Voloridge Investment Management LLC Takes Position in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

Voloridge Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 27,345 shares of the biotechnology company's stock, valued at approximately $1,502,000. Voloridge Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.06% of Vericel at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of VCEL. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI purchased a new position in Vericel during the 4th quarter valued at about $48,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in Vericel by 511.1% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,265 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $70,000 after purchasing an additional 1,058 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Vericel by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,357 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $129,000 after buying an additional 183 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in Vericel by 826.6% in the 4th quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,511 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $138,000 after buying an additional 2,240 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV boosted its stake in shares of Vericel by 82.5% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,707 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $149,000 after buying an additional 1,224 shares during the period.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Dominick Colangelo sold 24,850 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 260,354 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $10,906,229.06. This trade represents a 8.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 5.20% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on VCEL shares. Stephens restated an "overweight" rating and set a $67.00 price target on shares of Vericel in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Wall Street Zen downgraded Vericel from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price target on Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Truist Financial dropped 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, HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a research report on Friday, February 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vericel currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $61.14.

Vericel Stock Performance

Shares of VCEL traded down $0.83 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $40.46. 887,504 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 416,252. The company has a market cap of $2.04 billion, a PE ratio of 674.45 and a beta of 1.31. The firm's 50 day moving average is $41.40 and its 200-day moving average is $50.48. Vericel Co. has a 52 week low of $37.39 and a 52 week high of $63.00.

Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The biotechnology company reported ($0.23) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.09) by ($0.14). The company had revenue of $52.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $53.86 million. Vericel had a return on equity of 1.48% and a net margin of 1.56%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($0.08) earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Vericel Co. will post 0.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.