Vertex Pharmaceuticals Slumps 1.09 as Trading Volume Ranks 209th Hedge Funds Trim Stake Amid Cautious Growth Outlook

On September 3, 2025, Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) closed at $401.00 per share, reflecting a 1.09% decline. The stock traded with a volume of $0.49 billion, ranking 209th in trading activity for the day. This follows Loomis Sayles Growth Fund’s recent investor letter, which highlighted Vertex’s performance amid broader market movements. The fund noted Vertex generated $2.96 billion in Q2 revenue, a 12% year-over-year increase, while maintaining a selective long-term investment approach. Despite this growth, the fund expressed cautious optimism, emphasizing that while Vertex’s pipeline remains robust, certain AI-driven sectors may offer more attractive risk-rebalance profiles for investors.

The fund’s stake in Vertex was reduced in Q2, with 53 hedge fund portfolios holding the stock by quarter-end, down from 60 in the prior period. This shift aligns with broader thematic rotations in growth equity strategies, where capital is increasingly allocated to sectors perceived to benefit from structural trends such as onshoring and technological disruption. Vertex’s cystic fibrosis therapies continue to anchor its revenue base, though investors remain attentive to competitive dynamics in the biotech space. The fund’s analysis underscores a nuanced view: Vertex is valued for its innovation but faces scrutiny over its exposure to therapeutic markets with limited near-term expansion potential.

Backtested data from the Loomis Sayles Growth Fund’s Q2 2025 strategy indicates a 18.58% return for the quarter, outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index by 0.74 percentage points. The fund’s top five holdings, including Vertex, were selected based on rigorous due diligence. However, the fund explicitly stated that Vertex does not feature on its list of 30 most popular hedge fund holdings, signaling a measured rather than aggressive conviction in the position. This aligns with the fund’s stated preference for capital preservation in volatile markets, a strategy that may influence broader institutional sentiment toward Vertex in the near term.