Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) Cut to “Hold” at Wall Street Zen

by · The Cerbat Gem

Wall Street Zen cut shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX – Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Saturday morning,Wall Street Zen reports.

Several other equities analysts have also commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Friday, October 16th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, September 1st. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $665.00 target price for the company. Rothschild & Co Redburn upped their price target on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $570.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $653.00 price target on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 1st. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group increased their price target on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $555.00 to $556.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have issued a Buy rating and three have assigned 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.

Read Our Latest Report on VRTX

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

VRTX opened at $553.15 on Friday. Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a 52-week low of $403.16 and a 52-week high of $568.67. The firm has a market cap of $140.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.28. The business’s fifty day moving average is $523.32 and its 200-day moving average is $479.96.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 2nd. The pharmaceutical company reported $4.76 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.82 by ($0.06). Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a net margin of 35.00% and a return on equity of 23.09%. The company had revenue of $3.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.42 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.80 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Vertex Pharmaceuticals will post 16.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of VRTX. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the second quarter valued at $11,975,849,000. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 1.2% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 11,871,459 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $5,896,910,000 after purchasing an additional 141,320 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,247,658 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,613,209,000 after purchasing an additional 35,069 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 3,086,683 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,533,248,000 after purchasing an additional 29,287 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 2nd quarter worth about $1,509,651,000. 90.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Here are the key news stories impacting Vertex Pharmaceuticals this week:

  • Positive Sentiment: Third-quarter revenue rose 11.8% year over year to $3.44 billion, exceeding the $3.42 billion consensus estimate. Growth was supported by continued momentum in the cystic fibrosis franchise, including the transition from Trikafta to Alyftrek. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Q3 2026 sales top estimates
  • Positive Sentiment: Vertex raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance, citing broad growth across its increasingly diversified portfolio. Management also highlighted progress in the research pipeline and the completed acquisition of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, which adds potential growth opportunities in endocrine and rare diseases. Vertex Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results
  • Neutral Sentiment: Vertex is positioning nephrology as its next major commercial franchise, while continued investment in new launches and the Crinetics transaction is intended to broaden the company beyond cystic fibrosis. Vertex Q3 2026 earnings and nephrology outlook
  • Negative Sentiment: Adjusted earnings of $4.76 per share missed analyst estimates ranging from $4.82 to $4.92 and declined from $4.80 a year earlier. Heavy investment in upcoming launches and acquisition-related costs limited profit growth despite higher sales. Vertex misses Q3 earnings estimates
  • Negative Sentiment: The guidance increase appeared modest relative to some market expectations, contributing to the stock’s negative reaction even though Vertex raised its revenue outlook. Vertex mixed third-quarter report and guidance

About Vertex Pharmaceuticals

(Get Free Report)

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.

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