Algert Global LLC Acquires New Position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Algert Global LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 7,177 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock, valued at approximately $2,890,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 7.7% during the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 2,015,523 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $811,635,000 after purchasing an additional 143,713 shares during the last quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 2,212.4% during the 4th quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 77,535 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $31,223,000 after buying an additional 74,182 shares during the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 18.4% during the 4th quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 22,168 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $8,927,000 after buying an additional 3,452 shares during the period. 1248 Management LLC acquired a new position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter valued at about $832,000. Finally, Westbourne Investments Inc. bought a new position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,331,000. Institutional investors own 90.96% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vertex Pharmaceuticals

In other news, EVP Ourania Tatsis sold 310 shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 64,021 shares in the company, valued at approximately $29,438,776.43. The trade was a 0.48 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP David Altshuler sold 3,231 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,512 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,256,000. The trade was a 10.86 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 4,315 shares of company stock worth $2,121,012 over the last ninety days. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Trading Down 1.0 %

NASDAQ VRTX traded down $4.30 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $425.30. 1,641,219 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,391,132. The firm has a market cap of $109.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -193.32, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.51. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $488.74 and a 200 day simple moving average of $465.87. The company has a current ratio of 2.69, a quick ratio of 2.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a 1-year low of $377.85 and a 1-year high of $519.88.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The pharmaceutical company reported $4.06 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.29 by ($0.23). The firm had revenue of $2.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.85 billion. Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a negative return on equity of 2.02% and a negative net margin of 4.86%. Vertex Pharmaceuticals's quarterly revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $4.76 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 15.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on VRTX shares. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. StockNews.com upgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Leerink Partners reissued a "market perform" rating and issued a $503.00 target price (down previously from $550.00) on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Canaccord Genuity Group upgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $408.00 to $424.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $512.00 to $515.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Thirteen equities research 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Vertex Pharmaceuticals presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $515.04.

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.