Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) Shares Gap Up Following Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL)’s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Thursday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock had previously closed at $37.20, but opened at $41.62. Vericel shares last traded at $39.8180, with a volume of 566,990 shares traded.

The biotechnology company reported $0.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by $0.12. The business had revenue of $67.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $64.57 million. Vericel had a return on equity of 2.47% and a net margin of 2.85%.The company’s revenue was up 16.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted ($0.02) EPS. Vericel has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Zacks Research raised shares of Vericel from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. BTIG Research lowered Vericel from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 17th. Truist Financial lowered their target price on Vericel from $46.00 to $41.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Vericel in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their price objective on shares of Vericel from $61.00 to $58.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $58.40.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vericel

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Vericel in the second quarter valued at $30,000. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Vericel during the third quarter worth about $31,000. CWM LLC lifted its position in shares of Vericel by 101.3% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,379 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 694 shares during the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC acquired a new position in Vericel in the second quarter worth about $60,000. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in Vericel by 13.7% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 2,937 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $125,000 after buying an additional 353 shares during the last quarter.

Vericel Stock Up 4.2%

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $33.73 and a 200-day simple moving average of $37.74. The stock has a market cap of $1.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 322.94 and a beta of 1.41.

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.