Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Raises Stock Position in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 661,018 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after purchasing an additional 19,803 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP’s holdings in Vericel were worth $30,329,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Vericel by 9.7% during the second quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,484 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $114,000 after buying an additional 220 shares during the period. MCF Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vericel by 86.1% during the first quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 482 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank boosted its position in Vericel by 0.4% in the first quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 89,500 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $4,656,000 after buying an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC raised its holdings in shares of Vericel by 6.2% during the second quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 6,850 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $314,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System lifted its position in Vericel by 3.3% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 12,866 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $590,000 after purchasing an additional 406 shares during the period.

Vericel Trading Down 5.2 %

NASDAQ:VCEL opened at $40.05 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $1.95 billion, a P/E ratio of -4,005.00 and a beta of 1.67. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $47.19 and a two-hundred day moving average of $47.38. Vericel Co. has a 12 month low of $30.18 and a 12 month high of $54.10.

Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The biotechnology company reported ($0.10) earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.10). The company had revenue of $52.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $52.59 million. Vericel had a return on equity of 0.35% and a net margin of 0.37%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($0.11) EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Vericel Co. will post 0.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on VCEL. TD Cowen increased their price target on Vericel from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 27th. StockNews.com upgraded Vericel from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday. Canaccord Genuity Group began coverage on shares of Vericel in a research note on Friday, August 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $57.00 price objective on the stock. HC Wainwright increased their price target on shares of Vericel from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of Vericel from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vericel has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $55.75.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Sean C. Flynn sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.18, for a total value of $782,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 707 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $36,891.26. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Sean C. Flynn sold 15,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.18, for a total value of $782,700.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 707 shares in the company, valued at $36,891.26. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Joseph Anthony Mara, Jr. sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $250,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 14,436 shares in the company, valued at $721,800. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 38,045 shares of company stock valued at $1,956,725 in the last ninety days. 5.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Vericel

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.