Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) Shares Sold by Sentry Investment Management LLC

Sentry Investment Management LLC reduced its stake in Vericel Co. (NASDAQ:VCEL) by 14.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. 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 large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System grew its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its position 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 buying an additional 322 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Vericel by 48.1% in the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,247 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 405 shares in the last quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of Vericel by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 43,781 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $2,404,000 after acquiring an additional 489 shares during the period. Finally, PFG Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of Vericel by 8.0% in the third quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 7,400 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $313,000 after acquiring an additional 550 shares in the last quarter.

Vericel Price Performance

NASDAQ:VCEL opened at $52.52 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $2.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 875.48 and a beta of 1.72. Vericel Co. has a 1-year low of $39.12 and a 1-year high of $63.00. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $57.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $51.75.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently commented on the company. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and set a $60.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. StockNews.com raised Vericel from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 24th. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $65.00 target price on shares of Vericel in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price target on shares of Vericel from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, BTIG Research raised their price objective on shares of Vericel from $56.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Vericel currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $63.14.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Jonathan Mark Hopper sold 10,000 shares of the 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 completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 58,371 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,427,545.12. This represents a 14.63 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 1,092 shares of Vericel stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.99, for a total value of $67,693.08. 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 47.52 % 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 valued at $1,206,072 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 5.20% of the company’s stock.

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.