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Vertex Gears Up to Report Q3 Earnings: Is a Beat in the Cards?
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Key Takeaways
Vertex is expected to report Q3 2026 sales of $3.40 billion and earnings of $4.92 per share.
Trikafta/Kaftrio sales are projected at $2.49 billion, while Alyftrek's global revenues topped $1B in H1 2026.
Casgevy infusions, rising Journavx prescriptions & pipeline updates are key areas to watch.
We expect Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX - Free Report) to beat expectations when it reports third-quarter 2026 results on Nov. 2, after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter sales and earnings is pegged at $3.40 billion and $4.92 per share, respectively.
Let’s see how things might have shaped up before the announcement.
Factors Likely to Influence VRTX's Q3 Results
Vertex’s revenues in the to-be-reported quarter are likely to have been driven by strong demand for its blockbuster cystic fibrosis (“CF”) medicine, Trikafta/Kaftrio (Trikafta’s brand name in Europe). The drug still accounts for the majority of Vertex’s total revenues.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Trikafta/Kaftrio sales is currently pegged at $2.49 billion for the third quarter of 2026.
Meanwhile, higher Trikafta/Kaftrio sales are likely to have caused sales erosion of VRTX’s other CF drugs — Symdeko (marketed as Symkevi in Europe), Orkambi and Kalydeco.
We expect investors to focus on the sales performance of its fifth CF medicine, Alyftrek (vanza triple), during the third quarter.
Alyftrek sales surged sequentially in the last reported quarter, a trend most likely to have continued in the to-be-reported quarter. Per management, the U.S. and European launch of Alyftrek is progressing well across all patient groups. The drug has already surpassed $1 billion in global revenues during the first half of 2026.
The company expects rising patient numbers from the label expansions for Alyftrek and Trikafta, along with launches of Alyftrek in additional geographies for treating younger patients, to drive CF growth in the to-be-reported quarter.
Year to date, shares of Vertex have risen 14.2% compared with the industry’s increase of 5.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Q3 Sales Expectation for VRTX’s Non-CF Products
Vertex and its partner CRISPR Therapeutics’ (CRSP - Free Report) one-shot gene therapy, Casgevy, is approved for two blood disorders — sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.
Vertex leads the global development and commercialization of Casgevy under the terms of the 2021 agreement, with support from CRISPR Therapeutics.
Casgevy sales soared on a sequential basis in the last quarter due to an increase in patient infusions, a trend most likely to have continued in the to-be-reported quarter. The launch of Casgevy continues to progress across the United States, Europe and other countries. Nonetheless, Vertex expects continued quarter-to-quarter variability in Casgevy infusions in 2026. An update is expected on the call.
Sales of VRTX’s new non-opioid pain medicine Journavx (suzetrigine) increased sequentially in the last quarter, driven by strong prescription growth and inventory restocking. The drug’s launch metrics and reimbursement trends are also improving. Vertex expects higher sales from Journavx in the third quarter as prescription volumes are rising.
Several updates related to Vertex’s pipeline candidates, which are in mid- to late-stage studies for treating diseases like acute and neuropathic pain, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, primary membranous nephropathy, and cell therapy for type I diabetes, are also expected on the upcoming earnings call.
In June 2026, the FDA accepted VRTX’s regulatory filing seeking approval for its investigational candidate, povetacicept, for treating adults with immunoglobulin A nephropathy, a rare progressive kidney disease. A final decision from the FDA is expected on Nov. 30, 2026.
VRTX's Earnings Surprise History
Vertex has a mixed record of earnings surprises over the trailing four quarters. The company beat earnings estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, while missing the same on the remaining two occasions, delivering an average surprise of 2.28%. In the last reported quarter, VRTX delivered a negative earnings surprise of 1.25%.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Price and EPS Surprise
Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Vertex this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here.
Earnings ESP: Vertex’s Earnings ESP is +4.98%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Here are two drug/biotech stocks that also have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around:
Gilead Sciences (GILD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.08% and a Zacks Rank #3.
Gilead’s stock has risen 31.6% so far this year. GILD beat estimates in each of the last four quarters. The company has a four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.12%, on average. Gilead is scheduled to report third-quarter results on Oct. 29.
Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.53% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
Shares of Pfizer have risen 25.9% so far this year. Pfizer beat earnings estimates in each of the last four reported quarters, delivering an average earnings surprise of 16.62%. Pfizer is scheduled to report third-quarter results on Nov. 3.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Vertex Gears Up to Report Q3 Earnings: Is a Beat in the Cards?
Key Takeaways
We expect Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX - Free Report) to beat expectations when it reports third-quarter 2026 results on Nov. 2, after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter sales and earnings is pegged at $3.40 billion and $4.92 per share, respectively.
Let’s see how things might have shaped up before the announcement.
Factors Likely to Influence VRTX's Q3 Results
Vertex’s revenues in the to-be-reported quarter are likely to have been driven by strong demand for its blockbuster cystic fibrosis (“CF”) medicine, Trikafta/Kaftrio (Trikafta’s brand name in Europe). The drug still accounts for the majority of Vertex’s total revenues.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Trikafta/Kaftrio sales is currently pegged at $2.49 billion for the third quarter of 2026.
Meanwhile, higher Trikafta/Kaftrio sales are likely to have caused sales erosion of VRTX’s other CF drugs — Symdeko (marketed as Symkevi in Europe), Orkambi and Kalydeco.
We expect investors to focus on the sales performance of its fifth CF medicine, Alyftrek (vanza triple), during the third quarter.
Alyftrek sales surged sequentially in the last reported quarter, a trend most likely to have continued in the to-be-reported quarter. Per management, the U.S. and European launch of Alyftrek is progressing well across all patient groups. The drug has already surpassed $1 billion in global revenues during the first half of 2026.
The company expects rising patient numbers from the label expansions for Alyftrek and Trikafta, along with launches of Alyftrek in additional geographies for treating younger patients, to drive CF growth in the to-be-reported quarter.
Year to date, shares of Vertex have risen 14.2% compared with the industry’s increase of 5.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Q3 Sales Expectation for VRTX’s Non-CF Products
Vertex and its partner CRISPR Therapeutics’ (CRSP - Free Report) one-shot gene therapy, Casgevy, is approved for two blood disorders — sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.
Vertex leads the global development and commercialization of Casgevy under the terms of the 2021 agreement, with support from CRISPR Therapeutics.
Casgevy sales soared on a sequential basis in the last quarter due to an increase in patient infusions, a trend most likely to have continued in the to-be-reported quarter. The launch of Casgevy continues to progress across the United States, Europe and other countries. Nonetheless, Vertex expects continued quarter-to-quarter variability in Casgevy infusions in 2026. An update is expected on the call.
Sales of VRTX’s new non-opioid pain medicine Journavx (suzetrigine) increased sequentially in the last quarter, driven by strong prescription growth and inventory restocking. The drug’s launch metrics and reimbursement trends are also improving. Vertex expects higher sales from Journavx in the third quarter as prescription volumes are rising.
Several updates related to Vertex’s pipeline candidates, which are in mid- to late-stage studies for treating diseases like acute and neuropathic pain, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, primary membranous nephropathy, and cell therapy for type I diabetes, are also expected on the upcoming earnings call.
In June 2026, the FDA accepted VRTX’s regulatory filing seeking approval for its investigational candidate, povetacicept, for treating adults with immunoglobulin A nephropathy, a rare progressive kidney disease. A final decision from the FDA is expected on Nov. 30, 2026.
VRTX's Earnings Surprise History
Vertex has a mixed record of earnings surprises over the trailing four quarters. The company beat earnings estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, while missing the same on the remaining two occasions, delivering an average surprise of 2.28%. In the last reported quarter, VRTX delivered a negative earnings surprise of 1.25%.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Price and EPS Surprise
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated price-eps-surprise | Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Quote
What Our Model Says for VRTX
Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Vertex this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here.
Earnings ESP: Vertex’s Earnings ESP is +4.98%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
VRTX’s Zacks Rank: Vertex currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Other Stocks to Consider
Here are two drug/biotech stocks that also have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around:
Gilead Sciences (GILD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.08% and a Zacks Rank #3.
Gilead’s stock has risen 31.6% so far this year. GILD beat estimates in each of the last four quarters. The company has a four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.12%, on average. Gilead is scheduled to report third-quarter results on Oct. 29.
Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.53% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
Shares of Pfizer have risen 25.9% so far this year. Pfizer beat earnings estimates in each of the last four reported quarters, delivering an average earnings surprise of 16.62%. Pfizer is scheduled to report third-quarter results on Nov. 3.