Sentry Investment Management LLC Decreases Holdings in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

Sentry Investment Management LLC lowered its position in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) by 14.0% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 3,124 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 508 shares during the quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Vericel were worth $172,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of VCEL. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its position in shares of Vericel by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 23,900 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $1,312,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Vericel by 22.2% in the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 1,773 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $77,000 after acquiring an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its stake in Vericel by 48.1% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,247 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $53,000 after acquiring an additional 405 shares during the last quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Vericel by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 43,781 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $2,404,000 after acquiring an additional 489 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PFG Investments LLC raised its position in Vericel by 8.0% during the third quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 7,400 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $313,000 after acquiring an additional 550 shares during the last quarter.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently commented on VCEL shares. HC Wainwright reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $60.00 price target on shares of Vericel in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $65.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price target on Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. BTIG Research upped their price objective on Vericel from $56.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Vericel from $61.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Vericel currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $63.14.

Vericel Stock Up 0.4 %

VCEL stock opened at $52.52 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 875.48 and a beta of 1.72. Vericel Co. has a 52-week low of $39.12 and a 52-week high of $63.00. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $57.48 and its 200-day simple moving average is $51.75.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Vericel news, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.50, for a total transaction of $156,250.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 26,595 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,662,187.50. This trade represents a 8.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Paul K. Wotton sold 2,600 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.72, for a total transaction of $152,672.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 27,402 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,609,045.44. This represents a 8.67 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 20,100 shares of company stock worth $1,206,072. 5.20% of the stock is owned by company 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.