Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Lowers Position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH cut its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) by 9.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 306,461 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock after selling 33,047 shares during the period. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned about 0.12% of Vertex Pharmaceuticals worth $148,578,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in VRTX. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Minot DeBlois Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 45.5% in the 4th quarter. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 112 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SJS Investment Consulting Inc. lifted its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 46.2% in the 1st quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 95 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. 90.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Down 0.9%

VRTX stock traded down $4.41 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $467.86. The company's stock had a trading volume of 405,596 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,515,603. The firm has a market capitalization of $120.15 billion, a P/E ratio of -119.35 and a beta of 0.41. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $452.51 and a 200-day simple moving average of $464.26. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a 52-week low of $377.85 and a 52-week high of $519.88. The company has a quick ratio of 2.29, a current ratio of 2.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 company had revenue of $2.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.85 billion. Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a negative return on equity of 3.36% and a negative net margin of 8.91%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $4.76 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 15.63 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Scotiabank dropped their price target on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $450.00 to $442.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Leerink Partners reiterated a "market perform" rating and set a $503.00 price objective (down previously from $550.00) on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Wolfe Research downgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Finally, Erste Group Bank downgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned 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 a consensus price target of $512.30.

About Vertex Pharmaceuticals

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.