VCEL
HealthcareVericel Corporation · Biotechnology · $2B
What is Vericel Corporation?
Vericel Corporation is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on cellular therapies for two distinct markets: sports medicine and severe burn care. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company brings specialized regenerative medicine products to patients across the United States.
Vericel develops, manufactures, and commercializes autologous cell therapy products — treatments derived from a patient's own cells. Its primary revenue comes from two marketed products: MACI, used to repair cartilage defects in the knee, and Epicel, a permanent skin replacement for patients with severe burns. The company also has NexoBrid, a biological orphan product targeting eschar removal in burn patients, advancing through its regulatory pipeline. Revenue is generated through direct commercial sales to hospitals and surgical centers in the US.
Vericel was incorporated in 1989 and operates today from its headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MACI — autologous cellularized scaffold for knee cartilage repair
- Epicel — permanent skin replacement for severe burn patients
- NexoBrid — orphan biological for burn eschar removal (preapproval stage)
- Autologous cell therapy manufacturing and distribution
Is VCEL a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates VCEL as Good overall, reflecting a mixed but growth-oriented profile across its five quality pillars.
The Growth pillar stands out as a clear strength, consistent with a commercial-stage company expanding its marketed product footprint in specialized medical markets. The Risk pillar also rates favorably, suggesting the company's financial structure and operational profile carry manageable downside relative to small-cap biotech peers.
The Quality and Moat pillars both rate Weak, pointing to limited competitive entrenchment and profitability characteristics that trail more established healthcare companies. Valuation is rated Elevated, meaning the current market price may already reflect considerable optimism about future growth.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does VCEL pay dividends?
No — Vericel Corporation does not currently pay a dividend.
Vericel does not currently pay a dividend. This is typical for commercial-stage biopharmaceutical companies that prioritize reinvesting available capital into product commercialization, pipeline development, and manufacturing capabilities. Investors in VCEL are generally seeking growth rather than income, and a dividend is unlikely until the company reaches a more mature profitability profile.
When does VCEL report earnings?
Vericel Corporation reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed public companies.
Quarterly results for VCEL tend to draw attention to commercial sales trends for MACI and Epicel, as well as updates on the NexoBrid pipeline. Investors watch for revenue growth trajectory and progress toward sustainable profitability, given the company's growth-oriented stage.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Vericel Corporation's investor relations page directly.
VCEL Price History
-40.4% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Vericel Corporation?
Based on Vericel Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
VCEL Long-term Outlook
Vericel's fundamental outlook is shaped by its Strong Growth pillar, which reflects meaningful commercial momentum in its core sports medicine and burn care markets. The Strong Risk pillar adds some confidence that near-term operational risks appear contained. However, the Elevated Valuation pillar signals that much of this growth potential may already be priced in, leaving limited margin for execution shortfalls. The Weak Quality and Moat pillars are worth monitoring as the company works toward durable profitability.
Growth drivers
- Expanding commercial adoption of MACI in orthopedic and sports medicine settings
- Potential regulatory and commercial progress for NexoBrid in the burn care market
- Growing awareness of autologous cell therapy as a standard-of-care option
Key risks
- Elevated valuation leaves little room for revenue or pipeline disappointments
- Weak moat means competitive or reimbursement pressures could erode market position
- Small-cap stage limits financial flexibility if commercialization costs rise
VCEL vs Peers
Vericel operates in a niche corner of the biopharmaceutical space, and its closest publicly traded peers reflect the broader landscape of specialty and rare-disease biologics.
Pharvaris focuses on rare hereditary angioedema treatments, competing in the orphan disease biologics space rather than regenerative medicine.
Intellia is a clinical-stage gene editing company pursuing CRISPR-based therapies, representing a more technology-platform-driven approach than Vericel's cell therapy model.
Nuvation Bio targets oncology with small-molecule drug candidates, operating in a different therapeutic area but sharing the small-cap commercial-stage risk profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Vericel Corporation do?
Vericel is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops and sells cellular therapies in two markets: sports medicine and severe burn care. Its marketed products include MACI for knee cartilage repair and Epicel for permanent skin replacement in burn patients. The company also has a pipeline product, NexoBrid, targeting burn eschar removal.
Does VCEL pay dividends?
