Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) Upgraded by StockNews.com to “Hold” Rating

Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) was upgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Saturday.

VCEL has been the subject of several other reports. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $65.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $60.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a report on Friday, February 28th. Truist Financial reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $61.00 target price (down from $67.00) on shares of Vericel in a report on Monday, March 3rd. BTIG Research upped their price target on shares of Vericel from $56.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price objective 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $62.29.

Vericel Price Performance

Shares of VCEL opened at $49.56 on Friday. Vericel has a 1-year low of $39.12 and a 1-year high of $63.00. The stock has a market cap of $2.48 billion, a PE ratio of 826.14 and a beta of 1.78. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $56.48 and a 200 day moving average price of $51.92.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 3,908 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.99, for a total value of $242,256.92. Following the completion of the sale, 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of Vericel stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.50, for a total transaction of $156,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 26,595 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,662,187.50. The trade was a 8.59 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 7,500 shares of company stock valued at $466,200 over the last three months. 5.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vericel

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its holdings 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 acquiring an additional 619 shares during the period. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI purchased a new stake in shares of Vericel during the 4th quarter worth $48,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Vericel by 48.1% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,247 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 405 shares during the period. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. purchased a new position in shares of Vericel in the 4th quarter valued at about $57,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Vericel by 511.1% in 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.

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.