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. The company's pipeline includes VX-522, a CFTR mRNA therapeutic designed to treat the underlying cause of CF, which is in Phase 1 clinical trial; VX-548, a non-opioid medicine for the treatment of acute and neuropathic pain which is in Phase 3 clinical trial; Exa-cel, for the treatment of sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia which is in Phase 2/3 clinical trial. In addition, it provides inaxaplin for the treatment of APOL1-mediated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and co-morbidities, such as hypertension which is in single Phase 2/3; VX- 880 and VX-264, treatment for Type 1 Diabetes which is in Phase 1/2 clinical trial;  VX-970, which is in Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of cancer; and VX-803 and VX-984 for treatment of cancer in Phase 1 clinical trial. Further, it sells the products to specialty pharmacy and specialty distributors in the United States, as well as retail pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics. Additionally, the company has collaborations with CRISPR Therapeutics AG.; Moderna, Inc.; Entrada Therapeutics, Inc.; Arbor Biotechnologies, Inc.; Mammoth Biosciences, Inc.; and Verve Therapeutics., as well as collaborations with Tevard Biosciences to develop novel tRNA-based therapies for duchenne muscular dystrophy. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX). Shares have added about 6.9% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Vertex due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Q2 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates
Vertex reported adjusted earnings of $4.52 per share for the second quarter of 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.24. In the year-ago quarter, the company reported an adjusted loss of $12.83 per share, reflecting the costs related to the acquisition of Alpine Immune Sciences in the second quarter of 2024.
Total revenues of $2.96 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.89 billion. Total revenues rose 12% year over year, primarily driven by higher sales of Trikafta/Kaftrio and early contribution from its three new drugs, Alyftrek, Journavx and Casgevy.
The company recorded $20.7 million of collaboration revenues in the second quarter versus nil in the year-ago quarter.
Its total revenues rose 14% year over year in the United States to $1.85 billion, driven by strong demand and favorable gross-to-net compared to last year. Outside the U.S. market, sales increased 8% to $1.12 billion, driven by strong CF growth and a contribution from Casgevy.
Quarter in Detail
The company currently markets four CF products — Trikafta/Kaftrio, Symdeko (marketed as Symkevi in Europe), Orkambi and Kalydeco.
Trikafta generated sales worth $2.55 billion, up 4.2% year over year. The product’s sales narrowly missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.56 billion but beat our model estimate of $2.50 billion.
Alyftrek generated sales worth $156.8 million in the second quarter compared with $53.9 million recorded in the first quarter of 2025. Management said it is seeing a steady uptake from all patient groups who are eligible for treatment with Alyftrek in the United States, including treatment-naive patients, patients who had discontinued previous CFTR modulator treatment, and those switching from Trikafta. However, the switch from Trikafta to Alyftrek has been modest due to significant Trikafta brand loyalty from patients.
Vertex expects that the majority of patients in the United States who are currently on Trikafta to switch to Alyftrek over time.
Revenues from other products increased 20.2% year over year to $236.1 million. This included revenues from Casgevy, Journavx, as well as sales of VRTX’s other CF products, Symdeko/Symkevi, Orkambi and Kalydeco.
Casgevy sales of $30.4 million surged 114.1% on a sequential basis, reflecting strong adoption. The global launch of Casgevy continues with an acceleration seen in the second quarter in patient initiations, cell collections and infusions.
Vertex now has 75 activated authorized treatment centers or ATCs in all regions where the therapy is approved. More than 115 patients have initiated cell collection since launch, and 29 patients have received infusions of Casgevy. Vertex is also making rapid progress in the drug’s access and reimbursement. Vertex expects Casgevy revenues to ramp up as the year progresses, as more patients are treated in geographies where the drug has secured regulatory approval and reimbursement.
Journavx generated sales worth $12 million in the second quarter. Journavx’s launch metrics and early reimbursement progress look promising. On the conference call, the company mentioned that since its launch in mid-March to mid-July, over 110,000 prescriptions have been written for Journavx across both hospital and retail settings.
Vertex said that physicians and patients have reported positive experiences with the drug while the company is making rapid contracting and formulary progress. It has reached agreements with two of the three large national PBMs to make Journavx available to their customers and is hoping to strike a deal with the third before year end. Vertex also has unrestricted access within 16 state Medicaid plans. Overall, Vertex expects coverage across commercial, Medicare and Medicaid payers to continue to expand through 2025.
