David BurrowsVertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.VRTXTOP PICKSep 26, 2022
It is in the biotech sector which came under pressure18 months ago. The sector found a footing in June and has held well above lows while the market is selling off. In general there are great bio technologies coming to market. Specifically it is a leading producer of a Cystic Fibrosis treatment that continues to proliferate around global health care systems. It is head and shoulders over what was available previously. It is a defensive stock because earnings are not cyclical and it is growing at 25% per year as well as trading at 18X next year's earnings. With a 74 billion market cap it just made a 5 year high which is very significant. (Analysts’ price target is $310.80)
Their drugs have done great in cystic fibrosis (which has become the standard of care) and gene therapies (innovative). Their science has been at the front end of the curve.
He sold part of this. In Q1, the FDA approved a record low number of drugs, and Vertex has some important trials. Was nervous in a macro standpoint, but company fundamentals and valuation were reasonable. He hopes for a bounce.
Sold it. Long term this is great. He wrote a $19.50 covered call last Monday. Earnings slightly miss and the stock sold off. So, he hedged half the decline then got stopped out. It's pure risk management.
She trimmed it because it's up 20% this year because of the launch of their pain medicine. Tonight's earnings will be fine and their pipeline makes it a good stock long term.
He likes it for developing non-addictive painkillers with potential FDA approvals ahead. They reported a great quarter a day before the election, but has since pulled back hard that baffles him. Looks like profit-taking in a stock that's jumped 113% since end-2021.
It's doing well, hitting new highs today. It's further along in its life cycle. Has a fine cystic fibrosis franchise. Shares are strong momentum, so he's staying in.
PPH, an ETF for pharma producers, is breaking out and near a record. VTX and Eli Lilly are leaders in this space and Vertex has a great product for Cystic Fibrosis therapeutics. It is growing well and not too expensive.