Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) earns a Roarable Rating of B+ (Buy) with 80/100 RQD Confidence. High-quality cash engine (86% profit margin, 20% return on capital) with steady institutional support. The company’s underlying cash engine and institutional positioning keep the composite score in the Green Buy zone.
As of 2026-11-02, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX) is rated B+ (Buy / BUY) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 80/100 at a spot price of $558.88 (+3.50% 1D, market cap $136.87B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 17/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 17/20, Executive Insider Alignment 16/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 15/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 15/20. Across 1016 tracked Health Care issuers, VRTX ranks #15 in composite RQD confidence.
Within the Health Care sector (Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations), VRTX carries a Roarable B+ (80/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 34.6x, gross margin of 86.2%, and ROIC of 20.0%. By comparison, BMY (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company) holds a C grade (63/100 RQD, P/E 17.8x, ROIC 13.3%, cap $125.40B) and PFE (Pfizer Inc.) posts a B grade (73/100 RQD, P/E 22.0x, ROIC 5.1%, cap $170.71B). Among the 5-stock peer group, BMY leads on earnings multiple (17.8x) while VRTX leads on capital efficiency (20.0% ROIC).
Per VRTX's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000875320), Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated generated $12.00B in revenue (+8.9% YoY), $3.95B in net income, and $3.19B in free cash flow against $25.64B in total assets and $3.14B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Strong cash generator (86% profit margin)—profits are backed by real money, not accounting tricks.. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer
SEC XBRL FY 2025 (10-K): 26.6% FCF Margin ($3.19B FCF) & 86.2% Gross Margin
20D Institutional Volume Accumulation (±5.7% realized swing band)
Cannibal Buyback (-2.08% YoY Shares) & executive Form 4 sales trim 5 pts from alignment
Even with a 80/100 (B+) score, VRTX faces multiple-compression risk if 34.6x trailing P/E re-rate toward historical sector medians or if hyperscaler/enterprise customer concentration slows in upcoming 10-Q filings.
Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.
Dilution & Margin Drag: Cannibal Buyback (-2.08% YoY Shares) — any gross margin slip below 83.7% triggers an automatic RQD downgrade.
Technical & Forensic Kill-Switch: A daily close below the 50D SMA ($522.90) or 200D SMA ($480.21) invalidates the momentum regime and cuts Target Base ($614.21) toward Bear Floor ($458.28).
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) surged +3.50% to $558.88, trading at 97% of its 52-week range ($403.16 – $563.8). High-quality cash engine (86% profit margin, 20% return on capital) with steady institutional support.
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BioSpace report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Fortune report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
StockInvest.us report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Stock Titan report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
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program * Vertex Pharmaceuticals' $950 million acquisition of Semma Therapeutics, and clinical results that still require chronic immunosuppression, underscore both the value of islet cell therapy and the problem VICAPSY
Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).
vs. +8.9% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).
No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on VRTX today. View full Setup Ledger →
No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for VRTX. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.
Across 1016 tracked Health Care securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) ranks #15 by composite RQD confidence (80/100, grade B+) and #15 by equity capitalization ($136.87B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, BMY leads on earnings valuation at 17.8x trailing P/E, while VRTX leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 20.0% ROIC and 86.2% gross margin. VRTX currently leads its immediate peer cohort in composite quantitative strength at 80/100 (B+).
| Ticker / Company | Roarable Grade | RQD Score | Trailing P/E | Gross Margin | ROIC | 1D Change | Market Cap | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VRTX
ACTIVE
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | B+ | 80/100 | 34.6x | 86.2% | 20.0% | +3.50% | $136.87B | Benchmark Subject |
| BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | C | 63/100 | 17.8x | 71.1% | 13.3% | +1.78% | $125.40B | /bmy-vs-vrtx → |
| PFE Pfizer Inc. | B | 73/100 | 22.0x | 74.3% | 5.1% | +1.90% | $170.71B | /pfe-vs-vrtx → |
| NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | D+ | 57/100 | 32.8x | — | 9.9% | +2.20% | $173.31B | /nvo-vs-vrtx → |
| SNY Sanofi ADS | C- | 59/100 | 32.8x | — | 9.9% | +2.81% | $105.19B | /sny-vs-vrtx → |
In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) reported GAAP revenue of $12.00B (+8.9% vs. FY2024 revenue of $11.02B , and +21.6% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $3.95B, operating cash flow of $3.63B, and free cash flow of $3.19B (+504.1% YoY). On the balance sheet, VRTX closed FY2025 with $25.64B in total assets against $3.14B in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 13.86, Piotroski F-Score: 8/9).
| Fiscal Period | Filing Date | Revenue | Net Income | Operating Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | Total Assets | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (FY) | 2025-12-31 | $12.00B | $3.95B | $3.63B | $3.19B | $25.64B | $3.14B |
| FY2024 (FY) | 2024-12-31 | $11.02B | -$535.6M | -$492.6M | -$790.3M | $22.53B | $2.76B |
| FY2023 (FY) | 2023-12-31 | $9.87B | $3.62B | $3.54B | $3.09B | $75.28B | $17.62B |
As of 2026-11-02, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX) is rated B+ (Buy / BUY) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 80/100 at a spot price of $558.88 (+3.50% 1D, market cap $136.87B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 17/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 17/20, Executive Insider Alignment 16/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 15/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 15/20. Across 1016 tracked Health Care issuers, VRTX ranks #15 in composite RQD confidence.