Vertex expects higher sales from Journavx in the second half due to gains in sustainable payer coverage. However, there may be revenue variability from quarter to quarter.
Costs Rise
Adjusted research and development (R&D) expenses were up 25.9% year over year to $878.1 million to support the development of its pipeline, including four ongoing pivotal phase III studies.
Adjusted selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased 28.2% to $359.4 million in the reported quarter to support the launch of Journavx.
During the second quarter, Vertex recorded acquired in-process research and development (AIPR&D) costs of $2.2 million compared with $4.44 billion reported in the year-ago quarter, which included the costs related to the acquisition of Alpine Immune Sciences.
Adjusted operating income was almost $1.33 billion in the second quarter against an adjusted operating loss of $3.15 billion in the year-ago quarter.
VRTX’s 2025 Guidance
The company maintained its total revenue guidance for full-year 2025. Vertex continues to expect total revenues in the range of $11.85-$12 billion for 2025.
The revenue range indicates growth of 8% at the midpoint, driven by continued CF franchise growth, including contribution from Alyftrek, the continued uptake of Casgevy in approved regions and initial sales from Journavx, primarily in the second half.
Combined adjusted R&D, AIPR&D and SG&A expense guidance for 2025 is in the band of $4.9-$5 billion. The company expects to be at the high end of this guidance range.
Adjusted AIPR&D charges are expected to be approximately $100 million in 2025. The impact of tariffs on costs is expected to be immaterial in 2025, based on tariffs already in place due to Vertex’s low exposure to China and its geographically diverse supply chain
The adjusted tax rate was maintained in the range of 20.5%-21.5%.
In May 2025, Vertex announced a new $4 billion share repurchase program, building upon its existing $3 billion share repurchase program, which was authorized in 2023 and had $570 million remaining as of June 30.
Vertex announced that its chief scientific officer (CSO), Dr. David Altshuler, will retire, effective August 1, 2026. Mark Bunnage, SVP of Global Research, will assume the role of CSO effective Feb. 1, 2026.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates revision.
VGM Scores
Currently, Vertex has a poor Growth Score of F, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with a C. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Vertex has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry Player
Vertex is part of the Zacks Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry. Over the past month, Agios Pharmaceuticals (AGIO), a stock from the same industry, has gained 8.4%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2025 more than a month ago.
Agios Pharmaceuticals reported revenues of $12.45 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +44.6%. EPS of -$1.93 for the same period compares with -$1.69 a year ago.
For the current quarter, Agios Pharmaceuticals is expected to post a loss of $1.94 per share, indicating a change of -146.2% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1.1% over the last 30 days.
Agios Pharmaceuticals has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of F.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Is Vertex (VRTX) Up 6.9% Since Last Earnings Report?

Key Points
Pfizer is a great option for both dividend and growth investors.
Summit Therapeutics is a rising biotech stock with more room to run.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a great stock to buy on the dip.
Some decisions require lengthy deliberations and extensive analysis. Others don't.
Three Fool.com contributors think they've identified pharmaceutical stocks in the latter category. Here's why they think Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Summit Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SMMT), and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) are no-brainer stocks to buy right now.
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Pfizer is a great option for both dividend and growth investors
David Jagielski (Pfizer): Pfizer is one of the biggest no-brainer stocks in healthcare right now. Between its low valuation, high yield, and underrated growth prospects, it can make for an appealing buy for any type of investor.
While the stock has continued to struggle this year, that's largely reflective of concerns related to tariffs, healthcare reform, and government stances on vaccines, more so than the company's actual underlying financials, which look solid. In fact, when the company reported its most recent earnings numbers in early August, it hiked its guidance for full-year adjusted earnings per share (EPS). The new guidance of between $2.90 and $3.10 in adjusted EPS is up from an earlier forecast of $2.80 to $3.00.
The company has been focusing on cutting costs and improving efficiency, and that has been paying off. Pfizer has also experienced strong growth across all its major segments in the most recent quarter (which ended on June 29), including in primary care (12%), specialty care (7%), and oncology (11%). The strong earnings numbers should give investors confidence in Pfizer's ability to continue paying its dividend, which is yielding around 6.7% right now.
