Capital World Investors Has $11.41 Billion Position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Capital World Investors boosted its position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) by 5.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 28,325,695 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock after buying an additional 1,514,993 shares during the quarter. Vertex Pharmaceuticals makes up 1.7% of Capital World Investors' holdings, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Capital World Investors owned about 11.00% of Vertex Pharmaceuticals worth $11,406,667,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Curi RMB Capital LLC increased its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 8.2% during the fourth quarter. Curi RMB Capital LLC now owns 1,710 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $689,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the period. Forum Financial Management LP lifted its holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,848 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $744,000 after buying an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,755 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,915,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Ltd. CA increased its position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 11.0% during the fourth quarter. Capital International Ltd. CA now owns 110,571 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $44,527,000 after acquiring an additional 10,966 shares during the period. Finally, Commerce Bank raised its stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 16.1% in the fourth quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 8,638 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $3,479,000 after acquiring an additional 1,195 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.96% of the company's stock.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

Shares of VRTX traded down $0.94 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $491.49. The company had a trading volume of 540,742 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,326,401. The firm has a market cap of $126.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -223.69, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a quick ratio of 2.35, a current ratio of 2.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. The business has a fifty day moving average of $488.48 and a 200-day moving average of $465.82. 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 released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The pharmaceutical company reported $3.54 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 anticipate that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 15.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vertex Pharmaceuticals

In other news, EVP David Altshuler sold 3,231 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,512 shares of the company's stock, valued at $13,256,000. This represents a 10.86 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Ourania Tatsis sold 310 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $459.83, for a total value of $142,547.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 64,021 shares in the company, valued at $29,438,776.43. This represents a 0.48 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 4,315 shares of company stock worth $2,121,012. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on VRTX shares. HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and set a $550.00 price objective on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Barclays boosted their target price on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $435.00 to $467.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $408.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Bank of America boosted their price target on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $555.00 to $567.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 31st. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price target on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $460.00 to $520.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note 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. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price 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.