Erste Group Bank Analysts Lower Earnings Estimates for VRTX

Key Points

• Erste Group Bank slightly lowered Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ FY2026 EPS forecast to $16.65 from $16.68, below the $16.75 consensus estimate, while projecting FY2027 EPS of $18.97.
• Vertex’s latest quarterly results narrowly missed EPS expectations at $4.73 versus $4.74, but revenue reached $3.33 billion, up 12.5% year over year and above estimates.
• Despite the modest estimate cut, analyst sentiment remains positive: Vertex has a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating, a $579.81 average price target, and institutional investors own approximately 90.96% of its shares.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) - Equities researchers at Erste Group Bank reduced their FY2026 EPS estimates for shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note issued on Wednesday, October 21st. Erste Group Bank analyst H. Engel now forecasts that the pharmaceutical company will post earnings of $16.65 per share for the year, down from their previous forecast of $16.68. The consensus estimate for Vertex Pharmaceuticals' current full-year earnings is $16.75 per share. Erste Group Bank also issued estimates for Vertex Pharmaceuticals' FY2027 earnings at $18.97 EPS.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The pharmaceutical company reported $4.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.74 by ($0.01). Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a return on equity of 23.09% and a net margin of 35.00%. The company had revenue of $3.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.23 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $4.52 earnings per share. Vertex Pharmaceuticals's revenue for the quarter was up 12.5% compared to the same quarter last year.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $585.00 to $615.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, September 28th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, October 17th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $436.00 to $442.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised Vertex Pharmaceuticals to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group lifted their target price on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $555.00 to $556.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have given a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $579.81.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Trading Up 2.0%

Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock opened at $535.17 on Friday. Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a 52 week low of $403.16 and a 52 week high of $560.25. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $523.15 and a 200 day moving average price of $482.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $135.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.15, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.28.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vertex Pharmaceuticals

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

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.

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