New York State Common Retirement Fund Has $37.78 Million Stock Holdings in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

New York State Common Retirement Fund decreased its stake in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) by 2.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,060,965 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 30,717 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund’s holdings in Vericel were worth $37,781,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in Vericel by 4.9% during the fourth quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,339,960 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $83,326,000 after purchasing an additional 109,215 shares during the period. William Blair Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Vericel by 59.5% during the third quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 855,207 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $28,667,000 after purchasing an additional 318,916 shares during the period. FMR LLC grew its stake in Vericel by 39.5% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 571,298 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $19,150,000 after purchasing an additional 161,652 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. grew its stake in Vericel by 21.2% during the fourth quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 560,419 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $19,957,000 after purchasing an additional 97,952 shares during the period. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its stake in Vericel by 35.5% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 540,209 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $18,108,000 after purchasing an additional 141,488 shares during the period.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Truist Financial reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $54.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a research note on Tuesday, March 26th. TheStreet raised Vericel from a “d+” rating to a “c-” rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Finally, HC Wainwright raised their target price on Vericel from $46.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $46.40.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 3,278 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.57, for a total value of $169,046.46. Following the transaction, the director now owns 23,395 shares in the company, valued at $1,206,480.15. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 3,278 shares of Vericel stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.57, for a total transaction of $169,046.46. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 23,395 shares in the company, valued at $1,206,480.15. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Dominick Colangelo sold 17,500 shares of Vericel stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.67, for a total value of $781,725.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 194,870 shares in the company, valued at $8,704,842.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 56,567 shares of company stock worth $2,552,702 over the last 90 days. 5.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Vericel Trading Down 0.7 %

Shares of NASDAQ:VCEL opened at $46.11 on Thursday. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $47.52 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $40.67. Vericel Co. has a 52-week low of $29.24 and a 52-week high of $53.05.

Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The biotechnology company reported $0.26 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.18 by $0.08. Vericel had a negative return on equity of 1.55% and a negative net margin of 1.61%. The company had revenue of $65.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $64.28 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.12 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 23.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Vericel Co. will post 0.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.