Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:VRTX) is classified as a member of the 345 company Biotechnology GICS industry group, which is part of the 782 company GICS Health Care sector. VRTX has a market value of $38.8 billion which is in the top 10% of its industry group. Portfolio Grader’s current ranking for VRTX puts it 40 among the 345 companies in this industry group, putting in the top quartile; in the top quartile of the sector with a ranking of 133 among the 782 companies in the sector, and number 983 in the nearly 5,000 company Portfolio Grader universe.
Portfolio Grader currently ranks VRTX as a Buy. With exclusive fundamental and quantitative metrics developed by Louis Navellier, this stock analytical tool evaluates approximately 5,000 stocks weekly. VRTX has maintained this ranking for 3 months.
The Health Care sector is ranked number 10 among the 12 sectors in the Portfolio Grader universe putting it in the bottom quartile of all the GICS sectors. The Biotechnology industry group is ranked 58 among the 69 industry groups within the GICS sectors, placing it well below-average in terms of the Navellier scoring system.
Top 5 Biotech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Biogen Idec Inc(BIIB)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By George Budwell]
Shares of theDanish drugmaker Forward Pharma A/S (NASDAQ:FWP) gained 48.2% yesterday as the result of a settlement and licensing deal with Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB)involving an ongoing patent dispute over the multiple sclerosis drug Tecfidera. Per the terms of the deal, Biogen will fork overa non-refundable$1.25 billion licensing fee, and possibly pay 10% to 20% royalties on Tecfidera’snet sales to Forward starting in 2021.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Biogen (BIIB) tumbled to the bottom of the S&P 500 today after getting cut by two analysts.
Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Biogen dropped 4.7% to $278.96 at 4:19 p.m. today, while the S&P 500 declined 0.2% to 2,381.38.
Leerinks Geoffrey Porges cited the “slower than expected ramp for Spinraza” in cutting Biogen to Market Perform from Outperform, while Morgan Stanly’s Matthew Harrison wrote that his decision to cut Biogen to Market Weight from Overweight was “not a downside call, but a timing call.”
Biogen’s market capitalization fell to $60.2 billion today from $63.2 billion yesterday. It reported net income of $3.7 billion on sales of $10.2 billion in 2016.
Barron’s Teresa Rivas recommended buying Biogen in December after the company released positive trial data on its Alzheimer’s drug.
- [By Todd Campbell]
A new and highly anticipated study byCelgene Corp. (NASDAQ:CELG) shows that its promising multiple sclerosis drug could soon reshape the $19 billion multiple sclerosis market. On Friday, management reported that ozanimod met its primary endpoint for reducing MS relapses better than Biogen Inc.’s (NASDAQ:BIIB) Avonex, and importantly, it did so without any new safety risks.
- [By Brian Orelli]
While that’s fine for clinical trials, it may make it difficult for Ionis’ drugs to compete with drugs that work as well but don’t have side effects that need to be monitored. Of course, for Spinraza, which Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB) and Ionis recently got approved for spinal muscular atrophy, side effects aren’t an issue because there aren’t any other treatment options at the moment.
Top 5 Biotech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Amgen Inc.(AMGN)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Keith Speights]
Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD), Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY), and Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) stand out as three of the most likely suitors for Incyte. Here’s why these big drugmakers could be interested in making a significant acquisition.
- [By Maxx Chatsko]
Shares of Radius Health (NASDAQ:RDUS) rose over 20% Monday morning after Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) announced worrisome complications were discovered during a phase 3 trial for its osteoporosis drug candidate, Evenity. While the drug candidate met its primary endpoint in a more than 4,000-patient phase 3 study, a high rate of serious heart-related side effects were discovered. The drug was previously expected to gain marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July, but that decision will now be delayed by up to a year or more, if the drug is approved at all.
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
Finally on Friday, Tiffany (TIF) reports, and Cramer is betting on positive news now that the company has an activist involved. He was also bullish on Amgen’s (AMGN) analyst meeting, saying investors should use any market weakness earlier in the week to buy.
- [By Johanna Bennett]
Shares of Amgen (AMGN) led the drop in the S&P 500 today falling almost 6.4% to close at $168.61 after the drug maker unveiledlong-awaited data on its anti-cholesterol drug Repatha.
Can shares of Amgen rebound from todays selloff?
Yes, is the answer from RBC Capital Management analyst Michael Yee. He argues that the drug makers share price can grind back up if access to Repatha increases over the next few quarters. Earlier today, Amgen released data from an outcome study that missed expectations, leading some analyst to predict that health plans will continue to restrict access to the drug.
As Yee writes:
A number of key developments midday at the ACC conference that should shed increased confidence that Repatha reimbursement and utilization will continue to increase over time driving a new growth driver for AMGN and increased confidence in a new product cycle. If reimbursement does start to open up over next few quarters (tracking IMS scripts and other datapoints) and AMGN manages their execution on quarters/guidance – stock should recover off today’s overreaction reflecting high expectations
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
That’s why Cramer said he’ll be listening for news coming from Celgene (CEL) , Amgen (AMGN) , Allergan (AGN) , an Action Alerts PLUS holding, and Regenron (REGN) , all of which are set to present. Of the four, Cramer said he’s sticking with Allergan and Amgen.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Three biotech stocks–Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN), Amgen (AMGN), and Celgene (CELG)–reported earnings since yesterday’s close. But just one has seen its shares head higher after the announcement.
