Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) Shares Purchased by Louisiana State Employees Retirement System

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lifted its stake in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) by 0.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 23,900 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System’s holdings in Vericel were worth $1,312,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vericel by 4,126.7% in the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 634 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 619 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Vericel by 48.1% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,247 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 405 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its position in Vericel by 22.2% in the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 1,773 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $77,000 after acquiring an additional 322 shares during the period. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Vericel during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $92,000. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vericel by 826.6% in the fourth quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,511 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $138,000 after purchasing an additional 2,240 shares during the period.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have issued reports on VCEL shares. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $65.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $60.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Truist Financial raised their price target on Vericel from $61.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. BTIG Research increased their price objective on Vericel from $56.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $63.14.

Insider Activity at Vericel

In related news, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 1,092 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.99, for a total value of $67,693.08. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,206 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $74,759.94. This trade represents a 47.52 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.50, for a total value of $156,250.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 26,595 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,662,187.50. This trade represents a 8.59 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 22,600 shares of company stock worth $1,356,072. 5.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Vericel Trading Up 0.5 %

NASDAQ VCEL opened at $57.09 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $2.82 billion, a PE ratio of 951.66 and a beta of 1.72. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $57.80 and its 200 day moving average price is $51.34. Vericel Co. has a twelve month low of $39.12 and a twelve month high of $63.00.

About Vericel

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.