Group 1 - Vortex Energy Corp. announced a consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares at a ratio of one (1) post-consolidated common share for every ten (10) pre-consolidated common shares [1][2][3] - The total number of outstanding shares will be reduced to approximately 8,281,056 common shares following the consolidation [1][3] - The name and symbol of the company will remain unchanged despite the share consolidation [2][4] Group 2 - All open orders will be canceled at the close of business on March 31, 2025, and dealers are reminded to re-enter their orders considering the share consolidation [2][4] - Trading on a consolidated basis is set to begin on April 1, 2025, with the record date and anticipated payment date also on April 1, 2025 [5] - The new symbol for the shares will be VRTX, with a new CUSIP of 92905D 20 3 and a new ISIN of CA 92905D 20 3 2 [5]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry**: Biopharma in North America - **Market Analysis**: Comprehensive analysis of the US drug market conducted by IQVIA Rx Key Market Metrics - **Total Prescription Year-over-Year (YoY) Growth**: - Latest weekly growth (week ending March 14, 2025) was +4.0%, up from +3.0% the previous week and +2.3% over the past 12 weeks [1][2] - For the week ended March 14, the total market weekly TRx YoY change was +4.0% compared to +1.2% a year ago [2] - Rolling 4-week TRx YoY was +3.1% and rolling 12-week TRx YoY was +2.3% [2] - Extended unit (EUTRx) weekly YoY growth was +2.2%, which is below the TRx YoY growth [2] Company-Specific Insights - **Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY)**: - Cobenfy, approved for schizophrenia on September 26, 2024, had approximately 1,340 scripts for the week, an increase from ~1,300 the previous week [3] - To meet 2025 consensus expectations, Cobenfy TRx needs to track at ~2-3x the volumes from recent schizophrenia launches, with an estimated requirement of ~125K TRx to reach consensus estimates of $160 million [3] - **Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)**: - Journavx, approved for acute pain on January 30, 2025, recorded ~1,150 scripts for the week, up from ~610 the previous week [4] - To achieve a sales estimate of $87 million, approximately 229K and 441K total scripts are needed for 14-day and 7-day script durations, respectively [4] Competitive Landscape - **Biosimilars**: - Updates on biosimilar launches including Amgen's Wezlana and Teva's Selarsdi, with respective launch dates of January 17, 2025, and February 21, 2025 [5] - **Seasonal Vaccines**: - RSV vaccine volumes are tracking ~65% below last year's levels, while COVID vaccine volumes are also down year-over-year [9] Notable Drug Performance - **Eli Lilly (LLY)**: - Mounjaro and Zepbound launches are being tracked, with Mounjaro showing significant growth [10] - **AbbVie**: - Humira is experiencing a decline of -41% YoY, while Rinvoq and Skyrizi are showing growth rates of 43% and 49% respectively [22][23] Additional Insights - **Market Dynamics**: - The analysis indicates that extended unit data trends were more positive than prescription trends, suggesting a shift towards longer-duration prescriptions [33] - **Sales Trends**: - The IQVIA databases differentiate between prescription and sales trends, with TRx representing total prescriptions dispensed including refills [29] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call, highlighting the current state of the biopharma industry, specific company performances, and market dynamics.

Company Performance - Vertex Pharmaceuticals closed at $512.52, with a slight increase of +0.06% from the previous session, underperforming compared to the S&P 500's gain of 1.08% [1] - Over the past month, Vertex shares have increased by 10.85%, significantly outperforming the Medical sector's gain of 0.21% and the S&P 500's loss of 8.26% [1] Upcoming Earnings - The company is expected to report an EPS of $4.19, reflecting a decrease of 11.97% from the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is anticipated to be $2.81 billion, indicating a growth of 4.56% year-over-year [2] Annual Forecast - For the entire year, earnings are projected at $17.65 per share, representing a substantial increase of +4102.38% compared to the previous year [3] - Revenue for the year is estimated at $11.85 billion, showing a growth of +7.56% from the prior year [3] Analyst Estimates - Recent changes to analyst estimates for Vertex Pharmaceuticals indicate evolving short-term business trends, with positive revisions suggesting optimism about the company's outlook [4] - Adjustments in estimates are correlated with stock price performance, and investors can utilize the Zacks Rank for actionable insights [5] Zacks Rank and Valuation - Vertex Pharmaceuticals currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), with a recent consensus EPS projection moving 0.19% higher [6] - The company has a Forward P/E ratio of 29.02, which is higher than the industry average of 19.17, indicating a premium valuation [7] PEG Ratio - Vertex has a PEG ratio of 1.25, which is lower than the industry average PEG ratio of 1.55, suggesting a more favorable valuation in terms of expected earnings growth [8] Industry Context - The Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry, which includes Vertex, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 73, placing it in the top 30% of over 250 industries [9] - Research indicates that industries in the top 50% outperform those in the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [9]