Vericel does not pay a dividend. As a growth-stage biopharmaceutical company, it reinvests capital into commercializing its existing products and advancing its pipeline. Investors focused on income may find VCEL less suitable, while growth-oriented investors accept the absence of a dividend as typical for this stage.
When does VCEL report earnings?
Vericel reports financial results on a quarterly basis, as is standard for US-listed public companies. For the exact schedule and most recent results, check Vericel's official investor relations page, where earnings releases, webcasts, and SEC filings are posted.
Is VCEL a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates VCEL as Good overall. The Growth and Risk pillars are rated Strong, which is encouraging for a small-cap commercial-stage company. However, the Quality and Moat pillars are Weak, and Valuation is Elevated — meaning the stock may already reflect considerable growth expectations. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is VCEL overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for VCEL is rated Elevated, suggesting the current market price incorporates significant optimism about future growth. This does not mean the stock will decline, but it does indicate that investors are paying a premium relative to current fundamentals. View the complete valuation analysis with a UQS Pro account.
How does VCEL compare to its competitors?
Vericel's peers in the small-cap biopharmaceutical space include Pharvaris, Intellia Therapeutics, and Nuvation Bio — each pursuing different therapeutic areas and technology platforms. Vericel's differentiation lies in its two commercially available cell therapy products and its focus on sports medicine and burn care, which are relatively niche markets.
What is VCEL's market cap bracket?
Vericel Corporation is classified as a small-cap company. This places it in a segment of the market that typically carries higher growth potential alongside greater volatility and more limited financial resources compared to large- or mega-cap healthcare peers.
Who founded Vericel Corporation?
Vericel was originally incorporated in 1989 under the name Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. before being renamed Vericel Corporation. Detailed founding history and leadership background are publicly available through the company's official filings and investor relations materials.
Is VCEL a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, VCEL presents a mixed picture. The Strong Growth pillar suggests meaningful commercial momentum, but the Weak Quality and Moat pillars indicate the company has not yet built the durable competitive advantages and profitability characteristics typically associated with high-quality long-term holdings. Monitoring pillar trends over time is key.
What is the main competitive advantage of Vericel Corporation?
Vericel's primary advantage lies in its two FDA-approved or authorized cell therapy products serving highly specialized markets with limited direct competition. MACI's autologous nature and Epicel's humanitarian device status create regulatory and manufacturing barriers that are difficult to replicate quickly, though the UQS Moat pillar currently rates this advantage as Weak.
What sector does VCEL belong to?
Vericel Corporation operates in the Healthcare sector, specifically within the biopharmaceutical and regenerative medicine subsegment. Its products span sports medicine — through cartilage repair — and severe burn care, making it a niche player within the broader specialty biologics landscape.
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Pro Analysis
VCEL — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | 55.2 | 39.0 | 35.0 | 84.1 | 100.0 | 32.4 | 0.0 |
| May 19, 2026 | 55.2 | 39.1 | 35.0 | 84.1 | 100.0 | 32.5 | -0.2 |
| May 14, 2026 | 55.4 | 39.5 | 35.0 | 84.1 | 100.0 | 33.0 | +0.1 |
| May 10, 2026 | 55.3 | 39.3 | 35.0 | 84.1 | 100.0 | 32.9 | 0.0 |
| May 8, 2026 | 55.3 | 39.4 | 35.0 | 84.1 | 100.0 | 32.7 | +1.7 |
| May 7, 2026 | 53.6 | 33.3 | 35.0 | 84.1 | 100.0 | 31.5 | 0.0 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 53.6 | 33.3 | 35.0 | 84.1 | 100.0 | 31.7 | -0.1 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 53.7 | 33.3 | 35.0 | 84.1 | 100.0 | 32.0 | -1.2 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 54.9 | 33.3 | 35.0 | 84.1 | 100.0 | 40.0 | 0.0 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 54.9 | 33.3 | 35.0 | 84.1 | 100.0 | 40.1 | 0.0 |
VCEL — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 39.1/100 (25%)Vericel Corporation has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 84.1/100 (20%)Vericel Corporation is growing rapidly with strong revenue and earnings expansion.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 100.0/100 (15%)Vericel Corporation carries minimal financial risk with conservative leverage and strong solvency.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 32.6/100 (15%)Vericel Corporation appears expensively valued relative to its fundamentals and growth prospects.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 35/100 (25%)Vericel Corporation possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for VCEL.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the VCEL UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Vericel Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Vericel Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Vericel Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.