Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC Raises Position in Veracyte, Inc. (NASDAQ:VCYT)

Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC grew its position in Veracyte, Inc. (NASDAQ:VCYT - Free Report) by 8.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 468,655 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after purchasing an additional 34,781 shares during the quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC owned approximately 0.60% of Veracyte worth $13,896,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its holdings in Veracyte by 49.7% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 714 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 237 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp increased its stake in Veracyte by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 23,132 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $916,000 after acquiring an additional 267 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its stake in Veracyte by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 16,630 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $659,000 after acquiring an additional 305 shares during the period. Xponance Inc. increased its position in shares of Veracyte by 5.7% during the first quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 6,860 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $203,000 after purchasing an additional 370 shares during the period. Finally, Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC increased its position in shares of Veracyte by 7.0% during the fourth quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC now owns 9,493 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $376,000 after purchasing an additional 618 shares during the period.

Veracyte Trading Down 3.8%

NASDAQ VCYT traded down $0.95 during trading on Thursday, hitting $24.22. 820,850 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 917,433. Veracyte, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $19.73 and a fifty-two week high of $47.32. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $27.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $32.96. The company has a market cap of $1.90 billion, a PE ratio of 59.07 and a beta of 2.07.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

VCYT has been the topic of a number of research reports. Guggenheim lowered their price objective on Veracyte from $45.00 to $37.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Craig Hallum initiated coverage on shares of Veracyte in a report on Thursday, March 20th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $45.00 price target on the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Veracyte from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, June 28th. Needham & Company LLC decreased their price objective on Veracyte from $51.00 to $41.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. Finally, Stephens reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Veracyte in a report on Wednesday, March 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $40.90.

About Veracyte

Veracyte, Inc engages in the research, development and commercialization of diagnostic products. The firm's portfolio includes Afirma, Percepta, and Envisia. It intends to treat thyroid cancer, improve lung cancer screening, and clarify the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The company was founded by Bonnie H.