Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL) Stock Position Boosted by Geneva Capital Management LLC

Key Points

• Geneva Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Vericel Corporation by 24.2% during the first quarter, acquiring an additional 265,956 shares, making it the 28th largest holding in their portfolio.
• Vericel reported earnings of ($0.01) earnings per share for the last quarter, surpassing analyst expectations, with a year-over-year revenue increase of 20.1% to $63.24 million.
• Despite some positive metrics, analysts have mixed opinions on Vericel, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a target price of $59.86, reflecting varied views on its future performance.

Geneva Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL - Free Report) by 24.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,365,744 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after purchasing an additional 265,956 shares during the period. Vericel accounts for 1.1% of Geneva Capital Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Geneva Capital Management LLC owned about 2.72% of Vericel worth $60,939,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in Vericel by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 6,111 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $336,000 after buying an additional 199 shares during the last quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Vericel by 8.6% during the fourth quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 5,137 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $282,000 after buying an additional 405 shares in the last quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Vericel by 9.9% during the 1st quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC now owns 6,546 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $292,000 after acquiring an additional 591 shares during the period. Mariner LLC boosted its position in shares of Vericel by 7.7% during the 4th quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 9,209 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $506,000 after acquiring an additional 659 shares in the last quarter. Finally, US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in Vericel by 29.9% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,071 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $137,000 after buying an additional 706 shares in the last quarter.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently commented on VCEL shares. Wall Street Zen lowered Vericel from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their price target on shares of Vericel from $61.00 to $58.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Truist Financial cut their price objective 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 reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $67.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a report on Monday, June 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $59.86.

Vericel Stock Performance

VCEL stock traded down $0.32 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $35.97. 296,005 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 498,551. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $40.66 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $45.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.82 billion, a PE ratio of 300.40 and a beta of 1.27. Vericel Corporation has a one year low of $33.09 and a one year high of $63.00.

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

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.