Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock (NASDAQ: VRTX)

Dernières nouvelles pour Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) Stock

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that discovers and develops small-molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases. Its key drugs are Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symdeko, and Trikafta/Kaftrio for cystic fibrosis, where Vertex therapies remain the standard of care globally. Vertex has diversified its portfolio through Casgevy, a gene-editing therapy for beta thalassemia and sickle-cell disease. Additionally, Vertex is evaluating small-molecule inhibitors targeting acute and chronic pain using nonopioid treatments, and small-molecule inhibitors of APOL1-mediated kidney diseases. Vertex is also investigating cell therapies to deliver a potential functional cure for type 1 diabetes.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated - Common Stock

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc

VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS ORD

Raymond James analyst Danielle Brill reinstates Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) with a Market Perform.

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VRTX

Raymond James Reinstates Market Perform on Vertex Pharmaceuticals

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS), has released a Request for Information (RFI) regarding a new initiative to lower prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients.
The Medicare $2 Drug List Model, developed under President Biden&#8217;s Executive Order 14087, seeks to offer certain generic drugs for a fixed copayment of no more than $2 per month.
This initiative targets commonly prescribed drugs for conditions like high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40534249/novo-nordisks-ozempic-might-be-among-2027-medicare-price-negotiation-targets" rel="noreferrer noopener">Novo Nordisk&#8217;s Ozempic Might Be Among 2027 Medicare Price Negotiation Targets</a>.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) has designed the Medicare $2 Drug List Model to test whether simplifying access to affordable, clinically important generics will improve health outcomes, improve medication adherence, and boost overall satisfaction with the Medicare Part D program.
These drugs, which would not be subject to typical utilization management requirements, could be available at all participating pharmacies as early as January 2027.
The initial list of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-takes-next-step-proposed-model-lower-prescription-drug-costs-people" rel="noreferrer noopener">drugs</a> for the $2 Drug List Model has been carefully developed through a rigorous process. It incorporates input from physicians, pharmacists, and health policy experts to ensure that the selected medications address common conditions for Medicare recipients.
The concept of a fixed-cost drug list is not new, with many retail pharmacies already offering generic medications at low, standardized prices.
However, the Medicare $2 Drug List Model will be tailored specifically to Medicare recipients.
Last week,&nbsp;the HHS released final guidance for the second &nbsp;Medicare Drug Price <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care" rel="noreferrer noopener">Negotiation Program cycle</a>.
This initiative&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hhs-releases-final-guidance-second-cycle-historic-medicare-drug-price-negotiation-program" rel="noreferrer noopener">aims</a> to provide lower drug prices starting in 2026 and 2027.
The first round of negotiations focused on ten specific drugs. When the new prices take effect in 2026, Medicare recipients should save approximately $1.5 billion in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/10/41166018/medicare-drug-price-negotiation-program-gets-final-guidance-for-second-cycle-1-5b-savings-expecte" rel="noreferrer noopener">out-of-pocket costs</a>.
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Biden Administration Unveils Plan To Provide Generic Drugs for $2 to Medicare Recipients

RBC Capital analyst Brian Abrahams maintains Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from $425 to $437.

