Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) Given Average Rating of “Buy” by Brokerages

Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) has earned an average recommendation of “Buy” from the seven ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $62.29.

VCEL has been the subject of a number of research reports. BTIG Research raised their target price on Vericel from $56.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $65.00 price target on shares of Vericel in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and issued a $60.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a research report on Friday. Truist Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $61.00 price objective (down from $67.00) on shares of Vericel in a research report on Monday. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Vericel from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of the 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 sale, the director now directly owns 26,595 shares in the company, valued at $1,662,187.50. This trade represents a 8.59 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 1,092 shares of Vericel stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.99, for a total transaction of $67,693.08. Following the transaction, 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 10,100 shares of company stock valued at $618,872 over the last three months. Company insiders own 5.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vericel

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Vericel by 4,126.7% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 634 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 619 shares in the last quarter. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI acquired a new position in Vericel in the fourth quarter valued at about $48,000. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. bought a new stake in shares of Vericel in the fourth quarter worth about $57,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its position 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 worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 405 shares during the period. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vericel by 511.1% during the 4th 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 in the last quarter.

Vericel Price Performance

VCEL stock opened at $49.51 on Thursday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $57.05 and a 200 day moving average price of $51.90. Vericel has a fifty-two week low of $39.12 and a fifty-two week high of $63.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 825.30 and a beta of 1.72.

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.