Group 1: Market Overview - Equity markets started 2025 positively, but the Nasdaq Composite index has declined by 8% since the beginning of the year [1] - Uncertainty remains regarding future market movements, with potential for quick recovery or a bear market due to global macroeconomic tensions [1] Group 2: DexCom - DexCom's stock dropped by 37% in 2024 and is down by 8% in 2025, but the company's long-term prospects remain attractive [3][10] - DexCom is a leader in the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) market, with devices like the G7 that help diabetes patients manage blood glucose levels [4] - The percentage of CGM users in the U.S. is still lower than the covered population, indicating significant growth potential for DexCom [5] - Only 1% of diabetes patients worldwide use CGM devices, suggesting ample opportunity for market expansion [6] - The recent launch of the over-the-counter CGM option, Stelo, adds 25 million type 2 diabetes patients not on insulin to DexCom's market [8] - Increased adoption of CGM devices is expected to drive compatibility with other diabetes management tools, enhancing DexCom's competitive advantage [8][9] Group 3: Vertex Pharmaceuticals - Vertex Pharmaceuticals has seen a 27% increase in share price since the beginning of 2025, defying market trends [11] - The company has received approval for two new medicines, Alyftrek for cystic fibrosis and Journavx, a non-opioid oral pain inhibitor [11][12] - Journavx targets a market of approximately 80 million patients in acute pain, with potential for blockbuster status [13][14] - Vertex's pipeline includes Casgevy, a gene-editing treatment for rare blood diseases, and ongoing development for a potential functional cure for type 1 diabetes [15][16] - The company's innovative capabilities and strong pipeline are expected to drive growth well into the 2030s [17]

Group 1: Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly is positioned to potentially become the first healthcare company to achieve a $1 trillion valuation, driven by its strong growth prospects [2] - The company reported a 45% revenue growth in the most recent quarter, attributed to its popular GLP-1 drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound, along with an approved Alzheimer's treatment, Kisunla [3] - Eli Lilly's profits doubled to $10.6 billion last year, leading to a 15% increase in its dividend, marking the seventh consecutive year of dividend growth [4] - Despite trading at 70 times its trailing earnings, Eli Lilly's price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) ratio of 1.2 suggests it remains an attractive option for long-term investors [5] Group 2: Novo Nordisk - Novo Nordisk is currently near its 52-week low, impacted by recent market volatility and clinical setbacks, but remains a strong long-term investment [6][7] - The company's key product, semaglutide, is undergoing clinical trials for potential label expansions in Alzheimer's disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, which could address significant unmet medical needs [8] - Novo Nordisk has a robust pipeline, including promising compounds like Amycretin, and continues to lead in the diabetes drug market while expanding into rare conditions [9][10] Group 3: Vertex Pharmaceuticals - Vertex Pharmaceuticals markets all five approved drugs for cystic fibrosis, demonstrating resilience in demand even amid broader market declines [12][13] - The company has recently launched three new products, including Casgevy, the first CRISPR gene-editing therapy, and has received FDA approvals for Alyftrek and Journavx [14] - Vertex is optimistic about the commercial prospects of Journavx, which is the first new class of pain medication approved in over two decades, and anticipates that its new products will become blockbuster drugs [15][16]

