XTX Topco Ltd Takes Position in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new position in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 20,814 shares of the biotechnology company's stock, valued at approximately $1,143,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI purchased a new position in Vericel in the 4th quarter worth $48,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Vericel by 511.1% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,265 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 1,058 shares during the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Vericel by 8.4% during 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 period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in Vericel by 826.6% in the fourth quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,511 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 2,240 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV increased its holdings in Vericel by 82.5% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,707 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $149,000 after buying an additional 1,224 shares during the period.

Vericel Price Performance

Vericel stock traded up $0.41 during trading on Friday, reaching $41.23. 343,268 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 391,554. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $47.42 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $51.32. The company has a market capitalization of $2.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 687.28 and a beta of 1.61. Vericel Co. has a 52-week low of $37.76 and a 52-week high of $63.00.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on Vericel from $61.00 to $51.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Stephens reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $65.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. StockNews.com raised shares of Vericel from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, March 8th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their price objective 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. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and set a $60.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a research note on Friday, February 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Vericel currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $60.86.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Dominick Colangelo sold 24,850 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.89, for a total value of $1,040,966.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 260,354 shares of the company's stock, valued at $10,906,229.06. This represents a 8.71 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, 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 stock was 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 of the company's stock, valued at $1,662,187.50. The trade was a 8.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 58,942 shares of company stock valued at $2,724,548 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 7.20% of the company's stock.

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.