Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc logo

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc(VRTX)

upturn advisory logo
EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
2-STAR RATING
WEAK BUY
BUY for 80 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+11.13% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$510.08
10/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for VRTX

10/09/2026: VRTX (2-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a focused biotechnology leader primarily recognized for its portfolio of treatments for cystic fibrosis. The company utilizes a research-driven approach to develop specialty medicines, successfully translating scientific innovation into sustained revenue. Its primary investment story hinges on expanding beyond cystic fibrosis into new specialty markets, including gene editing and treatment for pain and kidney disease. Key risks include heavy reliance on a single therapeutic franchise, execution challenges in new markets, and regulatory pressure on drug pricing. Vertex may best suit growth-oriented investors who can tolerate biotech-specific volatility, with stakeholders encouraged to monitor clinical trial readouts and new product commercialization progress.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitVertex has a track record of growth driven by successful R&D and market penetration in niche therapeutic areas.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum appeal depends on positive clinical trial readouts and regulatory catalysts.
Value investorWeak fitThe stock often trades at a premium multiple reflecting its growth prospects rather than traditional value metrics.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not pay a dividend and focuses entirely on reinvestment.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile established, biotechnology carries inherent clinical and regulatory risks.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highBiotech stocks often react sharply to clinical data releases and regulatory decisions.
Valuation riskMediumThe share price assumes continued success in clinical pipeline execution.
Competition risk (Gene therapy/Specialty)MediumSuccess attracts competitors to the same genetic and specialty disease indications.
Business qualityStrongThe company has a very strong market position in cystic fibrosis with high barriers to entry.
Dividend incomeLow / noneThere is no income generation for investors seeking dividends.
Execution riskMediumTransitioning from a CF-focused company to a broader specialty biotech requires successful delivery of new products.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -10.48%
Avg. Invested days 53
Today’s Advisory WEAK BUY
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
VRTX receives a 4-star rating, supported by strong unit economics, solid company fundamentals, solid quantitative characteristics, and strong analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
VRTX has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, strong growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong earnings growth (+838.1%) and strong cash generation (FCF margin 26.5%) are partially offset by moderate revenue growth (+9.6%), very low insider ownership of 0.21%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
VRTX's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $3.2B (26.5% of revenue). Operating efficiency is solid (4 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is VRTX's strongest growth driver at +838.1% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, free-cash-flow growth (+504.1%, strong) is also strong, while revenue growth (+9.6%, moderate) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 98.0% and approximately 99.7% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.21%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Capital World Investors 10.30%
BlackRock Inc 9.51%
Capital Research Global Investors 7.69%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 6.54%
State Street Corp 4.68%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
VRTX generates approximately $850 of gross profit, $394 of operating income, and $265 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong margins, cash conversion, and capital efficiency support the rating.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 14.86%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
VRTX has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while soft valuation.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Quality TiltLow VolatilityLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 127.55B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 29.31
1Y Target Price 571.61
Price to earnings Ratio 29.31
1Y Target Price 571.61
Volume (30-day avg) 1.0M shares
Beta 0.28
52 Weeks Range 402.58 - 560.25
Updated Date 10/09/2026
52 Weeks Range 402.58 - 560.25
Updated Date 10/09/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 17.17

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Cystic Fibrosis ProductsTrikafta, Symdeko, Orkambi, KalydecoThe vast majority of the company's revenue comes from therapies treating the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis.
GeographyGlobal sales, primarily North America, Europe, and AustraliaSales are concentrated in developed markets with established healthcare reimbursement systems.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Advertisement

Valuation

Trailing PE 29.31
Forward PE 24.1
Enterprise Value 125.00B
Price to Sales(TTM) 10.13
Enterprise Value 125.00B
Price to Sales(TTM) 10.13
Enterprise Value to Revenue 9.93
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 24.51
Shares Outstanding 253.46M
Shares Floating 252.68M
Shares Outstanding 253.46M
Shares Floating 252.68M
Percent Insiders 0.21
Percent Institutions 98

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.