Within the Health Care sector (Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations), VRTX carries a Roarable B+ (80/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 34.6x, gross margin of 86.2%, and ROIC of 20.0%. By comparison, BMY (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company) holds a C grade (63/100 RQD, P/E 17.8x, ROIC 13.3%, cap $125.40B) and PFE (Pfizer Inc.) posts a B grade (73/100 RQD, P/E 22.0x, ROIC 5.1%, cap $170.71B). Among the 5-stock peer group, BMY leads on earnings multiple (17.8x) while VRTX leads on capital efficiency (20.0% ROIC).
Per VRTX's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000875320), Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated generated $12.00B in revenue (+8.9% YoY), $3.95B in net income, and $3.19B in free cash flow against $25.64B in total assets and $3.14B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Strong cash generator (86% profit margin)—profits are backed by real money, not accounting tricks.. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
VRTX last traded at $558.88 (+3.50% on volume of 3,030,030 shares), positioning the stock +6.88% above its 50-day simple moving average ($522.90) and +16.38% above its 200-day simple moving average ($480.21). Across its 52-week range of $403.16 to $563.80, VRTX sits at the 96.9% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 57.7 (BULLISH MOMENTUM) and an implied next-earnings move of ±5.7% ($527.02 to $590.74).
Why VRTX Stock surged +3.50% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash. High-quality cash engine (86% profit margin, 20% return on capital) with steady institutional support.
Per the Roarable RQD rating, VRTX scores 80 out of 100, a letter grade of B+, labeled "Roarable Buy — Very Good Cash & Smart-Money Inflow." The five pillars are:
Taken together, the rating points to a high-quality, cash-generative franchise with strong institutional and insider signals, offset by a premium valuation (P/E TTM 34.6) that limits the margin of safety for new buyers. Upside drivers are the high ROIC and balance-sheet strength; the main valuation tradeoff is the elevated multiple relative to the 2.33% FCF yield.
| Period | Revenue | Operating Income | Net Income | EPS | FCF | Cash | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 (filed 2025-12-31) | $12001.3M | $4173.3M | $3953.2M | N/A | $3193.8M | $5084.8M | $3139.7M |
| FY 2024 (filed 2024-12-31) | $11020.1M | $-232.9M | $-535.6M | N/A | $-790.3M | $4569.6M | $2755.6M |
| FY 2023 (filed 2023-12-31) | $9869.2M | $3832.0M | $3619.6M | N/A | $3093.2M | N/A | $17615.0M |
Per the SEC financials, revenue grew from $9869.2M (FY 2023) to $12001.3M (FY 2025), with FY 2025 returning to operating income of $4173.3M and net income of $3953.2M after a loss-making FY 2024. Per the market data, operating margin is 34.8% and net margin is 32.9%, with ROIC of 20%. The source data reports an Altman Z-Score of 13.86 and a Piotroski F-Score of 8/9 (per the RQD rating), both pointing to strong financial health. Debt/Equity is 0.16 per the RQD rating, and FY 2025 debt of $3139.7M sits against cash of $5084.8M. Reported EPS is N/A for all periods in the financials table.
Per the recent news feed, the flow of coverage is dominated by market-attention and analysis pieces, all marked YELLOW. Specific items include:
Risk watch items are not specifically itemized in the source data. The Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph reports no supply-chain links and no proprietary signals.
Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below
Yahoo Finance report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
BioSpace report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Fortune report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
StockInvest.us report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Stock Titan report covering Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Welcome to the VRTX (Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated) Roar Pit. Current RQD Composite is 80/100 (Roarable Buy — Very Good Cash & Smart-Money Inflow) in Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations. Bulls point to capital efficiency (20.0% ROIC), while bears focus on valuation multiple compression (34.6x trailing P/E). Pick your side (🐂 Bull or 🐻 Bear) and drop your price target below.
Everyone in here is repeating the bull case on VRTX, but look at what you are paying: 34.6x trailing P/E with 86.2% gross margins. Unless Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated expands free cash flow yield next quarter, I would rather wait for a pullback closer to the 200-day moving average before touching this.
Looking at the 5-pillar RQD breakdown on VRTX, the market is fixating on short-term headline noise in Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations and ignoring the balance sheet and cash flow trajectory. At $540.00 (52-wk range $403.16 - $563.80), any beat on forward guidance forces shorts and underweight funds to chase.
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