And while there is near-term uncertainty around the healthcare sector as a whole, Pfizer, being a leader in the space and focused on long-term growth, still looks to be in a solid position overall. The stock is trading at a price-to-earnings multiple of less than 14, which is incredibly cheap, given that the average stock on the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) trades at a multiple of 25.
All in all, Pfizer is one of the best healthcare stocks to buy right now, regardless of whether you're after growth or dividends.
A rising biotech with more room to run
Prosper Junior Bakiny (Summit Therapeutics): Three years ago, Summit Therapeutics was a little-known small-cap biotech company. The stock has skyrocketed by almost 2,000% since and now boasts a market cap of $18 billion, a rarity for a clinical-stage drugmaker.
Summit Therapeutics' leading candidate, ivonescimab, which is already approved in China, has posted terrific results in a phase 3 study in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and PD-L1 protein overexpression. The study pitted ivonescimab against the current market leader, Keytruda, and the former more than held its own.
Ivonescimab could go on to challenge the world's best-selling drug in one of its most important turfs. That's significant. Furthermore, ivonescimab won't stop there. It could be a pipeline in a drug, that is, a medicine that continually expands its label. The therapy is being investigated across a range of different indications, from colorectal to liver cancer, and several more.
Solid results from other clinical trials could jolt Summit Therapeutics' stock price. According to some analysts, ivonescimab could generate approximately $4.4 billion in sales by 2030.
Will Summit Therapeutics produce the same kinds of returns it has in the past three years moving forward? Probably not. However, there could be plenty of upside left for the company, thanks to ivonescimab's incredible potential.
It might be too late to bag life-changing returns over a relatively short period with this stock. But buying Summit Therapeutics' shares now could still lead to solid performances over the next five years.
Three operative words with this stock: Buy the dip
Keith Speights (Vertex Pharmaceuticals): Two disappointing developments with Vertex Pharmaceuticals' pipeline programs caused its shares to sink in recent weeks. However, with Vertex's stock still down more than 20% below its previous high, I think investors should heed three operative words: Buy the dip. And, yes, it's a no-brainer decision, in my opinion.
Vertex has three relatively new products on the market, for which sales should accelerate significantly over the next few years. Alyftrek will almost certainly become the next blockbuster drug in the company's vaunted cystic fibrosis (CF) franchise. Casgevy is slowly picking up steam in treating (actually, curing) two rare blood disorders, sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia.
The third new drug, Journavx, might be the most promising of them all. It's the first new class of pain medication in more than 20 years. Journavx isn't an opioid and doesn't come with the addictive potential and nasty side effects associated with the widely used painkillers. The commercial launch for the therapy is going so well that Vertex is committing additional resources to boost its sales and marketing efforts.
Moving to the pipeline, Vertex hopes to file for regulatory approvals for povetacicept in treating IgA nephropathy and zimislecel in treating severe type 1 diabetes next year. The big drugmaker's APOL1-mediated kidney disease therapy inaxaplin is also in late-stage testing and could be a big winner if eventually approved.
While many stocks are priced for perfection in today's market, Vertex is a bargain with its growth prospects factored into the equation. Its price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio, which is based on analysts' five-year earnings growth projections, is a super-low 0.58.
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David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Keith Speights has positions in Pfizer and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer, Summit Therapeutics, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 No-Brainer Stocks to Buy Right Now

Key Points
Disappointing trial results for VX-993 led to a sell-off of Vertex's stock recently.
The company's financials remain strong, and sales were up 12% last quarter.
Vertex has been broadening its pipeline, which can lead to much more growth in the future.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) has been a top pharma stock in recent years. It has been generating strong revenue growth while also building out its portfolio of drugs, expanding its growth opportunities in the process. This is the type of stock that you might expect to see taking off this year.
But that isn't happening.
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Instead, the share price of Vertex recently plunged. Excitement around the company has cooled drastically. What's wrong with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and is it an investment worth buying on the dip, or could there be more trouble ahead for the healthcare stock?
Vertex's stock tanks after underwhelming study
On Aug. 4, Vertex released its latest quarterly numbers as well as results from a study for VX-993, which is a treatment for acute pain. It was the latter that had the most impact on the stock, and it wasn't good news. Vertex said that the treatment did not meet the primary endpoint in its phase 2 trial, and that it will not move on to further trials related to acute pain.
