Fmr LLC Sells 237,837 Shares of Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

FMR LLC cut its stake in shares of Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL - Free Report) by 10.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,134,975 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after selling 237,837 shares during the quarter. FMR LLC owned 4.33% of Vericel worth $117,231,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Meeder Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Vericel by 8.4% in the fourth quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,357 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $129,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Atria Investments Inc lifted its holdings in Vericel by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 7,952 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $437,000 after buying an additional 184 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its stake in shares of Vericel by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 23,900 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $1,312,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Vericel by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 13,803 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $758,000 after acquiring an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in Vericel by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 43,781 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $2,404,000 after acquiring an additional 489 shares in the last quarter.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.50, for a total value of $156,250.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 26,595 shares in the company, valued at $1,662,187.50. The trade was a 8.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 3,908 shares of Vericel stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the insider now directly owns 1,206 shares in the company, valued at $74,759.94. This trade represents a 76.42 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 58,942 shares of company stock valued at $2,724,548. 7.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Vericel Price Performance

Vericel stock traded up $0.41 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $41.23. 343,268 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 391,554. The business's 50-day moving average is $47.42 and its 200-day moving average is $51.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.07 billion, a PE ratio of 687.28 and a beta of 1.61. Vericel Co. has a 12-month low of $37.76 and a 12-month high of $63.00.

Analyst Ratings Changes

VCEL has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price target on shares of Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of Vericel in a research report on Friday, February 28th. StockNews.com upgraded Vericel from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, March 8th. Truist Financial dropped their target price on shares of Vericel from $61.00 to $51.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $65.00 price target on shares of Vericel in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $60.86.

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.