Smartleaf Asset Management LLC Acquires 1,058 Shares of Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) by 511.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,265 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,058 shares during the quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Vericel were worth $70,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of VCEL. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI purchased a new position in Vericel during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its position in Vericel by 48.1% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,247 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $53,000 after acquiring an additional 405 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Vericel in the 3rd quarter valued at $92,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Vericel by 826.6% in the 4th quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,511 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $138,000 after acquiring an additional 2,240 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of Vericel during the 3rd quarter worth $146,000.

Vericel Price Performance

NASDAQ VCEL opened at $49.56 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $2.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 826.14 and a beta of 1.78. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $56.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $51.98. Vericel Co. has a 1 year low of $39.12 and a 1 year high of $63.00.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have issued reports on VCEL shares. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $65.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Vericel from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday. Truist Financial restated a “buy” rating and issued a $61.00 target price (down from $67.00) on shares of Vericel in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $60.00 price target on shares of Vericel in a report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price objective on Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vericel has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $62.29.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Vericel news, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 3,908 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.99, for a total transaction of $242,256.92. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,206 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $74,759.94. This trade represents a 76.42 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.50, for a total value of $156,250.00. Following the completion of 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. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 7,500 shares of company stock worth $466,200. 5.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.