Key facts, as of
As of September 29, 2026, Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) trades at $526.73, up 33.2% over the past year. Its 52-week range runs from $385.86 to $560.25; the price is 6.0% below that high. It sits 11.4% above its 200-day average of $472.72, the usual sign of a long-term uptrend. Its 30-day volatility is 18.8% annualized, which we rate medium risk. It has a trailing P/E of 30.7.
Cite: Portfolio Terminal, "Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) stock analysis", 2026-09-29. https://portfolio-terminal.com/analyse/vrtx
Where it trades today
trading 81% of the way up its 52-week range
How the price has moved
What to weigh before acting
What Matters Now
- The read on the stock is often driven by pipeline durability, reimbursement pressure, and whether new launches can offset patent cliffs.
- VRTX trades at 30.7x earnings, well above the healthcare average of 22.0x, so the market is already pricing in above-consensus execution.
- VRTX carries a beta of 0.32, which means the stock should be judged on how it affects total portfolio swings, not just on standalone upside.
- Relative performance versus UNH, JNJ, PFE matters here because leadership inside healthcare rarely stays static for long.
Portfolio Use Case
- VRTX is more useful for investors comparing conviction names inside healthcare than for someone looking for a passive “set and forget” holding.
- The beta profile suggests it can fit a quality or lower-volatility sleeve more naturally than a high-octane tactical basket.
- The stock becomes more useful when paired with an explicit catalyst watchlist, because sector sentiment can shift quickly around policy, rates, or pipeline news.
What Would Change the View
- A reset in earnings expectations or a faster peer catch-up could compress the premium valuation currently embedded in VRTX.
- There is little income cushion here, so total return depends mainly on price appreciation and execution staying on track.
- The view would need revisiting if peers such as UNH, JNJ, PFE start winning the marginal flow or posting cleaner operating momentum.
Methodology
- Price, market cap, beta, yield, and liquidity fields for VRTX come from Yahoo Finance quote and summary data.
- 30-day volatility is calculated from recent daily returns and annualized using a 252-trading-day convention.
- Sector context uses stored benchmark averages for Healthcare so each page compares the ticker against a stable peer baseline rather than against the whole market.
- Peer comparisons use the Portfolio Terminal coverage set and highlight nearby listed alternatives such as UNH, JNJ, PFE.
Sources
- Yahoo Finance quote dataopen →
Live quote, valuation, beta, yield, and volume fields used for VRTX. Last refresh: Sep 29, 2026, 10:32 PM.
- Portfolio Terminal methodologyopen →
Explains how analytics, refresh cadence, and portfolio interpretation work across the product.
- Peer set and coverage context
Comparative context for this page is anchored around nearby tracked names such as UNH, JNJ, PFE.
What Vertex Pharmaceuticals does
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated operates as a biotechnology company in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers transformative medicines for people with serious diseases with a focus on specialty markets, such as cystic fibrosis (CF), sickle cell disease (SCD), transfusion dependent beta thalassemia (TDT), and acute pain. It markets TRIKAFTA/KAFTRIO for people with CF with at least one F508del mutation for 2 years of age and older; ALYFTREK for the treatment for people with CF 6 years of age and older; SYMDEKO/SYMKEVI for treatment of patients with CF 6 years of age and older; ORKAMBI for CF patients 1 year or older; and KALYDECO for the treatment of patients…
What analysts expect
VRTX carries a buy consensus from 28 analysts, with an average price target of $571.39 versus $526.73 today (+8.5%). Targets are estimates and can move quickly after earnings.
Consensus aggregated by Yahoo Finance. Targets are estimates, not forecasts.
How the business is doing
VRTX generated $12.59B in trailing revenue (12.5% year over year), with a 35.0% net margin, and $2.63B of free cash flow, supported by $5.87B of net cash.
The numbers, year by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Gross profit | Operating income | Net income | EPS | Free cash flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $12.00B | $10.35B | $4.55B | $3.95B | $15.46 | $3.19B |
| 2024 | $11.02B | $9.49B | -$233.40M | -$535.60M | -$2.08 | -$978.00M |
| 2023 | $9.87B | $8.61B | $3.78B | $3.62B | $14.05 | $3.28B |
| 2022 | $8.93B | $7.85B | $4.25B | $3.32B | $12.97 | $3.93B |
When it reports next
Estimates aggregated by Yahoo Finance. Dates move and estimates change until the report lands.
How it sits in healthcare
Defensive sector including pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, and healthcare services.
The companies it competes with
VRTX beside the healthcare names it is usually measured against.
What the chart is saying
In an uptrend, pressing toward $557.97 resistance.
uptrend- Price is 2.1% above its 50-day average and 11.4% above its 200-day.
- The 50-day crossed above the 200-day on 2026-06-29 (a “golden cross”).
- RSI at 53 is neither stretched nor washed out.
- The nearest ceiling is $557.97 (+5.9%), the nearest floor $502.71 (-4.6%).
A description of the chart, not advice. Indicators describe what the price has done; none of them knows what it does next.
Questions people ask about it
Is VRTX a good buy right now?
Vertex Pharmaceuticals trades at 30.7x earnings. This is above market average, reflecting growth expectations. Current risk level is Medium based on 18.8% volatility.
Does VRTX pay dividends?
Vertex Pharmaceuticals does not currently pay a regular dividend. The company may be reinvesting profits for growth.
How volatile is VRTX?
With 30-day annualized volatility of 18.8% and beta of 0.32, VRTX is classified as Medium risk. The stock tends to be more stable than the market average.
What is the analyst price target for VRTX?
The average analyst price target for Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) is $571.39 based on 28 analyst estimates, about 8.5% above the current price of $526.73. The published range runs from $350.00 to $672.00.
How much revenue does VRTX generate?
Vertex Pharmaceuticals reported $12.59B in trailing twelve-month revenue. Revenue growth is running at 12.5% year over year. Net margin sits at 35.0%. Figures are aggregated from company filings by Yahoo Finance and refresh on an hourly cadence.
Compare VRTX with anything
Five years side by side: what $10,000 became, how far each fell, whether they move together.