Price Target

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Raises Price Target to $437

Cathie Wood&#8217;s Ark Invest made significant trades in Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Robinhood Markets Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), and Coinbase Global Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>).
The Amazon Trade: Ark Invest purchased 76,505 shares of Amazon, despite recent concerns about the company&#8217;s growth trajectory. The trade was executed through its flagship ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>).
This move came after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41234873/amazon-stock-downgrade-by-wells-fargo-a-bearish-signal-on-growth-concerns">Wells Fargo downgraded</a> Amazon from Overweight to Equal-Weight, citing slowing growth and stiffer competition. The value of this trade, based on the closing price of $182.72, is approximately $13.98 million.
Amazon shares dropped Monday after Wells Fargo downgraded the stock, citing slowing growth and competition. The sell-off was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41216248/amazon-stock-is-sliding-monday-whats-going-on">also fueled</a> by a federal judge&#8217;s ruling allowing the FTC&#8217;s antitrust lawsuit against Amazon to proceed.
The Robinhood Trade: Ark Invest sold a total of 1,421,431 shares of Robinhood across three of its ETFs i.e. ARK Innovation ETF, ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>) and Ark Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>). This decision came despite Robinhood&#8217;s recent announcement of its first investor day and the introduction of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41236863/robinhood-eyes-major-growth-with-new-trading-features-while-coinbase-rides-crypto-s">new trading features</a>. The value of this trade, based on the closing price of $25.61, is approximately $36.4 million.
The Coinbase Trade: Ark Invest bought 12,994 shares of Coinbase through its ARKF ETF. This move aligns with the recent surge in Coinbase shares following the company&#8217;s announcement to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41191796/why-coinbase-global-shares-are-trading-higher-today">adjust its service offerings</a> in response to new European regulatory requirements. The value of this trade, based on the closing price of $167.69, is approximately $2.18 million.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41208397/this-alibaba-analyst-turns-bullish-here-are-top-5-upgrades-for-monday?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This Alibaba Analyst Turns Bullish; Here Are Top 5 Upgrades For Monday</a> 
Other Key Trades:
<ul>
<li>Ark purchased 2,365 shares of Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) through its ARKW ETF. The Meta trade was valued at $1.4 million. On Tuesday, Meta shares closed 1.4% higher at $592.89.</li>
<li>Ark Invest sold shares of Veeva Systems Inc (VEEV) and shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) through its ARKG ETF. It bought shares of Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc (RXRX) and shares of 10X Genomics Inc (TXG). </li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41221351/elon-musks-theory-gains-ground-polymarket-odds-soar-for-nick-szabo-being-named-bitcoin-cre?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk&#8217;s Theory Gains Ground? Polymarket Odds Soar For Nick Szabo Being Named Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto In HBO Documentary</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

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Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Trades: Bets $14M On Amazon Shares — Dumps Robinhood Stock Worth $36M, Embraces Coinbase And Meta

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Olivia Brayer reiterates Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) with a Overweight and maintains $480 price target.

Reiteration

Cantor Fitzgerald Reiterates Overweight on Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Maintains $480 Price Target

Goldman Sachs upgraded its 12-month price target for the S&amp;P 500 index from 5,600 to 6,300, driven by stronger-than-expected corporate earnings heading into the third quarter and robust demand <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">for artificial intelligence technologies. </a>
The revision, outlined in a report led by U.S. equity strategist David Kostin, reflects optimism around earnings-per-share (EPS) growth and margin expansion, particularly in key sectors like technology and healthcare.
The S&amp;P 500, which tracks the largest 500 U.S. corporations through the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), is currently trading less than 1% below its all-time high.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500 Earnings Forecasts Upwardly Revised</h3>
Goldman Sachs now projects the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s earnings per share to rise to $268 in 2025, representing an 11% year-over-year increase. 
&#8220;The primary driver of the upward revision to our 2025 EPS estimate is greater margin expansion,&#8221; analysts wrote. 
This is up from the bank&#8217;s previous estimate of $256, which forecasted just 6% growth. For 2026, the investment bank forecasts further EPS growth to $288, or 7%, continuing a healthy upward trajectory.
For the current year, Goldman Sachs maintains its full-year EPS forecast of $241 for the S&amp;P 500, reflecting an 8% year-over-year growth, consistent with prior guidance.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Year</th>
<th>Goldman Sachs&#8217; S&amp;P 500 EPS Forecast</th>
<th>Growth Rate</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2024</td>
<td>$241</td>
<td>+8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2025</td>
<td>$268</td>
<td>+11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2026</td>
<td>$288</td>
<td>+7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Goldman Sachs' earnings forecasts are supported by steady macroeconomic growth expectations. 
The firm's economists predict that U.S. GDP will grow by 2.3% in 2025, followed by a 2.0% expansion in 2026. 
Despite inflationary pressures, the bank expects companies to maintain pricing power, which should help them offset rising labor and input costs.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">AI and Semiconductor Recovery Boost IT Sector Outlook</h3>
A key driver behind Goldman Sachs' more bullish outlook is the increasing role of AI and the recovery in the semiconductor sector. 
According to the report, semiconductor shipments—excluding memory chips—are currently about 10% below their historical trend. 
As this shortfall reverses, the firm anticipates stronger margins for the industry, contributing approximately $7, or 20%, of the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s EPS growth in 2025.
The investment bank also highlighted the ongoing strength in mega-cap tech firms, such as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>).
These companies have consistently delivered quarterly earnings surprises, with an average beat of 9% over the past four quarters.
Goldman Sachs noted that &#8220;while the magnitude of beats may moderate,&#8221; there is &#8220;strong ongoing AI demand that should benefit these stocks.&#8221;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Margin Expansion To Power 2025 Gains</h3>
Goldman Sachs has revised its expectations for S&amp;P 500 net margin expansion in 2025, now forecasting a 78 basis point increase compared to its earlier estimate of just 24 basis points. This enhanced margin outlook stems largely from a more favorable macroeconomic environment, where input costs are expected to rise at a slower pace than the prices charged by companies, thus widening margins.
One key factor behind the forecasted margin gains is the normalization of certain one-off expenses that have weighed heavily on corporate earnings in 2024. 
For instance, in the healthcare sector, companies like Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>), Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GILD#NASDAQ">GILD</a>), and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) were significantly impacted by high R&amp;D-related charges earlier in the year. 
Goldman Sachs predicts these expenses will moderate in 2025, leading to an $83 boost in healthcare margins alone, contributing to a broader EPS uplift.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Downside, Upside Scenarios And Short-Term Targets</h3>
If economic growth slows more than expected, the S&amp;P 500's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio could compress to 18x, which would imply a price target of 5,400—about 6% lower than current levels. Additionally, uncertainty surrounding U.S. monetary policy and the outcome of the 2024 election could lead to increased market volatility.
On the upside, if the P/E ratio remains stable at 22x, the index could climb to 6,600 in the next 12 months. In a more optimistic scenario, where economic growth remains robust and investor sentiment improves, Goldman Sachs suggests the P/E ratio could rise to 23x, pushing the S&amp;P 500 to 6,900 by year-end 2025.
For the remainder of 2024, Goldman Sachs expects the S&amp;P 500 to experience some volatility as investors weigh the implications of the Federal Reserve&#8217;s policy stance and the upcoming presidential election. 
The bank sees limited downside risks and has set a three-month price target of 6,000 for the index, up from a previous target of 5,600. Over the next six months, Goldman expects the index to reach 6,100.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/10/41191633/us-energy-stocks-notch-biggest-weekly-gains-in-2-years-exxon-hits-record-highs-as">US Energy Stocks Notch Biggest Weekly Gains In 2 Years, Exxon Hits Record Highs As Crude Surges To $75 On Israel-Iran Jitters</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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S&P 500 Could Reach 6,300 In 12 Months, Says Goldman Sachs, Driven By 'Strong AI Demand' And 'Margin Expansion'

