Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL) Given Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• "Moderate Buy" consensus from eight brokerages (five buy, three hold) with an average 1‑year target of $56.00.
• Vericel reported Q4 EPS of $0.45 (in line with estimates) and revenue of $92.92 million, with revenue growth of 23.3% year‑over‑year.
• The stock opened at $34.14, trades in a 52‑week range of $28.95–$45.97, has a market cap of $1.74 billion and a high valuation (PE of 110.13).

Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL - Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of "Moderate Buy" by the eight brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $56.00.

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of Vericel from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Leerink Partners restated an "outperform" rating and set a $46.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a research report on Tuesday, March 10th. HC Wainwright lifted their target price on shares of Vericel from $60.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 27th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Vericel from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, March 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a "hold (c-)" rating on shares of Vericel in a report on Monday, December 29th.

Vericel Stock Up 4.9%

VCEL opened at $34.14 on Friday. Vericel has a 52 week low of $28.95 and a 52 week high of $45.97. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $34.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $35.74. The company has a market cap of $1.74 billion, a PE ratio of 110.13 and a beta of 1.20.

Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The biotechnology company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.45. Vericel had a return on equity of 5.17% and a net margin of 5.98%.The company had revenue of $92.92 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $92.66 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.38 EPS. The company's revenue was up 23.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Vericel will post 0.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vericel

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Huntington National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Vericel by 51.3% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 805 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 273 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in Vericel by 1.9% in the third quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 14,882 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $468,000 after acquiring an additional 277 shares during the period. State of Alaska Department of Revenue grew its stake in shares of Vericel by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 25,744 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $927,000 after purchasing an additional 353 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vericel by 13.7% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 2,937 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $125,000 after purchasing an additional 353 shares in the last quarter. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of Vericel by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 45,404 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $1,932,000 after purchasing an additional 382 shares in the last quarter.

Vericel Company Profile

Vericel Corporation is a biotechnology company specializing in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of cell-based therapies for patients with severe diseases and conditions. The company's expertise lies in regenerative medicine, where it harnesses the power of autologous cell processing to create products designed to restore function and promote healing in damaged tissues.

Vericel currently markets two FDA-approved therapies. MACI® (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) is indicated for the repair of symptomatic cartilage defects of the knee in adult patients.

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