Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky Has $25.39 Million Holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky reduced its holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) by 34.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 63,057 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock after selling 33,779 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky's holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals were worth $25,393,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of VRTX. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 188.7% during the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 20,680 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $8,328,000 after purchasing an additional 13,516 shares during the period. Thematics Asset Management purchased a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter worth approximately $62,000. Transce3nd LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter valued at $50,000. Mirabella Financial Services LLP purchased a new position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter valued at $4,501,000. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 73,884 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $29,753,000 after acquiring an additional 873 shares during the last quarter. 90.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

Shares of VRTX traded up $1.37 on Friday, reaching $493.84. 1,561,491 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,334,761. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $489.78 and its 200-day moving average price is $466.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 2.69 and a quick ratio of 2.35. The firm has a market cap of $126.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -224.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.50. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a 12 month low of $377.85 and a 12 month high of $519.88.

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%. Equities analysts forecast that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 15.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently issued reports on VRTX shares. HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and set a $550.00 price objective on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Scotiabank increased their price objective on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $433.00 to $450.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $408.00 to $420.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Needham & Company LLC reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $460.00 to $520.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $514.91.

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.