Vertex Pharmaceuticals has faced its fair share of challenges in recent times, but there’s reason to believe that its painkiller could turn the tides. Despite a setback at a conference on Nov. 14, where the company’s chief operating officer discussed the trial design for its non-opioid painkiller, Vertex stock has the potential for a notable rebound.
The absence of a placebo in the trial design remains a concern. Analyst Danielle Brill from Raymond James notes, “Now the data will be much less informative.” However, this obstacle is not insurmountable. Vertex has multiple trial phases planned for 2024, offering a significant opportunity. In a market where global sales of nonaddictive alternatives to opioids are expected to reach approximately $5 billion this year (according to Polaris Market Research), Vertex aims for around $4 billion in sales for its new painkiller. While RBC analyst Brian Abrahams conservatively forecasts $2.8 billion in annual revenue for VX-548 in the long run, the potential for success remains optimistic.
Calculating profit margins for these projected sales is challenging. Nevertheless, if VX-548 can generate an additional $1.5 billion in net income by next year, based on the expected $4.31 billion in revenue, it could prove tremendously lucrative. Analysts estimate a 48% profit margin on this drug for next year—a figure that could greatly contribute to profit growth, especially considering the company’s unchanged tax rate and absence of additional borrowing for VX-548 investments. BMO analyst Evan Seigerman suggests that we could see a remarkable 30% or more increase in profits over the next eight years.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ pursuit of an innovative painkiller could hold immense potential for both the company and patients seeking alternative treatments. With upcoming trial phases on the horizon, investors eagerly await the future of VX-548.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals: A Promising Outlook for Earnings Growth
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a leading biopharmaceutical company, recently reported its third-quarter sales figures. While they narrowly missed estimates, the company’s Cystic Fibrosis treatment, Trikafta, continued its impressive growth, surpassing expectations. This, along with better-than-expected earnings per share of $4.08 (beating estimates of $3.92), can be attributed to a lower tax rate. Furthermore, Vertex Pharmaceuticals raised its full-year guidance, projecting cystic fibrosis revenue to reach $9.85 billion. Surprisingly, achieving this target will not require a significant increase in spending on salaries or research and development.
The company’s sales success is underpinned by the potency of its painkiller business. Analyst Salveen Richter from Goldman Sachs values the Cystic Fibrosis division at an impressive $324 per share—almost the entirety of Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ current stock value, with only $30 unaccounted for. Notably, the patents protecting these drugs will remain in effect until the 2030s. Richter highlights the company’s strong financial position, boasting cash and equivalents totaling $13.6 billion as of Q3 2023, alongside its scarcity value as a large biopharma entity with no anticipated loss of exclusivity until the second half of the 2030s.
Despite these positive developments, Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ stock is currently trading at 21 times its projected 12-month forward earnings, which is below its five-year average of 23. This suggests that the potential success of their painkiller business is not fully reflected in the stock price. Analysts have high hopes for the company’s upcoming painkiller trial, with predictions that it could drive the stock price beyond $400—a formidable 13% increase from its recent valuation of $353. Goldman Sachs’ Richter offers a more optimistic price target of $439, equating to a 24% increase.
Looking ahead, Vertex Pharmaceuticals appears to have a promising outlook for continued earnings growth—an exciting prospect for investors.