Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Sells 13,989 Shares of Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans decreased its holdings in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) by 3.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 449,094 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 13,989 shares during the quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned 0.92% of Vericel worth $20,604,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Vericel by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 410,390 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $14,614,000 after acquiring an additional 8,291 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in Vericel by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 730,426 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $26,011,000 after purchasing an additional 8,080 shares during the period. Corient Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Vericel in the fourth quarter worth about $566,000. Trexquant Investment LP raised its stake in shares of Vericel by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 43,882 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $1,563,000 after buying an additional 763 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in shares of Vericel by 13.6% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 25,743 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $917,000 after buying an additional 3,089 shares in the last quarter.

Insider Transactions at Vericel

In related news, CEO Dominick Colangelo sold 17,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.40, for a total value of $899,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 220,937 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,356,161.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Dominick Colangelo sold 17,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.40, for a total transaction of $899,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 220,937 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,356,161.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Sean C. Flynn sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.18, for a total value of $782,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 707 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $36,891.26. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 38,045 shares of company stock worth $1,956,725 in the last three months. Insiders own 5.20% of the company’s stock.

Vericel Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of Vericel stock opened at $46.37 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $2.25 billion, a PE ratio of -4,637.00 and a beta of 1.67. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $48.22 and a 200 day moving average of $47.44. Vericel Co. has a 12 month low of $30.18 and a 12 month high of $54.10.

Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The biotechnology company reported ($0.10) earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.10). The firm had revenue of $52.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $52.59 million. Vericel had a net margin of 0.37% and a return on equity of 0.35%. Vericel’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted ($0.11) earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Vericel Co. will post 0.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group started coverage on shares of Vericel in a research note on Friday, August 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $57.00 target price on the stock. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Vericel from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. BTIG Research cut their price target on Vericel from $56.00 to $55.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 15th. HC Wainwright boosted their price objective on Vericel from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Stephens increased their target price on Vericel from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Vericel currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $55.75.

Vericel 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.