Leerink Partnrs Has Bearish Estimate for Vericel Q2 Earnings

Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) – Analysts at Leerink Partnrs lowered their Q2 2025 earnings per share estimates for Vericel in a note issued to investors on Thursday, February 27th. Leerink Partnrs analyst M. Kratky now forecasts that the biotechnology company will post earnings per share of ($0.01) for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.01. The consensus estimate for Vericel’s current full-year earnings is $0.14 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for Vericel’s Q3 2025 earnings at $0.03 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $0.71 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $1.28 EPS and FY2029 earnings at $2.74 EPS.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on VCEL. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and issued a $60.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com cut Vericel from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday. BTIG Research upped their price objective on Vericel from $56.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $65.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their target price 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 equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $62.29.

Vericel Stock Performance

Shares of Vericel stock opened at $49.51 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $2.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 825.30 and a beta of 1.72. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $57.05 and a two-hundred day moving average of $51.90. Vericel has a one year low of $39.12 and a one year high of $63.00.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vericel

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Mackenzie Financial Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Vericel in the fourth quarter valued at $215,000. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. acquired a new position in Vericel in the 4th quarter valued at about $57,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its holdings in Vericel by 17.1% in the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 112,837 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $6,196,000 after purchasing an additional 16,466 shares in the last quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vericel during the 4th quarter worth about $1,502,000. Finally, Soleus Capital Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of Vericel during the fourth quarter worth about $4,431,000.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 1,092 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.99, for a total value of $67,693.08. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,206 shares in the company, valued at $74,759.94. The trade was a 47.52 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s 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 transaction, the director now owns 26,595 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,662,187.50. This trade represents 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 have sold 10,100 shares of company stock worth $618,872. 5.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.