Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated $VRTX Stock: Sepio Capital LP Decreases Holdings

Sepio Capital LP decreased its position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) by 15.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 7,277 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock after selling 1,346 shares during the quarter. Sepio Capital LP’s holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals were worth $3,805,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Community Financial Services Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 103.7% during the 2nd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 55 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the last quarter. Pingora Partners LLC acquired a new position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the second quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, City Holding Co. increased its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 128.1% during the second quarter. City Holding Co. now owns 73 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.96% of the company’s stock.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Up 2.0%

Shares of NASDAQ:VRTX opened at $535.17 on Friday. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $403.16 and a fifty-two week high of $560.25. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $523.15 and its 200-day simple moving average is $482.96. The company has a market cap of $135.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.15, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.28.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The pharmaceutical company reported $4.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.74 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $3.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.23 billion. Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a return on equity of 23.09% and a net margin of 35.00%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $4.52 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 16.75 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $560.00 price objective (up from $515.00) on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Friday, September 11th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, September 1st. They set an “overweight” rating and a $665.00 target price on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $653.00 target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 1st. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $585.00 to $615.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, September 28th. Finally, Leerink Partners started coverage on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Monday, September 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $594.00 price target for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $579.81.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Company Profile

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is a global biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing medicines for serious diseases. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the company applies expertise in the science of human disease to discover therapies that address significant unmet medical needs.

Vertex is best known for its cystic fibrosis portfolio, which includes Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symdeko/Symkevi, and Trikafta/Kaftrio. These medicines target the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis for patients with specific mutations in the CFTR gene.