Vertex Pharma's Mixed Quarter: How Legacy Products Drove Its Beat

Core Insights - Vertex Pharmaceuticals reported mixed third-quarter results, with total sales of $3.08 billion, surpassing expectations of $3.06 billion, and adjusted earnings of $4.80 per share, exceeding the forecast of $4.58 per share [5][8] - The sales performance was primarily driven by the older cystic fibrosis treatment, Trikafta, and the newer triplet therapy, Alyftrek, which together generated $2.9 billion in sales, slightly above the projected $2.86 billion [2][8] - However, there were notable shortfalls in other product revenues, particularly for the pain drug Journavx and the gene-editing treatment Casgevy, which raised concerns about the overall growth trajectory of Vertex's product portfolio [5][7] Financial Performance - Vertex's adjusted earnings rose by 10% year-over-year, while sales increased by 11% [5] - Revenue from Journavx was $20 million, below the expected $23 million, despite 300,000 prescriptions being filled since its launch [5][6] - Casgevy's revenue was significantly lower than anticipated at $17 million, compared to the expected $43 million, indicating a potential slowdown in uptake [7][8] Market Position and Outlook - Vertex's stock price experienced a slight decline, closing at $422.60, and is currently positioned between its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which may hinder breakout potential [4] - The company raised its sales outlook for the year to a range of $11.9 billion to $12 billion, although this is below analyst projections of $12 billion [8] - The increase in insurance coverage for Journavx to 170 million people from 150 million in the previous quarter is a positive sign, but the overall sales performance remains a concern [6]