Top 5 Biotech Stocks To Buy Right Now: ARIAD Pharmaceuticals Inc.(ARIA)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin]
Healthcare shares gained around 0.73 percent in trading on Monday. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARIA), and VCA Inc (NASDAQ: WOOF).
Top 5 Biotech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Medivation Inc.(MDVN)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Medivation (MDVN) has soared 20% to $80.41 after agreeing to be purchased for $14 billion, or $81.50 a share, by Pfizer (PFE). Pfizer has declined 0.7% to $34.75.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Shares of Medivation Inc (NASDAQ: MDVN) got a boost, shooting up 24 percent to $46.35 amid word of a new report from Bloomberg, saying the company is working with bankers to defend itself against preliminary interest of a takeover. However, Reuters separately reported the company is working with JPMorgan to handle interest from other companies, but said Medivation has no interest in selling itself.
- [By Scott Rubin]
Big gainers on the day included Intersil Corp (NASDAQ: ISIL), which jumped 20 percent on news of a buyout, and Medivation (NASDAQ: MDVN), which added 20 percent on a deal with Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) related to its cancer drug. Cotiviti Holdings Inc (NYSE: COTV) lost around 9 percent in the wake of a mid-day sell-off and Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) fell 7 percent in the wake of a management shakeup.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Well, it looks like Medivation (MDVN) now has five suitors after reports that Amgen (AMGN) is joining Pfizer (PFE), Sanofi (SNY), AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS) in considering a bid. Maxim’s Jason Kolbert and Jason McCarthy offer their thoughts:
Medivation reports tonight at 4:30pm…
We expect the focus to be on the recent proposals from Sanofi (SNY $38.75- NR); Pfizer (PFE $33.40 -NR), AstraZeneca (AZN $28.26-NR) and just today, Amgen (AMGN – $154.18 – NR)…
Medivation is returning to new highs as suitors line up to make acquisition bids. In this scenario what is the right discount rate for modeling purposes?
We believe our model for Xtandi revenues is good, therefore we review our risk rating and determine the following: 30% = $47 15% = $76 10% = $99
With Medivation’s board having now said No to anything less than $65 per share, it suggests to us that the stability and predictability of Xtandi’s revenues is greater than we thought, the risk is lower. Our intermediate risk rating is 15% or $76 fair value.
Shares of Medivation rose 0.3% to $59.22 today, while Pfizer gained 0.5% to $33.56, Sanofi fell 0.5% to $39.07, AstraZeneca dropped 0.6% to $39.07, Novartis declined 0.3% to $74.12, and Amgen ticked up 0.1% to $154.25.
Top 5 Biotech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.(ALNY)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Yesterday, after markets closed, it was announced that US Federal District Court Judge Sue Robinson ruled to issue a permanent injunction against Praluent, the PCSK9 mAb for hypercholesterolemia from partners Regeneron and Sanofi, due to infringement of patents from Amgen. The court has imposed a 30-day suspension (stay) on the injunction to allow for settlement or appeal of the District Court decision. Sanofi and Regeneron have announced their intent to appeal the ruling to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC). The injunction decision is consistent with our counter-consensus published views communicated on 25 January 2016 (“Downgrade to Sell on evidence of likely infringement of Amgen’s PCSK9 patents”) and subsequently. Based on consultation with expert legal counsel, we now put >75% probability Amgen will prevail on appeal and/or Praluent is ultimately removed from the US market, and/or Amgen achieves a settlement substantially in its favor. We currently model $3.3 bn in non-risk-adjusted 2022E US revenues for Praluent, while consensus models $1.2 bn in 2022E US revenues. We reiterate our view from 25 January 2016 to preferentially own Amgen, The Medicines Company (MDCO) (Buy), and Alnylam (ALNY) (Buy) over Regeneron for exposure to PCSK9 inhibitor market dynamics as outcomes trials approach.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALNY) shares shot up 53 percent to $114.87 after the company impressed investors with encouraging data from a phase 3 clinical trial. Alnylam, a company dedicated towards treating a wide range of debilitating diseases through ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference (RNAi) therapeutics, said after Tuesday's market close that a phase 3 study called APOLLO met its primary efficacy endpoint and all secondary endpoints.
- [By Brian Orelli]
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ALNY) jumped as much as 14.5% today after announcing earnings after the bell yesterday. As a development-stage biotech, it wasn’t the revenue or the earnings that caused the spike, but the progression of Allnylam’s pipeline.
- [By Cory Renauer]
Treating diseases that have a genetic component by altering the expression of the responsible genes is a promising new field of medicine, but it has been much less straightforward than biopharmaceutical companies had expected. Two contenders in this area, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ALNY) and Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:IONS), saw a mix of setbacks and success in 2016.
