valued at about $662,000. Creative Planning increased its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 79,117 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $37,084,000 after purchasing an additional 3,998 shares during the period. Mizuho Securities USA LLC lifted its position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 289.0% in the 3rd quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 77,393 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $35,994,000 after purchasing an additional 57,497 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 640.0% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,443 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $676,000 after purchasing an additional 1,248 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the second quarter worth $21,008,000. Institutional investors own 90.96% of the company's stock.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ VRTX traded down $0.39 during trading on Friday, hitting $463.73. The stock had a trading volume of 1,097,110 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,269,808. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a quick ratio of 2.20 and a current ratio of 2.47. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $473.50 and a two-hundred day moving average of $475.84. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a 12 month low of $391.01 and a 12 month high of $519.88.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The pharmaceutical company reported $4.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.61 by $0.77. Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a negative net margin of 4.52% and a negative return on equity of 1.91%. The business had revenue of $2.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.69 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.67 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post -1.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VRTX has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $480.00 to $486.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Raymond James reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $600.00 target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Monday, October 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $510.00 to $503.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $500.00 to $550.00 in a report on Monday, December 9th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Vertex Pharmaceuticals currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $506.20.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Company Profile

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, a biotechnology company, engages in developing and commercializing therapies for treating cystic fibrosis (CF). It markets TRIKAFTA/KAFTRIO for people with CF with at least one F508del mutation for 2 years of age or older; SYMDEKO/SYMKEVI for people with CF for 6 years of age or older; ORKAMBI for CF patients 1 year or older; and KALYDECO for the treatment of patients with 1 year or older who have CF with ivacaftor.