Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Reduces Stake in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund decreased its stake in shares of Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) by 12.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 26,229 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 3,582 shares during the period. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund owned 0.05% of Vericel worth $1,440,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in VCEL. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Vericel by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,372,812 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $100,251,000 after acquiring an additional 22,461 shares in the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. raised its holdings in shares of Vericel by 12.6% in the 4th quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 1,454,139 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $79,847,000 after acquiring an additional 162,419 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Vericel by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,154,053 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $48,768,000 after acquiring an additional 9,613 shares in the last quarter. Geneva Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Vericel by 61.4% in the 3rd quarter. Geneva Capital Management LLC now owns 1,104,386 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $46,660,000 after acquiring an additional 420,078 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. raised its holdings in shares of Vericel by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 1,079,048 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $45,590,000 after acquiring an additional 47,108 shares in the last quarter.

Vericel Trading Up 3.4 %

Shares of Vericel stock opened at $51.29 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.53 billion, a PE ratio of 854.98 and a beta of 1.72. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $57.20 and its 200-day moving average price is $51.83. Vericel Co. has a 12 month low of $39.12 and a 12 month high of $63.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Jonathan Mark Hopper sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.72, for a total transaction of $587,200.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 58,371 shares in the company, valued at $3,427,545.12. This trade represents a 14.63 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.50, for a total value of $156,250.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 26,595 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,662,187.50. The trade was a 8.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 20,100 shares of company stock worth $1,206,072 in the last ninety days. 5.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have weighed in on VCEL shares. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $65.00 price target on shares of Vericel in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Truist Financial raised their price target on Vericel from $61.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. BTIG Research raised their price target on Vericel from $56.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price objective on Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Vericel from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Vericel has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $63.14.

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.