Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): Today's Featured Health Care Laggard

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

Vertex Pharmaceuticals ( VRTX) pushed the Health Care sector lower today making it today's featured Health Care laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day down 0.7%. By the end of trading, Vertex Pharmaceuticals fell $1.53 (-1.9%) to $77.89 on average volume. Throughout the day, 2,402,978 shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2,536,700 shares. The stock ranged in price between $75.85-$79.31 after having opened the day at $78.67 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $79.42. Other companies within the Health Care sector that declined today were: Biota Pharmaceuticals ( BOTA), down 66.5%, Oncothyreon ( ONTY), down 24.5%, Infinity Pharmaceuticals ( INFI), down 22.6% and Idera Pharmaceuticals ( IDRA), down 16.2%.

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Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated engages in discovering, developing, manufacturing, and commercializing small molecule drugs for patients with serious diseases. Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a market cap of $17.9 billion and is part of the drugs industry. Shares are up 89.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 14 analysts that rate Vertex Pharmaceuticals a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 5 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Vertex Pharmaceuticals as a sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its feeble growth in its earnings per share, deteriorating net income and disappointing return on equity.

• You can view the full Vertex Pharmaceuticals Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Aegerion Pharmaceuticals ( AEGR), down 31.4%, Halozyme Therapeutics ( HALO), down 18.4%, Tesaro ( TSRO), down 14.1% and Prothena Corporation ( PRTA), down 13.1% , were all gainers within the health care sector with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings ( LH) being today's featured health care sector leader.

• Use our health care section to find sector-relevant news.
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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the health care sector could consider Health Care Select Sector SPDR ( XLV) while those bearish on the health care sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Health Care ( RXD).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

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