Neuberger Berman Group LLC Raises Holdings in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

Neuberger Berman Group LLC grew its position in shares of Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL - Free Report) by 63.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 143,266 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after acquiring an additional 55,555 shares during the quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC owned about 0.29% of Vericel worth $7,867,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI bought a new stake in shares of Vericel in the fourth quarter worth $48,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings 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 valued at $70,000 after acquiring an additional 1,058 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Vericel by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,357 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $129,000 after buying an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Vericel by 826.6% during the fourth quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,511 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $138,000 after acquiring an additional 2,240 shares during the period. Finally, KBC Group NV grew its holdings in shares of Vericel by 82.5% during the fourth 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 in the last quarter.

Insider Activity at Vericel

In other news, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 3,908 shares of Vericel stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.99, for a total value of $242,256.92. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,206 shares in the company, valued at $74,759.94. The trade was a 76.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Dominick Colangelo sold 26,592 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.78, for a total value of $1,217,381.76. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 259,997 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,902,662.66. This represents a 9.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 58,942 shares of company stock valued at $2,724,548. Corporate insiders own 7.20% of the company's stock.

Vericel Stock Performance

NASDAQ:VCEL traded down $0.63 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $41.39. The stock had a trading volume of 106,450 shares, compared to its average volume of 389,813. The stock has a market cap of $2.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 689.95 and a beta of 1.61. Vericel Co. has a 12-month low of $37.76 and a 12-month high of $63.00. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $48.45 and a 200 day simple moving average of $51.39.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VCEL has been the subject of a number of research reports. 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 report on Friday, April 11th. Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $65.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price target on Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. StockNews.com raised shares of Vericel from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, March 8th. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and issued 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 given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $60.86.

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.