Virtu Financial LLC Grows Position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Key Points

• Virtu Financial LLC increased its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 20.5%, acquiring an additional 1,543 shares, bringing its total to 9,064 shares valued at approximately $4.39 million.
• Major institutional investors, including GAMMA Investing LLC and Capital World Investors, have significantly boosted their holdings, with GAMMA increasing their position by an astounding 60,572.3%.
• Despite positive earnings results, Vertex Pharmaceuticals shares have seen a 2.4% decrease in value, opening at $366.54, with a 52-week high of $519.88.

Virtu Financial LLC boosted its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) by 20.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,064 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock after buying an additional 1,543 shares during the quarter. Virtu Financial LLC's holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals were worth $4,394,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of VRTX. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 60,572.3% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,425,070 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $1,175,722,000 after buying an additional 2,421,073 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 5.7% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 28,325,695 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $11,406,667,000 after purchasing an additional 1,514,993 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors grew its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 15.8% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,428,951 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $4,199,713,000 after purchasing an additional 1,426,746 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC grew its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 17.2% in the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 5,062,442 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $2,454,373,000 after purchasing an additional 744,680 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 6,487.2% in the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 526,119 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $211,867,000 after purchasing an additional 518,132 shares during the period. 90.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vertex Pharmaceuticals

In other Vertex Pharmaceuticals news, Director Bruce I. Sachs purchased 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 6th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $389.68 per share, with a total value of $1,948,400.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 45,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,535,600. The trade was a 12.50% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on VRTX shares. Erste Group Bank downgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, May 23rd. Wall Street Zen upgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Saturday. Needham & Company LLC restated a "hold" rating on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. William Blair restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Vertex Pharmaceuticals presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $497.10.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Down 2.4%

Shares of NASDAQ VRTX opened at $366.54 on Friday. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a 52 week low of $364.66 and a 52 week high of $519.88. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $450.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $465.77. The company has a market cap of $93.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.20 and a beta of 0.44.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, August 4th. The pharmaceutical company reported $4.52 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.24 by $0.28. Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a return on equity of 23.91% and a net margin of 31.86%. The business had revenue of $2.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.90 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($12.83) EPS. The firm's revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 15.63 EPS for the current year.

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.

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