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

Feb 24, 2014 5:01 PM EST

Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link.

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 up 1.1%. By the end of trading, Vertex Pharmaceuticals fell $0.86 (-1.0%) to $83.95 on average volume. Throughout the day, 1,241,388 shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1,601,900 shares. The stock ranged in price between $83.76-$85.29 after having opened the day at $85.29 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $84.81. Other companies within the Health Care sector that declined today were: Oculus Innovative ( OCLS), down 11.8%, Five Prime Therapeutics ( FPRX), down 10.1%, Cardiome Pharma Corporation ( CRME), down 5.9% and Mesa Laboratories ( MLAB), down 5.8%.

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Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is engaged in discovering, developing, manufacturing, and commercializing small molecule drugs for patients with serious diseases. Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a market cap of $19.8 billion and is part of the drugs industry. Shares are up 14.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 13 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 hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, increase in net income and revenue growth. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including disappointing return on equity, weak operating cash flow and feeble growth in the company's earnings per share.

You can view the full Vertex Pharmaceuticals Ratings Report.

On the positive front, RXi Pharmaceuticals ( RXII), up 28.5%, Celladon ( CLDN), up 25.5%, SunLink Health Systems ( SSY), up 17.1% and Inovio Pharmaceuticals ( INO), up 15.5% , were all gainers within the health care sector with Illumina ( ILMN) 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).