Zacks Research Upgrades Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) to “Strong-Buy”

Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) was upgraded by investment analysts at Zacks Research from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report released on Monday, Zacks reports.

VCEL has been the topic of a number of other research reports. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Vericel from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Stephens boosted their price target on shares of Vericel from $55.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Vericel from $52.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday. Canaccord Genuity Group set a $60.00 price objective on Vericel in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, HC Wainwright lifted their price objective on Vericel from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $62.00.

Vericel Stock Performance

VCEL stock opened at $59.03 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $3.01 billion, a PE ratio of 92.24 and a beta of 1.08. Vericel has a one year low of $28.95 and a one year high of $59.72. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $41.74 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $39.10.

Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 5th. The biotechnology company reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.06 by $0.21. Vericel had a net margin of 10.27% and a return on equity of 9.09%. The company had revenue of $85.37 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $77.95 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.10 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 26.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Vericel will post 0.73 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Vericel

In related news, insider Jonathan Siegal sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.90, for a total value of $79,350.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 1,259 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $66,601.10. This trade represents a 54.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Sean C. Flynn sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.92, for a total value of $778,800.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 1,990 shares in the company, valued at approximately $103,320.80. This represents a 88.29% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 22,000 shares of company stock worth $1,128,340. Company insiders own 7.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vericel

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Lisanti Capital Growth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vericel during the second quarter valued at approximately $5,356,000. Man Group plc bought a new position in shares of Vericel during the second quarter valued at approximately $2,998,000. Scholtz & Company LLC purchased a new stake in Vericel in the second quarter worth $2,287,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new stake in Vericel in the second quarter worth $12,366,000. Finally, Madison Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Vericel in the second quarter worth $2,230,000.

Key Headlines Impacting Vericel

Here are the key news stories impacting Vericel this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Stephens raised its price target to $68 from $55 and reiterated an “Overweight” rating, signaling confidence in further upside. Stephens rating information
• Positive Sentiment: HC Wainwright lifted its estimates, including FY2026 EPS to $0.79 from $0.45 and FY2027 EPS to $0.89 from $0.68. The firm maintains a “Buy” rating and a $75 price target. Vericel analyst estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks also cited improving earnings-estimate revisions as a reason Vericel shares may continue gaining, adding to the constructive analyst outlook. Zacks article
• Neutral Sentiment: A report described a significant increase in short interest but listed total short interest as zero shares, so the figures do not provide a clear signal about bearish positioning.
• Neutral Sentiment: Vericel published its 2026 third-quarter earnings-call presentation; the article listing provided no specific new financial details. Earnings call presentation

Vericel Company Profile

Vericel Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing cell therapies and other treatments for serious conditions. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company markets its products primarily in the United States. Its products include MACI, an implant made from a patient’s own cultured cartilage cells used to repair certain cartilage defects in the knee, and Epicel, a cultured skin graft used to treat patients with deep burns. Vericel also commercializes NexoBrid in the United States, an enzyme-based treatment for removing dead tissue from severe thermal burns.