PDT Partners LLC Makes New $1.91 Million Investment in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

PDT Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 34,707 shares of the biotechnology company's stock, valued at approximately $1,906,000. PDT Partners LLC owned 0.07% of Vericel as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Meeder Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Vericel by 8.4% during the fourth 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. Atria Investments Inc increased its position in shares of Vericel by 2.4% during the fourth quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 7,952 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $437,000 after purchasing an additional 184 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System raised its stake in shares of Vericel by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 23,900 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $1,312,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lifted its position in Vericel by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 13,803 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $758,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares during the period. Finally, Summit Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Vericel by 8.6% in the fourth quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 5,137 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $282,000 after purchasing an additional 405 shares during the period.

Insider Transactions at Vericel

In other news, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.50, for a total transaction of $156,250.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 26,595 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,662,187.50. This represents a 8.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 1,092 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.99, for a total transaction of $67,693.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,206 shares of the company's stock, valued at $74,759.94. This trade represents a 47.52 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 55,034 shares of company stock worth $2,482,291. Insiders own 5.20% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VCEL has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating and issued a $60.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a research note on Friday, February 28th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Vericel from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, March 8th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on Vericel from $61.00 to $51.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Stephens restated an "overweight" rating and set a $65.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price target on Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $60.86.

Vericel Trading Up 2.7 %

NASDAQ VCEL traded up $1.03 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $38.95. 512,162 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 397,218. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $44.24 and a 200-day moving average of $51.18. Vericel Co. has a one year low of $37.39 and a one year high of $63.00. The stock has a market cap of $1.95 billion, a PE ratio of 649.27 and a beta of 1.61.

Vericel Company 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.