8 Green Days In A Row: Vericel Stock Is Up 48%
Vericel (VCEL) stock has risen for 8 consecutive trading days, gaining 47.7% over that stretch. That added about $982 million to the company’s market value, which now stands at about $3.0 billion. The stock closed at $59.45 on Wednesday, November 11, its highest close of the past year.
VCEL Versus The S&P 500
Returns for VCEL and the S&P 500 over the streak and the periods around it, all ending Wednesday, November 11 and including dividends:
| Return Period | VCEL | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Day | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| 8 Days (Current Streak) | 47.7% | 0.5% |
| 1 Month (21 Trading Days) | 47.5% | -2.3% |
| 3 Months (63 Trading Days) | 33.5% | -2.0% |
| Year To Date | 65.1% | 12.4% |
| 1 Year (252 Trading Days) | 52.5% | 12.8% |
A Stock-Specific Run, Or A Market Move?
Over the same 8 trading days, the S&P 500 returned +0.5% including dividends, so the run is mostly Vericel’s own story rather than the market’s. Over the past three months the stock is up 33.5%, a window that includes the streak; over the other 55 sessions of that window it was down 9.6%.
What The Numbers Say About The Rally
On the fundamentals, revenue grew 25.3% over the last twelve months, against a median of 7.9% for S&P 500 Health Care stocks; and its operating margin is 8.3%, versus a median of 17.4%. At least one of the last four quarters was a loss, so a price-to-earnings multiple would not be a meaningful yardstick here. The read is mixed: revenue growth above the median on one side, margins below the median on the other.
If you are looking for strength with more behind it than a hot tape, our Guidance Momentum screen surfaces the names where management raised its own outlook.
One Hot Stock Is A Story. Thirty Sound Ones Are A Strategy
A streak like this earns a place on your watchlist, and it also earns a question: how much of your outcome do you want depending on one company keeping this up?
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio answers it with breadth: roughly 30 businesses picked for consistent cash generation, strong margins, and balance-sheet strength, sized and rebalanced by rules. It has a track record of outpacing a benchmark that combines the S&P 500, the S&P MidCap 400, and the Russell 2000. Follow the story; invest in the strategy.