RBC Capital analyst Brian Abrahams maintains Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) with a Sector Perform and lowers the price target from $431 to $425.

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Lowers Price Target to $425

15 analysts have expressed a variety of opinions on Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) over the past quarter, offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a snapshot of their recent ratings, showcasing how sentiments have evolved over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets assessed by analysts reveal further insights, featuring an average target of $500.53, a high estimate of $600.00, and a low estimate of $376.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 8.29% from the previous average price target of $462.20.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727784076_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Breaking Down Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Examination</h2>
The standing of Vertex Pharmaceuticals among financial experts becomes clear with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Harrison</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$474.00</td>
<td>$462.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Abrahams</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$431.00</td>
<td>$431.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Fein</td>
<td>HC Wainwright &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$600.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hartaj Singh</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$550.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jessica Fye</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$505.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joon Lee</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$550.00</td>
<td>$508.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gena Wang</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$509.00</td>
<td>$472.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Debjit Chattopadhyay</td>
<td>Guggenheim</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$558.00</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Olivia Brayer</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Christopher Raymond</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$535.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Whitney Ijem</td>
<td>Canaccord Genuity</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sell</td>
<td>$376.00</td>
<td>$371.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Phil Nadeau</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Olivia Brayer</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
<td>$440.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Fein</td>
<td>HC Wainwright &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$462.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Harrison</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$455.00</td>
<td>$402.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Vertex Pharmaceuticals. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of Vertex Pharmaceuticals compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for Vertex Pharmaceuticals's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations.</li>
</ul>
To gain a panoramic view of Vertex Pharmaceuticals's market performance, explore these analyst evaluations alongside essential financial indicators. Stay informed and make judicious decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VRTX/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Vertex Pharmaceuticals analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About Vertex Pharmaceuticals</h2>
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that discovers and develops small-molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases. Its key drugs are Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symdeko, and Trikafta/Kaftrio for cystic fibrosis, where Vertex therapies remain the standard of care globally. Vertex has diversified its portfolio through Casgevy, a gene-editing therapy for beta thalassemia and sickle-cell disease. Additionally, Vertex is evaluating small-molecule inhibitors targeting acute and chronic pain using nonopioid treatments, and small-molecule inhibitors of APOL1-mediated kidney diseases. Vertex is also investigating cell therapies to deliver a potential functional cure for type 1 diabetes.
<h3>Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Delving into Financials</h3>
Market Capitalization: Boasting an elevated market capitalization, the company surpasses industry averages. This signals substantial size and strong market recognition.
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Vertex Pharmaceuticals's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 6.11% as of 30 June, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Health Care sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of -135.83%, the company may need to address challenges in effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): Vertex Pharmaceuticals's ROE is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of -21.57%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.
Return on Assets (ROA): Vertex Pharmaceuticals's ROA is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of -16.32%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, Vertex Pharmaceuticals adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>The Significance of Analyst Ratings Explained</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/turning-point-trader-checkout-2/?t=Tu1tu3arja3be22tu36&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for urgent details</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

