Earnings Preview: Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) is expected to report Q4 earnings Monday with a conference call scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET.

Guidance

Analysts are looking for a loss of (66c) on revenue of $67M. The consensus range is (45c) to (90c) for EPS, and revenue of $43M to $102M, according to First Call. Vertex announced that they most likely wouldn't file for approval of Telaprevir in previously untreated Hepatitis-C patients until after 2010. On a positive note, Vertex is looking to get a combination Telaprevir study approved.

Analyst Views

Recently, JMP Securities said the stock has reached a trough and that Vertex will have positive momentum in 2008. They initiated the stock with a Market Outperform and gave the shares a $25 price target. Lazard lowered their target on the shares to $13 from $16, and maintains a Sell rating. They expect competition to increase, with other Hepatitis drugs gaining market share.