Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc. (VRTX): Jim Cramer’s Go-To Stock For Success

We recently compiled a list of the Jim Cramer’s 10 Go-To Stocks for Success. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) stands against Jim Cramer's other go-to stocks for success.

In a recent episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer offers a perspective on Nvidia and its recent market behavior on Wednesday's episode of Mad Money, presenting a straightforward analysis of the company's stock performance and the broader implications for investors. Cramer notes that owning the company's stock was easier when the company was less well-known. As the company has become a major market focus, it's attracted significant attention and criticism, which is evident after its recent financial report.

"Once you get this big, to the point where you become the focal point of the entire stock market, you're going to have a target on your back. And that's exactly what I think happened tonight to the stock after the firm reported a fine and dandy set of numbers. But fine and dandy is no longer enough for this incredible company."

Despite reporting impressive numbers—122% revenue growth, a 152% increase in adjusted earnings per share, and a $50 billion buyback— the firm's stock fell after hours. This reaction reflects high expectations that may have become unrealistic. The stock market as a whole suffered due to pre-quarter jitters surrounding the company, with declines in major indices like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite. The drop in the firm's stock price after the earnings report, coupled with concerns about its influence on the broader market, has led some to call this period the GPU maker's "buzzkill quarter."

"The Dow declining 59 points was bad, the S&P losing 0.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite 1.12%. And now, with the stock sinking after hours, we could be in for a hangover from what they're already calling the company's buzzkill quarter. But the people saying this might as well be having a watch party—yes, there was one—but there's nothing to celebrate here. Move on."

Cramer emphasizes that the company's role in artificial intelligence is significant, but its overemphasis has become a burden on the market. The company's market capitalization has skyrocketed from around $500 billion to over $3 trillion in just 18 months. Cramer suggests that the company's immense importance might be overblown and that a recalibration might benefit the market.

"We know that artificial intelligence is the way of the future, and it's the best bet on AI. But the company has become an albatross around the market's neck because no one stock should be a proxy for the future of the S&P 500. Yet, that's exactly what's happened as the company has grown from around $500 billion in market cap just 18 months ago to more than $3 trillion now. Maybe after tonight, it will shed that millstone—like Apple did. You know what? That would be a godsend for all of us."

Cramer expresses frustration with how quickly concerns about the company have spread to the broader tech sector, although he acknowledges that companies like Salesforce reported positive numbers. Cramer concludes by advising investors to diversify their portfolios beyond just tech stocks. He suggests that while diversification might seem less exciting, it is a crucial strategy to mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on a single sector or stock.

"It felt like insult added to injury when there was no injury to the company. It will muddle through and recharge at its next iteration. Blackwell goes boring, and we see renewed expectations. I hope they don't get excessive like they were tonight."

Our Methodology

This article reviews a recent episode of Jim Cramer's Mad Money, where he discussed ten stocks he believes have significant growth potential. It also looks at how hedge funds view these stocks and ranks them based on their level of hedge fund ownership, starting with the least owned and moving to the most owned.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

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Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 59

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) is a dominant force in the cystic fibrosis (CF) market, driven by its successful treatments like Trikafta, Kalydeco, and Symdeko. Trikafta has notably transformed CF treatment by targeting the disease's root cause for many patients, providing Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) with a steady revenue stream and supporting its continued investment in research and development.

Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX)'s financial health is strong, with Q2 2024 revenues of $2.49 billion, a 14% increase from the previous year due to robust sales of its CF treatments. Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) also reported a net income of $926 million and holds over $12 billion in cash and marketable securities, giving it significant resources for future growth. Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) is also expanding its focus beyond CF, developing promising new therapies for sickle cell disease, beta-thalassemia, type 1 diabetes, and pain management. Its collaboration with CRISPR Therapeutics on the gene-editing therapy exa-cel is particularly noteworthy, as it has the potential to broaden Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX)'s market reach if successful.

In addition, Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX)'s advancements in gene and cell therapies, including the acquisitions of Semma Therapeutics and ViaCyte, are progressing well. The positive interim results from the Phase 2 study of VX-880, a cell therapy for type 1 diabetes, highlight significant progress and could open new revenue opportunities. Investor sentiment towards Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) is favorable, reflecting confidence in its growth prospects.

Despite its strong performance and leadership in the CF market, Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX)'s stock remains attractively valued compared to its biotech peers. Recent developments, such as the upcoming regulatory filings for exa-cel and the extension of its share repurchase program, further boost Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX)'s investment appeal and future potential.

Overall VRTX ranks 5th on our list of Jim Cramer's go-to stocks for success. While we acknowledge the potential of VRTX as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that under the radar AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than the ones on our list but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

 

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.