Screened 2026-09-08 · the tape above runs as of 21:00 UTC · two dates, stated on purpose · verdict and workings shown in full · never trimmed
The Label · The Season, Not the Day
This name holds its distribution label.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals holds its Distribution at $528.90. The statistical read favours the buyers, held for 34 days.
As held on the ledger · 2026-09-08
Phase
Distribution · caution
Quantitative state
The statistical read favours the buyers, held for 34 days
Price at the screen
$528.90
Valuation
30.84 trailing · 26.15 forward price to earnings
Values screen
PASS· score 71.4
Beta
0.32
The Workings
Five Screens, Shown in Full
Full pass across all five screens. This security clears the Titan Ethical Standard: its business and its balance sheet both stay inside the lines.
Test
Figure
Limit
What it means
Status
Business activity
Permissible
Core business clean
Its core business isn't built on prohibited lines: no gambling, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or interest-based lending.
Pass
Debt load
7.92%
Below 33%
Interest-bearing debt is just 7.9% of its assets, well under the one-third ceiling: it does not run on borrowed money.
Pass
Interest-bearing cash
22.28%
Below 33%
Cash held in interest-bearing accounts and securities is 22.3% of assets, under the one-third limit.
Pass
Receivables
27.83%
Below 49%
Money owed to the company is 27.8% of assets, under the 49% limit.
Pass
Revenue purity
4.09%
Below 5%
Only 4.1% of revenue comes from non-compliant sources, under the 5% line.
Pass
Five checks adapted from AAOIFI screening standards: business activity plus four balance-sheet ratios. All five must pass for ethical clearance. Every figure is arithmetic on public accounts, not judgement.
What the Numbers Say It Is Worth
The Fair Value Range
Our framework reads OVERVALUED: it trades above our $496.75 fair value estimate, strong competitive moat, 12.50% revenue growth.
Fair value range in USD, drawn from the 2026-09-08 screen. The gold marker is the market price at the same screen. The price runs 6.1% above the base estimate.
Third-party analyst targets: 26 covering, consensus Buy. The average target sits +9% from the screen price.
Reading the gap · Our more conservative model reads it as fully-to-richly valued here, while the Street is more bullish: a quality-at-a-fair-price name rather than a deep-value one.
Price History & Projections
Where it has been, where the models see it going. History from market close data; projection points are our fair-value estimates and third-party analyst targets, dated to the 2026-09-08 screen.
Fair value and rating are our own model estimates; the Street's range reflects third-party analyst estimates. Analysis, not advice.
The Business, in Plain Words
Vertex's Strong Moat Amidst the Healthcare Race
Imagine a pharmaceutical track where Vertex Pharmaceuticals is sprinting ahead in the specialty markets, particularly in cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease. With a strong moat and a focus on transformative medicines, Vertex stands out with a 35% profit margin and a 24% return on equity. Its revenue growth is a steady 12%, demonstrating a consistent expansion in its market footprint.
Despite its robust performance, our fair value assessment places Vertex at $525.29, suggesting the stock is overvalued with a -3% margin of safety at its current price of $540.26. The consensus of 25 analysts is bullish, with a median target of $570, yet our opportunity rating labels it as overvalued. Given its strong financials and ethical pass, Vertex could be a strong contender for investors seeking ethical growth in healthcare.
Risks are inherent in any pharmaceutical investment, with Vertex being no exception. The forward P/E of 24.7x indicates a premium valuation, and while the business has a strong ethical foundation, the potential for regulatory hurdles and the high cost of drug development should be considered. The market is also pricing in expectations of continued growth, which, if not met, could lead to a reassessment of its valuation. Analysis, not advice.
The risks · The things to watch: as a biotechnology name, trial and regulatory outcomes can move it sharply either way.
Plain-English interpretation of our own screen data. Analysis, not advice.
Where & How to Trade
VRTX trades on a US exchange. As a listed security it is accessible through almost any international broker offering its home market. New to this, or investing from abroad? Our guide to accessing global markets covers brokers, currencies and the practical steps.
The Dated Journal · Newest First, Never Edited
Every Entry, As Written
2026-09-03Markup$540.26+13.2%Entry 11
The framework reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved up 13.2% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 0% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 4%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 18%. The street (29 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $548.
2026-08-03Markup$477.36+0.0%Entry 10
The framework reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 0% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 4%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 18%. The street (29 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $548. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-08-02Markup$477.36+0.0%Entry 9
The framework reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 0% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 4%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 18%. The street (29 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $548. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-08-01Markup$477.36+0.0%Entry 8
The framework reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 0% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 4%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 18%. The street (29 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $548. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-31Markup$477.36+0.0%Entry 7
The framework reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 0% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 4%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 18%. The street (29 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $548. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-30Markup · changed$477.36+0.0%Entry 6
The framework has shifted from accumulation to markup since the last review. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 0% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 4%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 18%. The street (29 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $548. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-28Accumulation$477.36+0.0%Entry 5
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 0% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 4%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 18%. The street (29 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $548. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-27Accumulation$477.36+6.8%Entry 4
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved up 6.8% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 0% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 4%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 18%. The street (29 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $548. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-18Accumulation$446.83+0.0%Entry 3
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 0% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are down 4%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 18%. The street (29 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $548.
2026-07-03Accumulation$446.83+0.0%Entry 2
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen (71). The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns.
Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.