339,508 Shares in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) Bought by Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a new stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 339,508 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock, valued at approximately $136,720,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned approximately 0.13% of Vertex Pharmaceuticals at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. acquired a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Truvestments Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 30.3% during the 4th quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 99 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares during the period. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the fourth quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, Midwest Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter worth approximately $41,000. 90.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Down 0.9%

Shares of NASDAQ:VRTX traded down $4.08 on Friday, hitting $443.01. 2,581,676 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,424,504. The company has a market cap of $113.76 billion, a PE ratio of -201.37, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a quick ratio of 2.35, a current ratio of 2.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a 52 week low of $377.85 and a 52 week high of $519.88. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $469.67 and a 200-day simple moving average of $461.14.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly 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). The business had revenue of $2.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.85 billion. Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a negative return on equity of 2.02% and a negative net margin of 4.86%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $4.76 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 15.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP David Altshuler sold 3,231 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were 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 owns 26,512 shares of the company's stock, valued at $13,256,000. The trade was a 10.86% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VRTX has been the topic of a number of research reports. Needham & Company LLC restated a "hold" rating on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $462.00 to $464.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $435.00 to $467.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $460.00 to $520.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group upgraded shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $408.00 to $424.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $515.04.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Company 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.