Andrew Hill Investment Advisors Inc. Cuts Stock Position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Andrew Hill Investment Advisors Inc. cut its stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) by 26.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 6,554 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock after selling 2,335 shares during the quarter. Vertex Pharmaceuticals makes up 2.0% of Andrew Hill Investment Advisors Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Andrew Hill Investment Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals were worth $2,639,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Kennedy Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 74.5% in the fourth quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC now owns 23,615 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $9,510,000 after buying an additional 10,084 shares during the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina raised its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 116,793 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $47,033,000 after purchasing an additional 520 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 2,552 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,028,000 after buying an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. DRW Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter valued at $479,000. Finally, Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC now owns 22,141 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $8,916,000 after acquiring an additional 697 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.96% of the company's stock.

Remove Ads

Insider Activity at Vertex Pharmaceuticals

In other Vertex Pharmaceuticals news, EVP Ourania Tatsis sold 244 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $455.06, for a total transaction of $111,034.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 67,695 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,805,286.70. This trade represents a 0.36 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP David Altshuler sold 3,231 shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $500.00, for a total value of $1,615,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,512 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $13,256,000. This trade represents a 10.86 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 4,315 shares of company stock valued at $2,121,012 over the last three months. 0.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Up 2.4 %

Shares of VRTX stock traded up $11.61 during trading on Monday, reaching $495.83. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,362,217 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,326,199. The company has a market cap of $127.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -225.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.50. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a one year low of $377.85 and a one year high of $519.88. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $484.84 and a 200-day moving average price of $464.28. The company has a quick ratio of 2.35, a current ratio of 2.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The pharmaceutical company reported $3.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.99 by ($0.45). Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a negative net margin of 4.86% and a negative return on equity of 2.02%. Analysts anticipate that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 15.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently issued reports on VRTX. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $450.00 to $459.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. William Blair reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $435.00 to $467.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $550.00 target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group upgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating and raised their price target for the stock from $408.00 to $424.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vertex Pharmaceuticals currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $512.41.

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.