The company has an approved pain medication, Journavx, which regulators approved earlier this year for moderate to severe acute pain. The non-opioid medication was a big win for the company, and investors were hoping VX-993 might be able to build on that success and potentially be a better option for patients. As is often the case with pharma stocks, bad news from a clinical trial can quickly send a stock into a tailspin. Before the recent news came out, Vertex's stock was trading at around $470. As of Tuesday, it had fallen to roughly $396.
How the business looks today
Despite the setback for Vertex, the business remains in solid shape. In its most recent quarter, which ended on June 30, the company's revenue rose by more than 12% year over year, to just under $3 billion. Vertex is on track to hit its guidance of around $12 billion in revenue for the full year, which would translate into an increase of 9% from the previous year.
The company is a leader in cystic fibrosis drugs, and they account for nearly all of its revenue. But Vertex's business is broadening, and there is much more growth on the horizon. Journavx has only recently launched, and it brought in $12 million over the last three months. Casgevy, a gene therapy treatment for sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia, has brought in over $30 million. Both of these products could be blockbusters, generating revenue of more than $1 billion at their respective peaks.
What I like most about Vertex's business is its fantastic profit margins. Last quarter, the company's net income totaled $1 billion, which was 35% of its top line. With solid margins, the company can easily grow its profits in the long run, paving the way for a higher valuation.
Vertex is a reasonably priced stock with a lot of potential upside
According to analyst estimates, Vertex's stock is trading at 22 times its projected future earnings. That's modest given the average S&P 500 stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 24.
Vertex has the potential to be a tremendous growth stock to own in the long run. While the recent news around VX-993 may be disappointing, it shouldn't dissuade investors from investing in the business. Not every trial will turn out well, and not every drug will be a blockbuster. But with a growing portfolio of drugs and a highly profitable business, Vertex is one of the better healthcare stocks to buy and hold right now.
Should you invest $1,000 in Vertex Pharmaceuticals right now?
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David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

What's Wrong With Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock?

Key Points
CRISPR Therapeutics' first approved therapy, Casgevy, was a breakthrough.
One of Casgevy's biggest achievements may be demonstrating the viability of CRISPR Therapeutics' strategy.
The biotech company could soar if it can follow up that win with more clinical and regulatory milestones.
Over the past few years, the market hasn't been kind to somewhat speculative, unprofitable stocks. CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP), a mid-cap biotech, fits that description. The company's shares are down by 24% since mid-2022. The S&P 500 is up 50% over the same period.
Despite this terrible performance, there are reasons to believe that CRISPR Therapeutics could still generate life-changing returns for investors willing to be patient. Here's how the biotech could pull it off.
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CRISPR Therapeutics' first success
CRISPR Therapeutics' first approval was for Casgevy, a treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDT), which it developed in collaboration with Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Before Casgevy, no CRISPR-based gene-editing medicine had been approved.
While it became the first, it still faces some challenges. Ex vivo gene-editing therapies require a complex manufacturing and administration process that can only be performed in authorized treatment centers (ATCs). Moreover, they're expensive. Casgevy costs $2.2 million in the U.S. Getting third-party payers on board for that is no easy feat.
Still, CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals are making steady progress. As of the second quarter, CRISPR Therapeutics had achieved its goal of activating 75 ATCs. It had also secured reimbursement for eligible patients in 10 countries. The two companies estimate there are roughly 60,000 eligible SCD and TDT patients in the regions they have targeted.
Let's say they continue to strike reimbursement deals and can count on third-party coverage for 70% of this target population (42,000 people), then go on to treat another 30% of that group in the next decade (12,600 patients). Assuming they could extend that $2.2 million price tag to those countries, Casgevy could generate more than $27.7 billion over this period. Based on its agreement with Vertex, 40% would go to CRISPR Therapeutics, or roughly $11.1 billion over a decade. That's not bad, but it's not that impressive either.
So, while Casgevy could contribute meaningfully to CRISPR Therapeutics' results -- and may even reach blockbuster status at some point -- the medicine may primarily serve as a proof of concept to demonstrate that the biotech's approach can be effective.
Substantial progress with its first commercialized product will help the stock price. But the company's performance will depend even more on future clinical and regulatory milestones, especially as it shows with Casgevy that it can manage the intricacies and complexities of marketing gene-editing medicines.
Can the pipeline deliver?
