5 DNA Stocks Billionaires Are Loading Up On

2. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44

Number of Billionaire Investors: 11

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) is a Massachusetts-based biotechnology company that announced in February 2023 its plans to venture into CRISPR gene editing therapy. It is one of the top DNA stocks to monitor. In Q1 2023, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) stock was found in 11 billionaire portfolios. 

On May 1, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $3.05, beating market estimates by $0.05. The revenue of $2.37 billion outperformed Wall Street consensus by $30 million. 

According to Insider Monkey’s first quarter database, 44 hedge funds were long Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX), compared to 60 funds in the prior quarter. Billionaire Cliff Asness of AQR Capital Management is a prominent stakeholder of the company, with a position worth $180 million. 

Baron Health Care Fund made the following comment about Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) in its Q1 2023 investor letter:

“Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) is a leader in the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF). Vertex has three approved and marketed drugs, each for treatment of differing subsets of CF. These drugs represent paradigm shifts for CF patients hoping to extend their lives beyond their 30s or 40s. Shares increased primarily due to underlying business fundamentals, including strong free cash flow generation that is largely unmatched in the biopharmaceutical universe. In addition to its core treatment program for CF, Vertex has a robust pipeline of drugs that is starting to become value inflecting. We are looking to Vertex’s APOL1 kidney disease program and updates on its treatment for Type 1 diabetes, in particular, to drive future upside.”