What Analysts Are Saying About Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock

Morgan Stanley analyst Matthew Harrison maintains Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $462 to $474.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight on Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Raises Price Target to $474

Vertex Announces Health Canada Acceptance Of New Drug Submission For Vanzacaftor/Tezacaftor/Deutivacaftor Triple Combination Treatment For Cystic Fibrosis

Health Canada Approves CASGEVY (Exagamglogene Autotemcel), The First CRISPR/Cas9 Gene-Edited Therapy, For Treatment Of Sickle Cell Disease And Transfusion-Dependent Beta Thalassemia In Patients 12 And Older

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 6.9% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 18.94%. Currently, Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a market capitalization of $119.59 billion. 
Buying $100 In VRTX: If an investor had bought $100 of VRTX stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $1,217.85 today based on a price of $463.36 for VRTX at the time of writing.
<h3>Vertex Pharmaceuticals's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727276412_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Trading Ideas

If You Invested $100 In This Stock 15 Years Ago, You Would Have $1,200 Today

16 analysts have expressed a variety of opinions on Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) over the past quarter, offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
In the table below, you'll find a summary of their recent ratings, revealing the shifting sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the previous months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets, analyzed by analysts, offer insights with an average target of $508.38, a high estimate of $600.00, and a low estimate of $376.00. Surpassing the previous average price target of $467.40, the current average has increased by 8.77%.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726772730_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Deciphering Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Analysis</h2>
The analysis of recent analyst actions sheds light on the perception of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by financial experts. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Brian Abrahams</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$431.00</td>
<td>$431.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Fein</td>
<td>HC Wainwright &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$600.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hartaj Singh</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$550.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jessica Fye</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$505.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joon Lee</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$550.00</td>
<td>$508.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gena Wang</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$509.00</td>
<td>$472.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Debjit Chattopadhyay</td>
<td>Guggenheim</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$558.00</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Olivia Brayer</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Christopher Raymond</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$535.00</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Whitney Ijem</td>
<td>Canaccord Genuity</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sell</td>
<td>$376.00</td>
<td>$371.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Phil Nadeau</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Olivia Brayer</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
<td>$440.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Fein</td>
<td>HC Wainwright &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$462.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Harrison</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$455.00</td>
<td>$402.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steve Chesney</td>
<td>Redburn Atlantic</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$545.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mohit Bansal</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$555.00</td>
<td>$540.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Vertex Pharmaceuticals. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Offering insights into predictions, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Vertex Pharmaceuticals compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts navigate through adjustments in price targets, providing estimates for Vertex Pharmaceuticals's future value. Comparing current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
For valuable insights into Vertex Pharmaceuticals's market performance, consider these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators. Stay well-informed and make prudent decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VRTX/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Vertex Pharmaceuticals analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering Vertex Pharmaceuticals: A Closer Look</h2>
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that discovers and develops small-molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases. Its key drugs are Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symdeko, and Trikafta/Kaftrio for cystic fibrosis, where Vertex therapies remain the standard of care globally. Vertex has diversified its portfolio through Casgevy, a gene-editing therapy for beta thalassemia and sickle-cell disease. Additionally, Vertex is evaluating small-molecule inhibitors targeting acute and chronic pain using nonopioid treatments, and small-molecule inhibitors of APOL1-mediated kidney diseases. Vertex is also investigating cell therapies to deliver a potential functional cure for type 1 diabetes.
<h3>Vertex Pharmaceuticals's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Above industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization emphasizes a noteworthy size, indicative of a strong market presence.
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Vertex Pharmaceuticals's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 6.11% as of 30 June, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Health Care sector.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of -135.83%, the company may need to address challenges in effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): Vertex Pharmaceuticals's ROE is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of -21.57%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.
Return on Assets (ROA): Vertex Pharmaceuticals's ROA is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of -16.32%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.
Debt Management: Vertex Pharmaceuticals's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 0.06.
<h2>The Core of Analyst Ratings: What Every Investor Should Know</h2>
Within the domain of banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their work involves attending company conference calls and meetings, researching company financial statements, and communicating with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/turning-point-trader-checkout-2/?t=Tu1tu3arja3be22tu36&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for urgent details</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Demystifying Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Insights From 16 Analyst Reviews

