Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) Upgraded to "Hold" at StockNews.com

Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL - Get Free Report) was upgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note issued to investors on Saturday.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Stephens reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $65.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their target price on Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. BTIG Research raised their price target on Vericel from $56.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. HC Wainwright reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of Vericel in a report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Truist Financial restated a "buy" rating and issued a $61.00 price objective (down previously from $67.00) on shares of Vericel in a report on Monday, March 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $62.29.

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Vericel Trading Down 2.1 %

VCEL stock traded down $1.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $47.81. 343,282 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 420,721. The stock's fifty day moving average is $56.35 and its 200-day moving average is $51.99. The company has a market cap of $2.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 796.97 and a beta of 1.78. Vericel has a 52-week low of $39.12 and a 52-week high of $63.00.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 1,092 shares of Vericel stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.99, for a total transaction of $67,693.08. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,206 shares of the company's stock, valued at $74,759.94. This trade represents a 47.52 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of the company'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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 26,595 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,662,187.50. The trade was a 8.59 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 7,500 shares of company stock valued at $466,200 over the last 90 days. 5.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vericel

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in VCEL. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 22,461 shares during the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. raised its stake in shares of Vericel by 12.6% in the fourth quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 1,454,139 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $79,847,000 after acquiring an additional 162,419 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in shares of Vericel by 119.3% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,288,921 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $70,775,000 after acquiring an additional 701,064 shares in the last quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC grew its position in Vericel by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 1,273,964 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $69,953,000 after acquiring an additional 30,180 shares during the last quarter. Finally, William Blair Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Vericel by 66.3% during the 4th quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 1,258,416 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $69,100,000 after purchasing an additional 501,736 shares in the last quarter.

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.