Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Hold Recommendation Reiterated (VRTX)

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:VRTX) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a hold with a ratings score of C . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its notable return on equity and solid stock price performance. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the growth in the company's net income has been quite unimpressive.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC has exprienced a steep decline in earnings per share in the most recent quarter in comparison to its performance from the same quarter a year ago. This company has reported somewhat volatile earnings recently. But, we feel it is poised for EPS growth in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC turned its bottom line around by earning $0.04 versus -$3.77 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($0.49 versus $0.04).
• The revenue fell significantly faster than the industry average of 7.9%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues fell by 49.0%. Weakness in the company's revenue seems to have hurt the bottom line, decreasing earnings per share.
• The company's current return on equity greatly increased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of significant strength within the corporation. When compared to other companies in the Biotechnology industry and the overall market, VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC's return on equity is below that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.
• Compared to its closing price of one year ago, VRTX's share price has jumped by 33.61%, exceeding the performance of the broader market during that same time frame. Looking ahead, however, we cannot assume that the stock's past performance is going to drive future results. Quite to the contrary, its sharp appreciation over the last year is one of the factors that should prompt investors to seek better opportunities elsewhere.
• The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Biotechnology industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 126.0% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $221.11 million to -$57.54 million.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated engages in discovering, developing, manufacturing, and commercializing small molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases worldwide. Vertex has a market cap of $10.02 billion and is part of the health care sector and drugs industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 22, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 39.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

You can view the full Vertex Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.

--Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff.

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