CRISPR Therapeutics has six candidates in clinical trials, which isn't bad at all for a mid-cap biotech company. One of its leading programs is CTX310, a potential therapy designed to help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients with certain conditions. CTX310 is already producing encouraging clinical trial results. Additionally, it's an in vivo medicine, meaning it bypasses the need to harvest patients' cells to manufacture therapies; in vivo gene-editing treatments are easier to handle than their ex vivo counterparts.
The company's path to creating life-changing returns hinges on its ability to deliver consistent clinical and regulatory wins over the next few years for CTX310 and other important candidates. If CRISPR Therapeutics can successfully launch several new products in the next five to seven years, its shares are likely to skyrocket.
In the meantime, under this scenario, the company would succeed in making gene-editing medicines more mainstream. This would encourage third-party payers to get on board -- and healthcare institutions, and perhaps even governments, to help push for more ATCs, since there'd be a greater need to accommodate these treatments.
Can CRISPR Therapeutics achieve this? In my view, the biotech stock is on the riskier side, but does carry significant upside potential. There's a (small) chance the gene-editing specialist will deliver life-changing returns in the next decade, but investors need to hedge their bets. It's best to start by initiating a small position in the stock, then progressively add more if CRISPR Therapeutics lands more wins.
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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $668,155!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,106,071!*
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Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Here's How This Forgotten Healthcare Stock Could Generate Life-Changing Returns

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Capital Group Core Balanced ETF (Symbol: CGBL) where we have detected an approximate $272.2 million dollar inflow -- that's a 9.7% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 82,300,000 to 90,300,000). Among the largest underlying components of CGBL, in trading today Capital Group Core Plus Income Etf (Symbol: CGCP) is off about 0.1%, Capital Group Core Bond Etf (Symbol: CGCB) is down about 0.2%, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Symbol: VRTX) is up by about 0.6%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the CGBL Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of CGBL, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, CGBL's low point in its 52 week range is $28.23 per share, with $34.17 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $33.95. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Biotechnology Dividend Stocks
Funds Holding GPCO
Funds Holding GPP
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy ETF Inflows: CGBL, CGCP, CGCB, VRTX

Key Points
Vertex faced some setbacks with two pipeline programs in acute and neuropathic pain.
However, the company still has a path forward for both of those medicines.
It has several other pipeline candidates and a lineup that generates consistent results.
Even well-established drugmakers can lose significant market value overnight following a setback. That's what recently happened to Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX). The company's shares fell by more than 10% after it announced not-so-great regulatory and clinical developments.
Vertex's stock is down 4% year to date following this decline. Should you consider investing in the company's shares while they're down? Let's find out.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More »
Vertex's pain franchise faces another obstacle
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is targeting the pain treatment market as part of its efforts to diversify its lineup of medicines. In January, the company earned approval for Journavx, the first oral non-opioid pain signal inhibitor, for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain.
However, the drugmaker has encountered some headwinds in this niche. Journavx did not perform as well as expected in a phase 2 study in patients with painful lumbosacral radiculopathy. Vertex's shares plummeted in December following that data readout. And although the company initially stated it would pursue this indication for Journavx despite the unimpressive mid-stage data, it recently announced it was abandoning those plans based on feedback from regulators. That was one reason Vertex's shares fell hard.
Then there's VX-993, an investigational therapy for acute pain that just failed phase 2 studies. Vertex will not pursue VX-993 as a monotherapy in this indication. This is the second development responsible for the company's shares recently plummeting.
Why the stock is still attractive
Despite these clinical setbacks, Vertex's shares remain a worthwhile investment for long-term investors. Let's consider four reasons why.
First, the company's financial results remain strong. In the second quarter, revenue increased by 12% year over year to $2.96 billion. Vertex's cystic fibrosis (CF) business continues to perform well, and the recent addition of its next-gen CF medicine Alyftrek should help. Vertex is the only company that markets drugs for the underlying causes of CF, but many patients in the geographies it targets are still not benefiting from its therapies. So the company still has some headway in its core franchise.
Second, Vertex has successfully diversified its lineup in recent years. In addition to Journavx, the biotech earned approval for Casgevy, a gene-editing therapy for two rare blood disorders, in 2023. While these products aren't contributing much to financial results yet, they eventually will. Vertex noted that Journavx's launch is going well. It has secured third-party coverage for approximately 150 million Americans, which suggests there's a reasonable demand for the medicine.