RBC Capital analyst Brian Abrahams reiterates Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) with a Sector Perform and maintains $431 price target.

RBC Capital Reiterates Sector Perform on Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Maintains $431 Price Target

Vertex Pharmaceuticals's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NYSE">VRTX</a>) short percent of float has fallen 13.71% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 4.38 million shares sold short, which is 1.7% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.31 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Vertex Pharmaceuticals Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726689614_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Vertex Pharmaceuticals has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Vertex Pharmaceuticals's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Vertex Pharmaceuticals's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 6.15%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Looking Into Vertex Pharmaceuticals's Recent Short Interest

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 13.03% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 21.14%. Currently, Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a market capitalization of $120.74 billion. 
Buying $100 In VRTX: If an investor had bought $100 of VRTX stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $4,331.39 today based on a price of $467.79 for VRTX at the time of writing.
<h3>Vertex Pharmaceuticals's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725645628_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock In The Last 20 Years

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Our analysis of options history for Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) revealed 9 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 55% of traders were bullish, while 33% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 6 were puts, with a value of $415,070, and 3 were calls, valued at $343,350.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $480.0 to $500.0 for Vertex Pharmaceuticals over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Vertex Pharmaceuticals's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Vertex Pharmaceuticals's significant trades, within a strike price range of $480.0 to $500.0, over the past month.
<h3>Vertex Pharmaceuticals Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1724958965_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$30.6</td>
<td>$29.5</td>
<td>$29.5</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$200.6K</td>
<td>42</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">115</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$34.0</td>
<td>$33.1</td>
<td>$34.0</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$170.0K</td>
<td>464</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$14.7</td>
<td>$14.3</td>
<td>$14.3</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$143.0K</td>
<td>392</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$30.6</td>
<td>$29.6</td>
<td>$29.7</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$74.2K</td>
<td>42</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$22.9</td>
<td>$21.5</td>
<td>$22.9</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
<td>$41.2K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">28</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Vertex Pharmaceuticals</h3>
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that discovers and develops small-molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases. Its key drugs are Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symdeko, and Trikafta/Kaftrio for cystic fibrosis, where Vertex therapies remain the standard of care globally. Vertex has diversified its portfolio through Casgevy, a gene-editing therapy for beta thalassemia and sickle-cell disease. Additionally, Vertex is evaluating small-molecule inhibitors targeting acute and chronic pain using nonopioid treatments, and small-molecule inhibitors of APOL1-mediated kidney diseases. Vertex is also investigating cell therapies to deliver a potential functional cure for type 1 diabetes.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of Vertex Pharmaceuticals</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 403,820, the price of VRTX is up 0.54% at $492.36. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 67 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Vertex Pharmaceuticals</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $537.8.
<ul>
<li>Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald lowers its rating to Overweight with a new price target of $480.</li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from HC Wainwright &amp; Co. continues to hold a Buy rating for Vertex Pharmaceuticals, targeting a price of $600. </li>
<li>Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Barclays lowers its rating to Equal-Weight with a new price target of $509.</li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Oppenheimer keeps a Outperform rating on Vertex Pharmaceuticals with a target price of $550. </li>
<li>An analyst from Truist Securities has revised its rating downward to Buy, adjusting the price target to $550. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Vertex Pharmaceuticals options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

