Franklin Resources Inc. Reduces Stock Position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated $VRTX

Franklin Resources Inc. trimmed its holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) by 11.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 462,954 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock after selling 60,879 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. owned about 0.18% of Vertex Pharmaceuticals worth $181,311,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Chesapeake Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 110.0% during the 3rd quarter. Chesapeake Asset Management LLC now owns 63 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC raised its stake in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 118.8% in the 3rd quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 70 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Total Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the second quarter worth about $33,000. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 50.9% in the third quarter. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 86 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Y.D. More Investments Ltd raised its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 345.0% during the third quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 89 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.96% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vertex Pharmaceuticals

In other news, EVP Duncan Mckechnie sold 4,910 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $487.65, for a total transaction of $2,394,361.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 17,559 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,562,646.35. This represents a 21.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Charles F. Wagner, Jr. sold 9,532 shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $461.00, for a total transaction of $4,394,252.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 37,725 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,391,225. This represents a 20.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 91,156 shares of company stock valued at $42,845,497. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $590.00 target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a report on Friday, February 13th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $445.00 to $466.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $495.00 to $558.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from $571.00 to $598.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Twenty-three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $553.36.

More Vertex Pharmaceuticals News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Oppenheimer raised its price target to $600, signaling meaningful upside from current levels and adding institutional momentum. Oppenheimer Raises Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) Price Target to $600.00
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America reiterated/issued a bullish view that the stock is positioned to rise, supporting demand from fundamental analysts. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Bank of America Analyst Says
• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup likewise published a positive forecast for VRTX, adding to the cluster of buy-side endorsements. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Citigroup Analyst Says
• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley projected strong price appreciation, further cementing a consensus of elevated analyst expectations. Morgan Stanley Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) Stock
• Positive Sentiment: Truist raised its price target to $525 and kept a buy rating, another near‑term upside signal from a major sell‑side shop. Benzinga
• Positive Sentiment: News reports show the stock recently spiked (up ~9–10%) on an analyst upgrade, indicating momentum-driven buying can be swift. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) Trading 9.9% Higher on Analyst Upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Clinical catalyst: a Vertex drug reduced proteinuria in a Phase III IgA nephropathy trial — a meaningful development that could expand the pipeline and long‑term revenue potential. Vertex drug cuts proteinuria in Phase III IgA nephropathy trial
• Neutral Sentiment: Vertex presented at Barclays’ healthcare conference (transcript available) — useful for detail on pipeline timelines and management guidance but not an immediate price mover by itself. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) Presents at Barclays 28th Annual Global Healthcare Conference Transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage note: articles report a rising biotech weighting/focus in Nasdaq indexes, which can support longer‑term passive demand for VRTX but is not an immediate earnings catalyst. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) Biotech Focus Rises In Nasdaq Index
• Negative Sentiment: Despite the bullish notes, the stock has pulled back and printed a larger intraday decline than the market in recent sessions, reflecting profit‑taking and short‑term volatility. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) Registers a Bigger Fall Than the Market: Important Facts to Note
• Negative Sentiment: Some commentary flagged that while price moves have been strong, recent earnings‑estimate revision trends may limit near‑term follow‑through. Vertex (VRTX) Moves 8.3% Higher: Will This Strength Last?

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Trading Down 2.9%

Shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock opened at $478.13 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $121.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.19, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.31. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a twelve month low of $362.50 and a twelve month high of $519.68. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $469.68 and its 200-day simple moving average is $437.20.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 12th. The pharmaceutical company reported $5.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.05 by ($0.02). Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a net margin of 32.94% and a return on equity of 24.30%. The company had revenue of $3.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.18 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.98 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 15.63 earnings per share for the current year.

About Vertex Pharmaceuticals

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.