Stephens Investment Management Group LLC Buys 70,875 Shares of BioLife Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLFS)

Stephens Investment Management Group LLC grew its position in BioLife Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLFS) by 16.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 495,970 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 70,875 shares during the period. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC owned 1.07% of BioLife Solutions worth $12,875,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new position in BioLife Solutions in the second quarter valued at about $229,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its stake in shares of BioLife Solutions by 5.8% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 13,825 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $296,000 after buying an additional 753 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of BioLife Solutions during the third quarter valued at $425,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of BioLife Solutions by 29.4% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,295 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 748 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James & Associates grew its stake in shares of BioLife Solutions by 4.3% in the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 139,997 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $3,506,000 after purchasing an additional 5,803 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.24% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently issued reports on BLFS shares. Northland Securities raised their target price on BioLife Solutions from $28.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Craig Hallum raised their price objective on BioLife Solutions from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. HC Wainwright reduced their target price on BioLife Solutions from $29.00 to $27.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 18th. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of BioLife Solutions from $28.00 to $31.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $30.00 price target on shares of BioLife Solutions in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, BioLife Solutions currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $29.43.

Insider Activity at BioLife Solutions

In other BioLife Solutions news, EVP Aby J. Mathew sold 7,604 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.33, for a total value of $207,817.32. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 276,315 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,551,688.95. This trade represents a 2.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Troy Wichterman sold 987 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.02, for a total value of $26,668.74. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 121,779 shares in the company, valued at $3,290,468.58. The trade was a 0.80 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 54,278 shares of company stock worth $1,199,987 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 2.20% of the company’s stock.

BioLife Solutions Price Performance

BioLife Solutions stock opened at $26.10 on Monday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $26.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $25.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -24.62 and a beta of 1.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a current ratio of 2.78. BioLife Solutions, Inc. has a 52-week low of $14.50 and a 52-week high of $29.55.

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.