Principal Financial Group Inc. Has $14.44 Million Holdings in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL - Free Report) by 4.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 262,932 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after purchasing an additional 11,074 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned approximately 0.53% of Vericel worth $14,438,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VCEL. FMR LLC lifted its position in shares of Vericel by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,372,812 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $100,251,000 after acquiring an additional 22,461 shares during the period. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Vericel by 1.7% during the third quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,075,730 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $87,700,000 after purchasing an additional 34,360 shares during the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. boosted its position in Vericel by 12.6% during the fourth quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 1,454,139 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $79,847,000 after purchasing an additional 162,419 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Vericel by 0.8% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,154,053 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $48,768,000 after purchasing an additional 9,613 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geneva Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Vericel by 61.4% in the third quarter. Geneva Capital Management LLC now owns 1,104,386 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $46,660,000 after buying an additional 420,078 shares in the last quarter.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

VCEL has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com cut shares of Vericel from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday. Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $65.00 price target on shares of Vericel in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Vericel from $61.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. HC Wainwright reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a research report on Friday. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group upped their target price on shares of Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Vericel currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $63.14.

Insider Activity at Vericel

In related news, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 1,092 shares of Vericel stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.99, for a total value of $67,693.08. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 1,206 shares in the company, valued at approximately $74,759.94. This trade represents a 47.52 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 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 value of $156,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 26,595 shares in the company, valued at $1,662,187.50. This represents a 8.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 20,100 shares of company stock worth $1,206,072. 5.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Vericel Stock Performance

Vericel stock traded up $1.67 during trading on Friday, hitting $51.29. The company's stock had a trading volume of 607,063 shares, compared to its average volume of 406,768. The stock's fifty day moving average is $57.20 and its 200 day moving average is $51.83. Vericel Co. has a 1-year low of $39.12 and a 1-year high of $63.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 854.98 and a beta of 1.72.

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.