Atticus Wealth Management LLC Increases Stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Atticus Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) by 833.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 140 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock after buying an additional 125 shares during the period. Atticus Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals were worth $56,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Dunhill Financial LLC grew its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 70.6% in the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 58 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. 90.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of VRTX opened at $439.62 on Monday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $435.36 and its 200-day moving average price is $464.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a quick ratio of 2.20 and a current ratio of 2.47. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a 52 week low of $377.85 and a 52 week high of $519.88.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The pharmaceutical company reported $4.38 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.61 by $0.77. Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a negative net margin of 4.52% and a negative return on equity of 1.91%. The company had revenue of $2.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.69 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.67 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post -1.9 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on VRTX shares. HC Wainwright cut their price objective on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $600.00 to $535.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 20th. Scotiabank increased their price objective on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $426.00 to $430.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, December 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $503.00 to $500.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 23rd. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $361.00 to $408.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, eighteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $494.84.

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.