Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. Boosts Stake in BioLife Solutions, Inc. $BLFS

Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. lifted its stake in shares of BioLife Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLFS) by 160.3% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 24,438 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 15,049 shares during the period. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. owned approximately 0.05% of BioLife Solutions worth $526,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in BioLife Solutions by 0.5% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 117,999 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $2,695,000 after buying an additional 547 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its stake in BioLife Solutions by 0.7% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 83,227 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $1,901,000 after purchasing an additional 566 shares during the last quarter. Comerica Bank lifted its stake in BioLife Solutions by 5.2% in the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 15,024 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $343,000 after purchasing an additional 746 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its stake in shares of BioLife Solutions by 4.5% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 21,422 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $489,000 after buying an additional 914 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of BioLife Solutions by 7.1% in the second quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 18,138 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $391,000 after buying an additional 1,203 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.24% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other BioLife Solutions news, major shareholder Casdin Partners Master Fund, L sold 750,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.55, for a total value of $21,412,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 5,957,165 shares in the company, valued at approximately $170,077,060.75. This represents a 11.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CMO Todd Berard sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.53, for a total transaction of $255,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer owned 124,618 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,181,497.54. The trade was a 7.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 1,307,742 shares of company stock valued at $35,167,584 over the last 90 days. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have weighed in on BLFS. Zacks Research upgraded BioLife Solutions from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Stephens began coverage on shares of BioLife Solutions in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $30.00 price objective on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of BioLife Solutions in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $32.00 target price (up from $30.00) on shares of BioLife Solutions in a research note on Friday, August 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $31.29.

BioLife Solutions Price Performance

Shares of BLFS opened at $26.04 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $26.59 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $24.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.25 billion, a PE ratio of -216.98 and a beta of 1.97. BioLife Solutions, Inc. has a one year low of $19.10 and a one year high of $29.62.

About BioLife Solutions

BioLife Solutions, Inc develops, manufactures, and markets bioproduction tools and services for the cell and gene therapy (CGT) industry in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and internationally. The company’s products are used in the basic and applied research, and commercial manufacturing of biologic-based therapies.