Third, Vertex should still make some headway in the market for pain treatments. It's enrolling patients for phase 3 studies of Journavx in diabetic peripheral neuropathy, while VX-993 will also be tested in mid-stage clinical trials in this indication.
Fourth, the company has several other exciting pipeline candidates. One of them is zimislecel, an investigational therapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D) that's posting strong results in clinical trials and could become an approved functional cure for T1D. It helps restore patients' ability to produce their own insulin, something that is normally not possible with this chronic health condition. Vertex plans on submitting regulatory applications for it next year.
The late-stage pipeline also features inaxaplin, a potential treatment for APOL-1-mediated kidney disease, a condition for which there are no approved therapies that target the underlying causes.
Even well-established biotech companies like Vertex Pharmaceuticals face clinical setbacks that sink their stock prices. But in this case, given Vertex's strong lineup and pipeline and its consistent financial results, this seems like an excellent opportunity to purchase its shares on the dip.
Should you invest $1,000 in Vertex Pharmaceuticals right now?
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Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Is This Beaten-Down Stock a Buy on the Dip?

Key Points
Vertex Pharmaceuticals' recent dip presents an excellent buying opportunity, given its promising prospects.
Netflix is performing exceedingly well, and the streaming giant has every reason to continue doing so.
Over the past five years, the stock market has endured a pandemic and the economic issues that followed, along with inflationary pressures, geopolitical tensions, trade wars, and other macroeconomic challenges. Despite all that, equities have performed well. Though we can't predict the future in great detail, we can be confident that stocks will generally continue to deliver strong returns over the long run.
And one of the best ways to cash in on that is to invest in stocks that can exceed the market's performance. Two that look particularly attractive are Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) and Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX). Here's why these two stocks appear to be great options for investors.
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1. Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Vertex Pharmaceuticals' shares recently dropped following a clinical setback. The company's VX-993, a potential treatment for acute pain, did not impress in a phase 2 study. Management also stated that it would no longer pursue one promising indication for its new pain medicine, Journavx, following feedback from regulators. The market responded by selling off the stock.
However, Vertex's overall business remains strong, as evidenced by its second-quarter results. Revenue jumped by 12% year over year to $2.96 billion.
Vertex is still the only company that markets medicines for cystic fibrosis (CF), a rare lung disease. The company's most recent launch in this market, Alyftrek, which earned approval in the U.S. in December, is already making solid headway; it generated $156.8 million in sales in the second quarter. Vertex's monopoly in CF grants it significant pricing power, which is one of the best parts of the business and makes the stock so attractive.
The company's newer non-CF launches, Journavx and Casgevy -- the latter of which treats two rare blood diseases -- aren't yet contributing significantly to its sales, but that should change over time. Furthermore, Vertex has some highly promising late-stage assets. One of them is zimislecel, an investigational therapy for type 1 diabetes; it could help eliminate severe hypoglycemic events, potentially life-threatening side effects of the disease. Vertex plans to file regulatory applications for zimislecel next year.
That's to say nothing of various early-stage projects Vertex is working on. Recent developments were not great for the company, so it's not that surprising that the stock fell significantly.
Even so, Vertex Pharmaceuticals has faced similar one-day drops before; it usually recovers thanks to solid financial results and strong clinical and regulatory progress. Expect the biotech to do the same this time around. Vertex looks like a strong buy following its recent dip.
2. Netflix
Netflix has been on fire over the past few years. Revenue growth has been strong, and the trend continues. In the second quarter, the top line increased by 15.9% year over year to $11.1 billion. The company has experienced profitable growth recently -- it's growing not only revenue, but also profit, margins, and free cash flow.
The entertainment giant continues to benefit from the switch to streaming, but there is still plenty of white space ahead. According to management, the company still expects hundreds of millions of people to sign up on its platform. And subscriber growth isn't the only thing that will drive better results. Increased engagement, as measured by viewing hours, can help boost the company's relatively new advertising business.
Netflix estimates that it has only captured about 6% of its revenue potential, leaving it with massive long-term opportunities as streaming continues to displace cable. Competition might be an issue, but thanks to its brand name and network effects, Netflix has built a solid moat.
Valuation is another problem some investors might point to here. The stock is trading at around 48 times forward earnings, well above the average for communication services stocks, which is 20.