Core Viewpoint - The healthcare sector is perceived as a safe investment during market volatility, with certain stocks presenting strong opportunities for investment with a modest amount of capital [1]. Group 1: AbbVie - AbbVie has seen a year-to-date share price increase of approximately 20% despite broader market concerns [2]. - The company’s product portfolio includes successful drugs for autoimmune diseases, such as Rinvoq and Skyrizi, as well as cancer treatments like Imbruvica and Venclexta [3]. - AbbVie’s acquisition of Allergan has positioned it as a leader in the aesthetics market, with popular products like Botox and Juvederm [3]. - The current share price of AbbVie is around $212, with a low PEG ratio of 0.45 based on five-year earnings growth projections, indicating strong growth potential [4]. - AbbVie offers a forward dividend yield of 3.09% and has a history of 53 consecutive years of dividend increases, qualifying it as a Dividend King [4]. Group 2: Vertex Pharmaceuticals - Vertex Pharmaceuticals has outperformed AbbVie with a share price increase of over 20% year-to-date [5]. - The company holds a near-monopoly in cystic fibrosis treatment, which enhances its market position [5]. - Recent FDA approvals for Vertex’s new CF drug Alyftrek and non-opioid pain medication Journavx are expected to drive significant growth [6][7]. - The share price of Vertex is just under $500, providing an opportunity to invest in its promising pipeline, including a potential cure for severe type 1 diabetes [8]. Group 3: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals - Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals is currently not profitable but has shown strong market performance with double-digit gains this year [9]. - The company’s drug Arcalyst, approved for recurrent pericarditis, saw a 79% year-over-year sales increase in 2024, reaching $417 million, with projections of up to $580 million for the current year [10]. - Kiniksa has only captured about 13% of the market for Arcalyst, indicating significant growth potential as it expands its market share [10]. - The share price of Kiniksa is around $22, allowing for investment alongside AbbVie and Vertex [11].

Core Insights - Investors in the Medical - Biomedical and Genetics sector should consider Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) for potential value opportunities [1] Valuation Metrics - GILD has a forward P/E ratio of 14.49, while VRTX has a forward P/E of 28.07, indicating GILD may be undervalued compared to VRTX [5] - GILD's PEG ratio is 0.74, suggesting a favorable valuation when considering expected earnings growth, whereas VRTX's PEG ratio is 1.20 [5] - GILD's P/B ratio is 7.38, compared to VRTX's P/B of 7.78, further supporting GILD's stronger valuation metrics [6] Analyst Outlook - GILD currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a more favorable earnings estimate revision activity compared to VRTX, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3][6] - The solid earnings outlook for GILD positions it as the superior value option in comparison to VRTX [6]

Core Viewpoint - Vertex Pharmaceuticals has seen a 7.3% increase in share price over the past month, outperforming the S&P 500, raising questions about the sustainability of this trend leading up to the next earnings release [1] Estimates Movement - Estimates for Vertex Pharmaceuticals have trended upward over the past month, indicating positive sentiment among analysts [2] VGM Scores - Vertex currently holds a poor Growth Score of F, a Momentum Score of D, and a Value Score of D, placing it in the bottom 40% for the value investment strategy, resulting in an overall aggregate VGM Score of F [3] Outlook - The upward trend in estimates for Vertex appears promising, with a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting an expectation of in-line returns in the coming months [4] Industry Performance - Vertex is part of the Zacks Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry, where Regeneron has gained 7.9% over the past month, reporting revenues of $3.79 billion for the last quarter, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 10.3% [5] - For the current quarter, Regeneron is expected to report earnings of $9.13 per share, which is a 4.4% decrease from the previous year, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate showing a 7.2% decline over the last 30 days [6]

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Core Insights - Vertex Pharmaceuticals experienced exceptional growth in 2024, marked by financial performance, regulatory approvals, and the acquisition of Alpine Immune Sciences [3] - In 2025, the company continues to lead in cystic fibrosis (CF) with the recent approval and launch of ALYFTREK, and is building momentum with CASGEVY, a gene editing therapy for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia [3] - Vertex is also launching JOURNAVX to expand its franchise in acute pain, indicating a busy start to the year with four Phase 3 programs expected to have significant milestones [3][4]