Capital World Investors Has $10.15 Billion Stock Holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated $VRTX

Capital World Investors lessened its holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) by 9.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 25,910,587 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock after selling 2,821,556 shares during the period. Vertex Pharmaceuticals comprises 1.4% of Capital World Investors’ investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. Capital World Investors owned 10.21% of Vertex Pharmaceuticals worth $10,147,738,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in VRTX. Hohimer Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 1.2% during the second quarter. Hohimer Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,123 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $945,000 after buying an additional 26 shares during the period. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 1.8% in the third quarter. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC now owns 1,442 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $565,000 after acquiring an additional 26 shares during the period. Quent Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 5.5% during the third quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 501 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $196,000 after buying an additional 26 shares during the period. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 8.0% in the 3rd quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 349 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $137,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Defined Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 3.0% in the third quarter. Defined Wealth Management LLC now owns 932 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $365,000 after buying an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. 90.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Vertex Pharmaceuticals this week:

• Positive Sentiment: RAINIER Phase 3 interim analysis met the primary endpoint and all secondary endpoints at Week 36, with treated patients showing the intended benefit versus placebo — a major validation step for povetacicept in IgA nephropathy. Vertex Announces Positive Week 36 Interim Analysis Results (BusinessWire)
• Positive Sentiment: Management plans an FDA filing for povetacicept by March, accelerating the regulatory timeline and shortening the path to potential commercialization if final data and review go smoothly. Vertex Stock Surges After Positive Kidney Disease Trial Results (Blockonomi)
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts have reiterated and strengthened bullish views — William Blair’s Myles Minter reiterated a Buy and highlighted increased confidence in povetacicept’s commercial potential, supporting upside to consensus models. Analyst Confidence Boosts Buy Thesis (TipRanks)
• Positive Sentiment: Market reaction: shares rallied in extended trading after the release; coverage notes the asset was acquired in a prior multibillion-dollar deal and is viewed as having “best‑in‑class” potential in a competitive kidney disease market. Vertex Kidney Drug Hits Mark in Late-Stage Study (BioPharmaDive)
• Neutral Sentiment: The result cited is an interim analysis of an ongoing trial — final RAINIER readout, full safety dataset, and regulatory review still lie ahead, so approval and peak sales remain subject to execution and FDA assessment. Press Release / Interim Analysis Details (Yahoo Finance)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock opened at $460.87 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $117.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.06 and a beta of 0.31. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a 52 week low of $362.50 and a 52 week high of $519.68. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $467.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is $435.79.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The pharmaceutical company reported $5.03 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.05 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $3.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.18 billion. Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a return on equity of 24.30% and a net margin of 32.94%.The company’s revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.98 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 15.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. UBS Group lifted their price target on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $535.00 to $545.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $577.00 price target on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $570.00 target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $460.00 to $515.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price objective on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $546.00 to $541.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vertex Pharmaceuticals presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $542.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Duncan Mckechnie sold 4,910 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $487.65, for a total value of $2,394,361.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 17,559 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,562,646.35. This represents a 21.85% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Ourania Tatsis sold 260 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $486.35, for a total value of $126,451.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 46,763 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,743,185.05. The trade was a 0.55% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 91,156 shares of company stock valued at $42,845,497 over the last quarter. 0.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Profile

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc is a Boston-based biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapies for serious diseases. Founded in 1989, Vertex built its reputation on research-driven drug development and is best known for its work in cystic fibrosis (CF), where its portfolio of small-molecule CFTR modulators transformed standards of care for many people with the disease. The company operates research and development, manufacturing and commercial organizations and serves patients and healthcare systems in multiple international markets.

Vertex’s marketed products center on CFTR modulators that target the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis rather than just treating symptoms.