On January 12, Bernstein analyst William Pickering upgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) to Outperform from Market Perform. The firm simultaneously named Vertex a top biotech pick for 2026.
Pickering observed that the biotech sector entered 2026 after a significant recovery. This followed a three-year downturn and was marked by a 36% gain in 2025. Bernstein linked the recovery to lower interest rates, more acquisition activity, and reduced policy risks.
Separately, on January 6, UBS analyst Michael Yee assumed coverage of Vertex with a Buy rating. He set a price target of $535, a slight adjustment from a previous $546. Yee described the current risk/reward profile as attractive. He noted that a stock pullback in 2025 has positioned the company favorably ahead of multiple data readouts scheduled for 2026-2027. The analyst cited the strength of Vertex's core cystic fibrosis franchise as a key factor.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company that develops and commercializes therapies for cystic fibrosis.