Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) has been rocking it in the biotech industry, even during these wild market conditions. Remember, it’s been about 1.5 years since my last analysis, so let’s see where they stand now.
So, Vertex has been a prime example of quality shining through even in volatile times. In 2022, they weathered the bear market like a champ, proving that biotech isn’t necessarily a safe haven, but they’re making it work.
Their Q1 results are looking great! They’re on a profitable growth path, thanks to the massive success of their CF blockbuster drug, Trikafta. Sales have shot up 13.2% year-on-year. But hang on, their operating profit did dip by 25%. Don’t fret though, it’s because of a one-time milestone payment they had to make.
When you take that out, the operating profit is still up 6.6% from last year. And they’re sitting on a hefty cash position of $10.4 billion, even after those milestone payments and share buybacks. Not too shabby, huh?
But, folks, the growth of their CF franchise seems to be slowing down a bit. Trikafta is reaching its limits after some major approval expansions, but that’s normal. The patent lasts until 2037, and with those juicy profits, they’re still looking solid.
However, analysts aren’t quite as gung-ho about the outlook. They confirmed a revenue outlook of $9.55-9.7 billion, which is still good, but only shows a growth rate of 7.7% on average. That’s a significant slowdown compared to the 18% growth of the previous year.
Vertex isn’t putting all its eggs in one basket. They’re gearing up with their late-stage pipeline, which includes gene therapy for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. That could be a game-changer for them.
One of these hopefuls is Exa-Cel, the gene therapy for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. They’ve applied for approval, and the FDA has a priority review scheduled. If approved, this could be a massive milestone for the company.
Then we’ve got VX-548 for Acute Pain and Inaxaplin for APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease. Both are in Phase 3 and have blockbuster potential. VX-548 is aiming to fill a gap in the pain medication market without the addictive potential of opioids, while Inaxaplin could be a real game-changer in kidney disease treatment.
Oh, and we can’t forget about VX-880, an experimental therapy for type 1 diabetes. Early results look promising, and it could be a game-changer if all goes well.
But here’s the thing, folks. Valuation isn’t easy to figure out, especially with all these potential growth drivers. Three scenarios give us different price targets: $276, $416, and $524. Right now, the median is at $405, 15% above the current price.
Vertex is still an attractive investment option in the biotech sector. They’ve got a strong position, solid management, and a promising pipeline. Just like Warren Buffett says, it’s better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price, and Vertex seems like just that.