Vertex (VRTX): analysis in plain words
Is Vertex cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Vertex (VRTX) is listed on the Nasdaq and we classify it in healthcare and pharma. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Vertex according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Vertex (VRTX) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $549.04 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 36.8x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +11.8% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 30.7% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.0x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $139.2 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Vertex figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any VRTX figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Vertex makes money
Vertex Pharmaceuticals earns most of its revenue from cystic fibrosis drugs such as Trikafta, sold as Kaftrio in Europe, and Alyftrek. It has broadened its lineup with Casgevy, a gene-editing therapy for sickle cell disease, and Journavx, a non-opioid pain medicine. The United States and Europe are its biggest markets.
Over the last 12 months, Vertex brought in revenue of $13.0 billion. For every 100 it sells, Vertex keeps 54.9 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 36.5 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 6,400 full-time employees, that is about $2 million of revenue per employee.
Vertex against its sector
To know whether a Vertex figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Vertex with the median of the 30 healthcare and pharma companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Vertex | healthcare and pharma median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 36.8x | 31.3x (30) |
| Revenue growth | +11.8% | +8.3% (33) |
| Net margin | 30.7% | 14.9% (33) |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.52% (33) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.0x | 1.6x (31) |
In short, against the typical healthcare and pharma company, Vertex trades on a higher P/E, grows faster and earns a wider margin. By size, Vertex ranks number 14 of 28 healthcare and pharma companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Vertex
What works in favour of Vertex, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Vertex keeps 30.7 of every 100 it sells as net profit, against 14.9 for the median healthcare and pharma company: a margin like that leaves money to invest, buy back shares or pay dividends.
- Analysts expect Vertex earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 27.5x, below the current 36.8x.
- Vertex earns 20.8% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
The main risk for Vertex
The Vertex figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: a key drug losing patent protection or a clinical trial failing, plus government pressure on prices.
Frequently asked questions about Vertex
Is it a good time to buy Vertex stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Vertex, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Vertex stock trades at $549.04, 3% below its 52-week high ($568.67) and 35% above its low ($406.67). Its P/E is 36.8x against a healthcare and pharma median of 31.3x, and 27.5x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Vertex, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Vertex pay a dividend?
No. As of November 4, 2026, Vertex does not pay a dividend: what it earns stays in the company to grow, invest or, where it does so, buy back shares. Anyone buying Vertex today is counting on the share price rising, not on income.
Is Vertex stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Vertex trades at 36.8x its last 12 months of earnings: more expensive than the healthcare and pharma median (31.3x). Including its debt, Vertex is valued at 26.3x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make Vertex expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Vertex's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Vertex with Boston Scientific, Stryker and Novo Nordisk, which are also in healthcare and pharma. As of November 4, 2026, Boston Scientific is worth $66.4 billion and trades on a P/E of 19.3; Stryker is worth $129.3 billion and trades on a P/E of 36.2; Novo Nordisk is worth $186.0 billion and trades on a P/E of 10.3. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Vertex below.
Vertex competitors
- Boston Scientific (BSX) analysis · Vertex vs Boston Scientific comparison
- Stryker (SYK) analysis · Vertex vs Stryker comparison
- Novo Nordisk (NVO) analysis · Vertex vs Novo Nordisk comparison
To understand Vertex better
- DCF and WACC Explained: A Practical Valuation Guide
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Vertex: healthcare and pharma stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full VRTX analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Vertex, not investment advice.