Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) Upgraded by Leerink Partnrs to Strong-Buy Rating

Key Points

• Vertex Pharmaceuticals has been upgraded from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating by Leerink Partnrs, with estimates for Q4 2025 earnings set at $4.67 EPS.
• The stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with a consensus price target of approximately $493.81, according to MarketBeat data.
• Insider activity includes Director Bruce I. Sachs acquiring 5,000 shares at an average price of $389.68, increasing his total holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX - Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Leerink Partnrs from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a note issued to investors on Thursday,Zacks.com reports. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Q4 2025 earnings at $4.67 EPS.

Several other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets set a $530.00 price target on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. HC Wainwright decreased their price target on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $550.00 to $478.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $494.00 to $455.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. Finally, Scotiabank dropped their price objective on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $442.00 to $438.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Vertex Pharmaceuticals presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $493.81.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of NASDAQ:VRTX opened at $381.87 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $407.48 and a 200 day simple moving average of $447.31. The firm has a market cap of $97.91 billion, a PE ratio of 27.30 and a beta of 0.44. Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a 12-month low of $362.50 and a 12-month high of $519.88.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly 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 net margin of 31.86% and a return on equity of 23.91%. The business had revenue of $2.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.90 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($12.83) earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. Vertex Pharmaceuticals has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Vertex Pharmaceuticals will post 15.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other Vertex Pharmaceuticals news, Director Bruce I. Sachs acquired 5,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 6th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $389.68 per share, for a total transaction of $1,948,400.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 45,000 shares in the company, valued at $17,535,600. This trade represents a 12.50% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.20% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Reynders McVeigh Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Reynders McVeigh Capital Management LLC now owns 54,310 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $24,179,000 after acquiring an additional 974 shares during the last quarter. Total Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Centaurus Financial Inc. boosted its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 2,372 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,056,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC increased its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 18.5% during the 2nd quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 11,341 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $5,049,000 after purchasing an additional 1,768 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Provident Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Provident Investment Management Inc. now owns 158,707 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $70,656,000 after buying an additional 2,382 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.96% of the company's stock.

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.

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