Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. Has $11.20 Million Holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. grew its holdings in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) by 4.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 27,822 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock after buying an additional 1,182 shares during the quarter. Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P.’s holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals were worth $11,204,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quest Partners LLC grew its stake in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 3,856.6% in the 3rd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 3,284 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,527,000 after buying an additional 3,201 shares during the last quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 21.9% in the third quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC now owns 830 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $386,000 after buying an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 5.5% during the third quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 40,653 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $18,907,000 after purchasing an additional 2,112 shares during the period. Prospera Financial Services Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 430.0% during the third quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 13,498 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $6,278,000 after purchasing an additional 10,951 shares during the period. Finally, Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals by 96.3% during the third quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 997 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $464,000 after purchasing an additional 489 shares during the period. 90.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on VRTX shares. William Blair reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. HC Wainwright reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $550.00 target price on shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Oppenheimer cut shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and set a $460.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $506.70.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of VRTX stock opened at $512.52 on Thursday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $464.06 and its 200 day moving average price is $462.31. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has a 1-year low of $377.85 and a 1-year high of $519.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $131.61 billion, a PE ratio of -232.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 2.69 and a quick ratio of 2.35.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The pharmaceutical company reported $3.54 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.99 by ($0.45). Vertex Pharmaceuticals had a negative return on equity of 2.02% and a negative net margin of 4.86%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will post 15.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Vertex Pharmaceuticals news, EVP David Altshuler sold 3,231 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $500.00, for a total transaction of $1,615,500.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,512 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $13,256,000. This trade represents a 10.86 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Ourania Tatsis sold 244 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $455.06, for a total value of $111,034.64. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 67,695 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,805,286.70. This trade represents a 0.36 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 4,315 shares of company stock worth $2,121,012 over the last three months. 0.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals 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.