Zacks Research Has Positive Estimate for VRTX Q1 Earnings

Key Points

• Investment analysts at Zacks Research have increased their Q1 2026 earnings estimate for Vertex Pharmaceuticals, expecting earnings of $3.96 per share, up from a previous forecast of $3.94.
• Vertex's stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with a target price averaging $496.05, indicating positive investor sentiment despite recent price target adjustments by other firms.
• In insider trading, director Bruce I. Sachs increased his stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by acquiring 5,000 shares at approximately $389.68 each, reflecting confidence in the company's future performance.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX - Free Report) - Zacks Research lifted their Q1 2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, September 19th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the pharmaceutical company will post earnings of $3.96 per share for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $3.94. The consensus estimate for Vertex Pharmaceuticals' current full-year earnings is $15.63 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Q2 2027 earnings at $4.60 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $18.64 EPS.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 4th. The pharmaceutical company reported $4.52 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $4.24 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $2.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.90 billion. Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a return on equity of 23.91% and a net margin of 31.86%.The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($12.83) EPS. Vertex Pharmaceuticals has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS.

VRTX has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their price objective on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $535.00 to $485.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. UBS Group set a $553.00 price objective on Vertex Pharmaceuticals and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $515.00 to $517.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. Truist Financial set a $490.00 price objective on Vertex Pharmaceuticals and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and thirteen have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vertex Pharmaceuticals presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $496.05.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ VRTX traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $383.13. 1,469,577 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,490,884. The stock has a market cap of $98.23 billion, a PE ratio of 25.32 and a beta of 0.44. The company's fifty day moving average is $414.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $449.84. Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a fifty-two week low of $362.50 and a fifty-two week high of $519.88.

Insider Activity at Vertex Pharmaceuticals

In related news, Director Bruce I. Sachs bought 5,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 6th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $389.68 per share, for a total transaction of $1,948,400.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 45,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at $17,535,600. This represents a 12.50% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of VRTX. Activest Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd increased its holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 450.0% during the 1st quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 55 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Access Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Institutional investors 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.