Zacks Research Brokers Increase Earnings Estimates for VRTX

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) - Equities researchers at Zacks Research boosted their Q1 2027 earnings estimates for Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a report released on Wednesday, April 23rd. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the pharmaceutical company will earn $4.24 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $4.23. The consensus estimate for Vertex Pharmaceuticals' current full-year earnings is $15.63 per share.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The pharmaceutical company reported $3.54 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.99 by ($0.45). Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a negative return on equity of 2.02% and a negative net margin of 4.86%.

VRTX has been the topic of a number of other reports. StockNews.com upgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $535.00 to $533.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $535.00 price objective on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. BMO Capital Markets set a $545.00 target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $460.00 to $520.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research 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 stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $514.91.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of VRTX stock traded up $2.65 on Friday, hitting $496.49. 1,503,332 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,338,045. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a quick ratio of 2.35 and a current ratio of 2.69. Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a twelve month low of $377.85 and a twelve month high of $519.88. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $489.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $466.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $127.49 billion, a PE ratio of -225.68, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.50.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the fourth quarter valued at about $35,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Truvestments Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 30.3% during the 4th quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 99 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. 90.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Vertex Pharmaceuticals

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.