Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL) Short Interest Update

Key Points

• Short interest in Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL) surged by 308.4% in July, reaching a total of 5,350,000 shares, indicating increased investor bearishness.
• The company reported earnings of ($0.01) EPS, surpassing expectations of ($0.04), despite revenues of $63.24 million falling short of the estimated $64.61 million.
• Analysts have mixed ratings on Vericel, with a consensus price target of $59.86 and a mix of buy, sell, and hold ratings reflected in recent reports.

Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL - Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest during the month of July. As of July 15th, there was short interest totaling 5,350,000 shares, anincreaseof308.4% from the June 30th total of 1,310,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 522,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 10.2 days. Based on an average daily volume of 522,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 10.2 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on VCEL. Stephens restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $67.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a research note on Monday, June 16th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their target price on Vericel from $61.00 to $58.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Wall Street Zen lowered Vericel from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their target price on Vericel from $61.00 to $51.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vericel has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $59.86.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vericel

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its position in Vericel by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 6,111 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $336,000 after purchasing an additional 199 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming grew its position in shares of Vericel by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 10,428 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $465,000 after buying an additional 381 shares during the period. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Vericel by 8.6% during the fourth quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 5,137 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $282,000 after purchasing an additional 405 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System boosted its holdings in shares of Vericel by 2.8% in the second quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 14,795 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $630,000 after buying an additional 408 shares during the period. Finally, Scholtz & Company LLC lifted its position in shares of Vericel by 0.9% in the second quarter. Scholtz & Company LLC now owns 50,573 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $2,152,000 after purchasing an additional 454 shares in the last quarter.

Vericel Stock Down 3.0%

Shares of Vericel stock traded down $1.11 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $35.71. 226,132 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 497,597. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 298.23 and a beta of 1.27. Vericel has a fifty-two week low of $33.09 and a fifty-two week high of $63.00. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $40.66 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.19.

Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The biotechnology company reported ($0.01) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.04) by $0.03. Vericel had a net margin of 2.85% and a return on equity of 2.47%. The firm had revenue of $63.24 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $64.61 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted ($0.10) EPS. The firm's revenue was up 20.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Vericel will post 0.14 earnings per share for the current year.

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.