Aristotle Atlantic Partners LLC Trims Holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Aristotle Atlantic Partners LLC decreased its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) by 5.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 51,251 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock after selling 2,843 shares during the period. Aristotle Atlantic Partners LLC's holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals were worth $20,639,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of VRTX. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. bought a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter worth $35,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Truvestments Capital LLC grew its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 30.3% during the fourth quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 99 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during the period. Finally, Midwest Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the fourth quarter worth about $41,000. Institutional investors own 90.96% of the company's stock.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Trading Down 10.0 %

NASDAQ:VRTX traded down $50.16 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $450.03. The company's stock had a trading volume of 7,998,848 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,371,270. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $492.42 and a 200-day simple moving average of $466.91. 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 Incorporated has a 1 year low of $377.85 and a 1 year high of $519.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $115.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -204.56, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.51.

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on VRTX shares. HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and set a $550.00 target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Barclays upped their price target on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $435.00 to $467.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $535.00 price objective on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Tuesday. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $555.00 to $567.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $462.00 to $464.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $515.04.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vertex Pharmaceuticals

In related news, EVP Ourania Tatsis sold 530 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $475.34, for a total value of $251,930.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 58,539 shares of the company's stock, valued at $27,825,928.26. This trade represents a 0.90 % 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 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $13,256,000. This represents a 10.86 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 4,315 shares of company stock valued at $2,121,012 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.20% of the company's stock.

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.