Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) Rating Lowered to “Sell” at StockNews.com

Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday.

VCEL has been the topic of a number of other research reports. BTIG Research raised their target price on shares of Vericel from $56.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and set a $60.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a research note on Friday. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and set a $65.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Vericel from $61.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on shares of Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $63.14.

Vericel Trading Up 3.4 %

VCEL opened at $51.29 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $2.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 854.98 and a beta of 1.72. The company’s 50 day moving average is $57.20 and its 200 day moving average is $51.83. Vericel has a 12-month low of $39.12 and a 12-month high of $63.00.

Insider Activity at Vericel

In other Vericel news, insider Jonathan Mark Hopper sold 10,000 shares of Vericel stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.72, for a total transaction of $587,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 58,371 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,427,545.12. The trade was a 14.63 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of Vericel stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.50, for a total transaction of $156,250.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 26,595 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,662,187.50. The trade was a 8.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 20,100 shares of company stock valued at $1,206,072. 5.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Vericel by 4,126.7% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 634 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 619 shares during the period. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI purchased a new stake in shares of Vericel during the fourth quarter valued at $48,000. 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 valued at $53,000 after purchasing an additional 405 shares during the period. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. purchased a new stake in shares of Vericel during the fourth quarter valued at $57,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Vericel by 511.1% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,265 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $70,000 after purchasing an additional 1,058 shares during the period.

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.