However, Netflix is changing the entertainment world. The company might not realize its master plan for many years, perhaps even several decades, given the massive worldwide addressable market. That's what makes its stock so attractive. For those who want to go along for the ride, Netflix's shares remain a buy even at current levels.
Should you invest $1,000 in Vertex Pharmaceuticals right now?
Before you buy stock in Vertex Pharmaceuticals, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vertex Pharmaceuticals wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $649,544!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,113,059!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of August 13, 2025
Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Netflix and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

2 Growth Stocks That Are No-Brainer Buys Right Now

At Holdings Channel, we have reviewed the latest batch of the 23 most recent 13F filings for the 06/30/2025 reporting period, and noticed that Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Symbol: VRTX) was held by 12 of these funds. When hedge fund managers appear to be thinking alike, we find it is a good idea to take a closer look.
Before we proceed, it is important to point out that 13F filings do not tell the whole story, because these funds are only required to disclose their long positions with the SEC, but are not required to disclose their short positions. A fund making a bearish bet against a stock by shorting calls, for example, might also be long some amount of stock as they trade around their overall bearish position. This long component could show up in a 13F filing and everyone might assume the fund is bullish, but this tells only part of the story because the bearish/short side of the position is not seen.
Having given that caveat, we believe that looking at groups of 13F filings can be revealing, especially when comparing one holding period to another. Below, let's take a look at the change in VRTX positions, for this latest batch of 13F filers:
Aggregate Change:
+3,652,366
+$1,447,937
In terms of shares owned, we count 7 of the above funds having increased existing VRTX positions from 03/31/2025 to 06/30/2025, with 2 having decreased their positions and 1 new position.
Looking beyond these particular funds in this one batch of most recent filers, we tallied up the VRTX share count in the aggregate among all of the funds which held VRTX at the 06/30/2025 reporting period (out of the 5,373 we looked at in total). We then compared that number to the sum total of VRTX shares those same funds held back at the 03/31/2025 period, to see how the aggregate share count held by hedge funds has moved for VRTX. We found that between these two periods, funds reduced their holdings by 563,821 shares in the aggregate, from 103,828,156 down to 103,264,335 for a share count decline of approximately -0.54%. The overall top three funds holding VRTX on 06/30/2025 were:
We'll keep following the latest 13F filings by hedge fund managers and bring you interesting stories derived from a look at the aggregate information across groups of managers between filing periods. While looking at individual 13F filings can sometimes be misleading due to the long-only nature of the information, the sum total across groups of funds from one reporting period to another can be a lot more revealing and relevant, providing interesting stock ideas that merit further research, like Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Symbol: VRTX).
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

See Which Of The Latest 13F Filers Holds VRTX

CRISPR Therapeutics’ CRSP Casgevy, a one-shot gene therapy, was approved in late 2023 and early 2024 across the United States and Europe for two blood disorder indications — sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDT). The company has developed Casgevy in partnership with large biotech, Vertex Pharmaceuticals VRTX. Per the deal terms, Vertex leads global development, manufacturing and commercialization of Casgevy and splits program costs and profits worldwide with CRISPR Therapeutics in a 60:40 ratio.
Despite its groundbreaking therapeutic potential, Casgevy experienced a slow start in 2024, generating only $10 million in full-year product revenues for Vertex. However, sales have picked up momentum since then, with Casgevy recording sales worth $30.4 million in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting a 114.1% sequential increase and underscoring strong and accelerating market adoption. Per VRTX, the global launch of Casgevy continues to gain momentum with patient initiations, cell collections and infusions. Our model estimates Vertex to record Casgevy sales of about $124.6 million in 2025.
Earlier this month, on its Q2 earnings call, CRISPR Therapeutics stated that more than 75 authorized treatment centers were activated across all regions where Casgevy is approved. As of June 2025-end, about 115 patients completed their first cell collection since the therapy’s commercial launch.
Growing Casgevy sales could secure a reliable revenue base for CRISPR Therapeutics, enabling greater investment in its gene-editing pipeline. Continued demand may also broaden revenue sources and strengthen the company’s long-term growth prospects in the competitive cell and gene therapy market.
CRSP’s Competition in the Target Market
Besides CRISPR Therapeutics, several companies are advancing gene-editing treatments using similar CRISPR-based technology.
Beam Therapeutics BEAM is developing its lead ex-vivo genome-editing candidate, BEAM-101, in the phase I/II BEACON study for treating SCD. Enrollment is completed in both the adult and adolescent cohorts of the BEACON study. Beam Therapeutics expects to present updated data from the BEACON study by the end of 2025.
