Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Makes New Investment in Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL)

Key Points

• Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a new stake in Vericel Corporation worth approximately $1,965,000, representing about 0.09% ownership at the end of Q1.
• Analysts have mixed views on Vericel, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a target price averaging $61.14, despite Truist Financial reducing its target from $61.00 to $51.00.
• Vericel reported a quarterly revenue of $52.60 million but missed earnings estimates, with an EPS of ($0.23) compared to the anticipated ($0.09).

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new stake in shares of Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 44,040 shares of the biotechnology company's stock, valued at approximately $1,965,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned approximately 0.09% of Vericel at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. GW&K Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Vericel by 12.4% during the 1st quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 1,432,434 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $63,915,000 after purchasing an additional 158,470 shares in the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky increased its holdings in Vericel by 14.5% in the first quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 35,689 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $1,592,000 after buying an additional 4,509 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its position in Vericel by 2.6% during the first quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 593,933 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $26,501,000 after acquiring an additional 15,221 shares in the last quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS lifted its stake in Vericel by 73.3% in the first quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS now owns 20,800 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $928,000 after acquiring an additional 8,800 shares during the last quarter. Finally, TimesSquare Capital Management LLC grew its position in Vericel by 3.2% in the first quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC now owns 652,465 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $29,113,000 after acquiring an additional 20,305 shares in the last quarter.

Vericel Trading Up 2.0%

Shares of NASDAQ:VCEL traded up $0.69 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $35.63. The company had a trading volume of 962,793 shares, compared to its average volume of 600,352. Vericel Corporation has a 12 month low of $33.09 and a 12 month high of $63.00. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $40.83 and a 200 day simple moving average of $45.48. The stock has a market cap of $1.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 296.94 and a beta of 1.27.

Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The biotechnology company reported ($0.01) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.04) by $0.03. The company had revenue of $63.24 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $64.61 million. Vericel had a net margin of 2.85% and a return on equity of 2.47%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 20.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted ($0.10) earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Vericel Corporation will post 0.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group reduced their price objective on shares of Vericel from $61.00 to $58.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Wall Street Zen cut Vericel from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on Vericel from $61.00 to $51.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Stephens restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $67.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a report on Monday, June 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $59.86.

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.