Vertex Pharmaceuticals's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

On CNBC's &#8220;Mad Money Lightning Round,&#8221; Jim Cramer said Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40138336/vertex-pharmaceuticals-lifts-annual-guidance-positive-growth-for-its-cystic-fibrosi">is &#8220;great.&#8221;</a>
On Aug. 1, Vertex Pharmaceuticals reported second-quarter revenues of $2.65 billion, almost in line with the consensus of estimate of $2.66 billion. Vertex raised its 2024 product revenue guidance from $10.55 billion-$10.75 billion to $10.65 billion-$10.85 billion.
When asked about Serve Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SERV#NASDAQ">SERV</a>), he said, &#8220;We're not recommending companies that lose a ton of money because it's just not the right time.&#8221;
On Aug. 28, Serve Robotics announced closing of $20 million private placement &amp; warrant exercise.
Builders FirstSource, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLDR#NYSE">BLDR</a>) can &#8220;go higher,&#8221; Cramer said, &#8220;This is precisely the kind of stock you should be buying at this stage in the cycle. Hold on.&#8221;
On Aug. 6, Builders FirstSource reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $3.50, beating the street view of $3.02. Quarterly sales of $4.456 billion missed the street view of $4.483 billion.
&#8220;Here's the problem: it costs so much money to build the factories, they're going to have to get a takeover to be able to do that,&#8221; Cramer said about Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>).
On July 24, Viking Therapeutics reported better-than-expected second-quarter EPS results.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Serve Robotics shares fell 1.3% to settle at $9.35 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>Builders FirstSource shares fell 1% to close at $172.90.</li>
<li>Vertex Pharmaceuticals shares gained 2% to close at $489.73.</li>
<li>Viking Therapeutics shares fell 0.4% to settle at $61.16 on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40600017/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-spotlight-on-3-materials-stocks-delivering-high-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Spotlight On 3 Materials Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>

BLDR

SERV

VKTX

Jim Cramer: 'Hold On' To Builders FirstSource, 'Here's The Problem' With Viking Therapeutics

Vertex Pharmaceuticals's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NYSE">VRTX</a>) short percent of float has risen 23.12% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 5.08 million shares sold short, which is 1.97% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.66 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Vertex Pharmaceuticals Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1724777111_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Vertex Pharmaceuticals has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Vertex Pharmaceuticals's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Vertex Pharmaceuticals's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 6.40%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

High-rolling investors have positioned themselves bearish on Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>), and it's important for retail traders to take note. 
\This activity came to our attention today through Benzinga's tracking of publicly available options data. The identities of these investors are uncertain, but such a significant move in VRTX often signals that someone has privileged information.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 12 options trades for Vertex Pharmaceuticals. This is not a typical pattern.
The sentiment among these major traders is split, with 8% bullish and 83% bearish. Among all the options we identified, there was one put, amounting to $55,692, and 11 calls, totaling $435,054.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $485.0 to $510.0 for Vertex Pharmaceuticals over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Vertex Pharmaceuticals's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Vertex Pharmaceuticals's whale trades within a strike price range from $485.0 to $510.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Vertex Pharmaceuticals Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1724436306_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>08/30/24</td>
<td>$4.4</td>
<td>$4.3</td>
<td>$4.4</td>
<td>$485.00</td>
<td>$55.6K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">150</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$24.8</td>
<td>$24.0</td>
<td>$24.0</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$48.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">118</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">138</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$24.4</td>
<td>$23.7</td>
<td>$23.8</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$47.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">118</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$25.1</td>
<td>$24.3</td>
<td>$24.5</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$44.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">118</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$24.8</td>
<td>$24.1</td>
<td>$24.1</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$43.3K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">118</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">156</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Vertex Pharmaceuticals</h3>
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that discovers and develops small-molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases. Its key drugs are Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symdeko, and Trikafta/Kaftrio for cystic fibrosis, where Vertex therapies remain the standard of care globally. Vertex has diversified its portfolio through Casgevy, a gene-editing therapy for beta thalassemia and sickle-cell disease. Additionally, Vertex is evaluating small-molecule inhibitors targeting acute and chronic pain using nonopioid treatments, and small-molecule inhibitors of APOL1-mediated kidney diseases. Vertex is also investigating cell therapies to deliver a potential functional cure for type 1 diabetes.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Vertex Pharmaceuticals</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 284,458, the price of VRTX is up 0.65% at $482.99. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 73 days.</li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Vertex Pharmaceuticals, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in Vertex Pharmaceuticals

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Vertex Announces Health Canada Acceptance of New Drug Submission for Vanzacaftor/Tezacaftor/Deutivacaftor, a Next-in-Class Triple Combination Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis

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