Intellia Therapeutics NTLA is leading the race in the in vivo therapies space with two late-stage candidates — Lonvo-z (NTLA-2002) for hereditary angioedema (HAE) and nex-z (NTLA-2001) for transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis. NTLA plans to submit a regulatory filing with the FDA for the HAE therapy in the second half of 2026.
CRSP’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Shares of CRISPR Therapeutics have rallied 40.7% year to date against the industry’s 0.7% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, CRSP is trading at a discount to the industry. Based on the price-to-book value (P/B) ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 2.80, which is lower than the industry average of 3.15. The stock is trading above its five-year mean of 2.38.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Estimates for CRISPR Therapeutics’ 2025 loss per share have widened from $5.58 to $6.22 in the past 30 days. During the same timeframe, loss per share estimates for 2026 have narrowed from $4.30 to $4.03.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CRSP’s Zacks Rank
CRISPR Therapeutics currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Can Rising Casgevy Sales Aid CRISPR Therapeutics Post Q2 Earnings?

Monday, August 4, 2025
Markets reversed Friday’s selloff with relative ease today, hitting the tape in the green this morning and staying higher throughout the session. It’s a clear bounce-back to start a new week of trading. The Dow gained +585 points, +1.34%, while the S&P 500 grew +91, +1.47%. The Nasdaq was up an impressive +403 points, +1.95% on the day, and the small-cap Russell 2000 beat the field: +44 points, +2.05%.
Bond yields had already come down and they were steady today, as well: +4.20% on the 10-year and +3.69% on the 2-year. These are clear indicators that interest rates will need to come down — they are currently between +4.25-4.50%, as they have been all year so far. There is no August Fed meeting, however; unless an emergency arises, the Fed’s next chance to lower rates will come September 17th.
Factory Orders for June came in at negative levels, as expected, but 10 basis points (bps) better than expected at -4.8%. This follows the best single-month in factory orders for at least 10 years, an upwardly revised +8.3%. This clearly was a result of tariff and tariff deadline adjustments post-“Liberation Day” at the start of calendar Q2. A tariff reprieve gave companies (and individuals) the opportunity to load up ahead of any future unforeseen moves.
Q2 Earnings After the Close
Denver-based intelligence software firm Palantir Technologies PLTR posted robust numbers in its Q2 report after the closing bell sounded today, beating on its bottom line by only 2 cents to 16 cents per share, but revenues of $1.0 billion surging past the $938.3 million expected — a record high quarter on the top line. The U.S. grew +68%, commercial was up +93% and the government +53%.
Palantir’s revenue guidance for next quarter is well beyond prior estimates, for both next quarter and the full year. The low-end of revenue guidance of $1.083 billion for the quarter and $4.14 billion for the year were already well beyond the $989.4 million and $3.92 billion, respectively. Shares are up +4% currently, and the company expects 10x revenue growth over the next decade. We expect the company will be able to shake off its Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) rating.
Hims & Hers Health HIMS, on the other hand, came up short on both top and bottom lines this afternoon, with earnings of 17 cents per share missing the Zacks consensus by a penny, with revenues of $545 million below the $553.2 million expected. The company reaffirmed full-year guidance, but at +162% year to date, shares are trading off -12% in the after-market.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals VRTX is off by an even more significant margin, -13.5%, even as the biopharma firm beat estimates on both top and bottom lines after today’s close. One of its pain drugs in Phase 2 testing failed to meet its objectives and will be discontinued. CSO David Altshuler will also be stepping down from his post.
What to Expect from the Stock Market Tomorrow
Q2 earnings season hits full throttle Tuesday, with Caterpillar CAT, McDonald’s MCD, big pharma Pfizer PFE and biotech Amgen AMGN all reporting ahead of the open, and chipmaker AMD AMD and EV upstart Rivian RIVN coming out with numbers after the close.
The U.S. Trade Deficit will hit the tape Tuesday morning, expected to improve to -$61.0 billion from -$75.5 billion reported last time around. We’ll also see S&P and ISM Services PMI once the market opens, expected to remain north of the 50-level, which depicts growth versus loss. Trade deals have gone quiet of late, but there’s always a chance something new will be agreed upon, or signed.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.