Next Century Growth Investors LLC Has $28.87 Million Holdings in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL)

Next Century Growth Investors LLC boosted its holdings in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) by 0.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 525,816 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,897 shares during the quarter. Vericel accounts for about 2.2% of Next Century Growth Investors LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th biggest position. Next Century Growth Investors LLC’s holdings in Vericel were worth $28,873,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VCEL. Neuberger Berman Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Vericel by 63.3% in the 4th quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 143,266 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $7,867,000 after buying an additional 55,555 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its stake in Vericel by 3,178.0% during the fourth quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 10,129 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $556,000 after acquiring an additional 9,820 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Vericel during the fourth quarter valued at $28,126,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Vericel by 11.5% in the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 89,500 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $4,914,000 after purchasing an additional 9,200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in shares of Vericel by 17.3% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 6,217 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $341,000 after purchasing an additional 919 shares during the last quarter.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on VCEL. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their target price on shares of Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. StockNews.com upgraded Vericel from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, March 8th. Truist Financial cut their price target on Vericel from $61.00 to $51.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Vericel in a report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $65.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $60.86.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vericel

In related news, Director Robert L. Md Zerbe sold 2,500 shares of the business’s 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 completion of 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 3,908 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.99, for a total transaction of $242,256.92. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 1,206 shares in the company, valued at approximately $74,759.94. This trade represents a 76.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 58,942 shares of company stock worth $2,724,548. Insiders own 5.20% of the company’s stock.

Vericel Price Performance

VCEL opened at $41.25 on Friday. Vericel Co. has a fifty-two week low of $37.76 and a fifty-two week high of $63.00. The company has a market cap of $2.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 687.61 and a beta of 1.61. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $49.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of $51.42.

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.