Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) Upgraded to Hold at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Saturday.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on VCEL. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $65.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Truist Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $61.00 target price (down previously from $67.00) on shares of Vericel in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. HC Wainwright reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $60.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on shares of Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, BTIG Research increased their target price on shares of Vericel from $56.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $62.29.

Vericel Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:VCEL opened at $49.56 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $2.48 billion, a PE ratio of 826.14 and a beta of 1.78. Vericel has a 52 week low of $39.12 and a 52 week high of $63.00. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $56.48 and a 200 day simple moving average of $51.95.

Insider Transactions at Vericel

In other news, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.50, for a total transaction of $156,250.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 26,595 shares in the company, valued at $1,662,187.50. This represents a 8.59 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 3,908 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.99, for a total transaction of $242,256.92. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 1,206 shares in the company, valued at approximately $74,759.94. This trade represents a 76.42 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 7,500 shares of company stock worth $466,200 in the last 90 days. 5.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of VCEL. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in Vericel by 119.3% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,288,921 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $70,775,000 after buying an additional 701,064 shares during the last quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in Vericel in the 4th quarter valued at $34,233,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Vericel in the 4th quarter valued at $28,126,000. William Blair Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Vericel by 66.3% in the 4th quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 1,258,416 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $69,100,000 after buying an additional 501,736 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geneva Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Vericel by 61.4% in the 3rd quarter. Geneva Capital Management LLC now owns 1,104,386 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $46,660,000 after buying an additional 420,078 shares during the last quarter.

Vericel Company Profile

Vericel Corporation, a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and distribution of cellular therapies for sports medicine and severe burn care markets in North America. The company markets autologous cell therapy products comprising MACI, an autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane for the repair of symptomatic, and single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee; Epicel, a permanent skin replacement humanitarian use device for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with deep-dermal or full-thickness burns; and NexoBrid, a biological orphan product for eschar removal in adults with deep partial-thickness and/or full-thickness thermal burns.