Americana Partners LLC Increases Stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Americana Partners LLC increased its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) by 8.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,145 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock after purchasing an additional 897 shares during the period. Americana Partners LLC's holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals were worth $4,891,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Creative Planning raised its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 80,467 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $37,424,000 after buying an additional 1,350 shares during the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. raised its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 34.5% in the 3rd quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 160 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $74,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Good Life Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the 3rd quarter valued at $222,000. Trust Co. of Vermont raised its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 21.5% in the 3rd quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 396 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $184,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 16.2% during the 3rd quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 560 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $260,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. 90.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. William Blair reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America decreased their target price on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $545.00 to $522.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Oppenheimer lowered Vertex Pharmaceuticals from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Citigroup began coverage on Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. They set a "buy" rating and a $575.00 target price for the company. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $550.00 price objective on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $505.57.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Ourania Tatsis sold 310 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $459.83, for a total value of $142,547.30. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 64,021 shares in the company, valued at $29,438,776.43. The trade was a 0.48 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Price Performance

Shares of VRTX traded up $4.89 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $467.00. 531,281 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,513,225. The stock has a market cap of $119.92 billion, a PE ratio of -211.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a current ratio of 2.69, a quick ratio of 2.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $435.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $460.44. 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 issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The pharmaceutical company reported $3.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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 expect that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 15.58 EPS for the current year.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals 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.