Jim Lebenthal Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. VRTX-Q BUY May 31, 2024

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.

Even at this all time high don't sell. They're working on non-addictive painkillers

Negative free cash flow to enter 2024, but it's turning positive. Shares are up 21% this year.

Their anti-pain drug is not addictive and it works. He's a believer.

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.

They got disappointing news on their wonder drug. Disappointing. Doesn't see upside for the company.

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.

A strong performer in this market, not pulling back. Everybody is excited over their pain drug, and other drugs in the pipeline as well. 

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.