Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money

When you analyze Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL), are you seeing just a cord blood bank, or a company transforming into a vertically integrated cellular therapy leader?

As the world's first private cord blood bank, this pioneer holds a current market capitalization of about $36.7 million as of October 2025, but its true scale is in the over 500,000 specimens it manages for families across 87 countries.

While the trailing twelve-month revenue is approximately $31.7 million, the real strategic opportunity lies in their exclusive license agreement with Duke University, which is accelerating their move into regenerative medicine, including plans to open infusion clinics for conditions like autism and cerebral palsy.

Understanding how their stable core storage business works alongside this high-potential biotech expansion is defintely the key to valuing their future, so let's start by breaking down the history, ownership, and financial engine driving this shift.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) History

You're looking for the foundational story of a pioneer, and Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) is exactly that in the cord blood banking space. The direct takeaway is this: the company, established in 1989, didn't just start a business; it created an entire industry, moving from a single private bank to a vertically integrated cellular therapy company through strategic acquisitions and a crucial partnership with Duke University.

Given Company's Founding Timeline

Year established

The company was established in 1989, making it the world's first private cord blood bank.

Original location

Cryo-Cell International was originally founded in Clearwater, Florida, before moving its corporate headquarters and state-of-the-art laboratory to Oldsmar, Florida, in 2004.

Founding team members

The company was founded by Dan Richard, with Dr. David G. Harris serving as the founder and first medical director.

Initial capital/funding

Information regarding the initial capital or funding for the company is not defintely readily available, which is common for smaller, privately held ventures in their earliest days.

Given Company's Evolution Milestones

Given Company's Transformative Moments

The company's trajectory hasn't been a straight line; it's a series of calculated, high-impact decisions that shifted its business model from pure storage to regenerative medicine. This is where the real action is, and it's why we look at their financials in the context of this transformation. For example, the acquisition of CORD:USE in 2018 for a $14 million upfront purchase price was a clear signal of an intent to dominate both the private and public banking sectors.

The exclusive 2021 license with Duke University is arguably the most transformative move. It gives Cryo-Cell International the rights to clinical data and proprietary processes for using cord blood to treat conditions like autism and cerebral palsy. This is a massive pivot, moving the company from a long-term storage provider to a clinical-stage cellular therapy entity. It's a high-risk, high-reward strategy that aims to improve patient lives significantly.

Here's the quick math on the near-term financial picture as of late 2025: the core business is showing slight contraction, which is why the strategic pivot is so important. For the Fiscal Third Quarter (Q3) ended August 31, 2025, consolidated revenues were $7.83 million, a 3% decrease year-over-year, and net income was $749,000. Still, the company is preserving cash, as evidenced by the November 2025 announcement that it will not declare a quarterly cash dividend for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. This action signals a focus on capital requirements and strategic priorities, likely funding the cellular therapy expansion.

• Pioneering Cord Tissue: Becoming the first private bank to offer cord tissue cryopreservation in 2007 expanded the therapeutic menu, storing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) alongside hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).
• Public Banking Entry: The 2018 acquisition of CORD:USE immediately put Cryo-Cell International into the public banking arena, providing cord blood for over 700 transplants in partnership with Duke University.
• Cellular Therapy Focus: The 2021 Duke license transformed the mission to include developing, manufacturing, and administering cellular therapies, aiming to open infusion clinics for neurological and other conditions.

To be fair, this shift into cellular therapy is capital-intensive and carries regulatory risk, but it's the path to higher-margin, high-impact growth. You can dive deeper into the financial health and risk profile of this transition by reading Breaking Down Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) Ownership Structure

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) is controlled by a concentrated group of insiders and the public float is relatively high, which creates an interesting dynamic for a company with a market capitalization of approximately $33.03 million as of November 2025. This structure means the executive team and board hold significant sway over strategic decisions, but the majority of shares are still available for trade by the public and institutions.

Cryo-Cell International's Current Status

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. is a publicly traded company, listed on the NYSE American LLC under the ticker symbol CCEL. Its status as a public entity requires regular financial disclosures, offering transparency into its operations and financial health. For the third quarter of fiscal 2025, the company reported consolidated revenues of $7.83 million and a net income of $749,000, indicating a small, profitable operation focused on cellular processing and cryogenic storage. This public status is crucial for its capital-raising ability, but it also subjects the company to market volatility, which you've seen with the stock price fluctuation.

The company's fiscal year ends on November 30. You can find their full strategic goals, which guide their decision-making, in their Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL).

Cryo-Cell International's Ownership Breakdown

The ownership structure is heavily weighted toward insiders, a common trait in smaller public companies, which can lead to stability but also less liquidity in the stock. Insider buying, like the recent purchases by David Portnoy in November 2025, signals confidence, but it also tightens the float. Here's the quick math on the breakdown as of November 2025:

What this estimate hides is the power dynamic: over 40% of the company is held by those running it, so any major strategic shift, like the potential spin-off of Celle Corp., will defintely be driven by this core group.

Cryo-Cell International's Leadership

The company is steered by a seasoned, long-tenured leadership team, particularly the two Co-CEOs who have been in their roles since 2011. This stability is a key factor in the firm's consistent execution in the highly regulated cord blood banking space.

• David Portnoy: Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer. He is a primary stakeholder, directly owning a significant portion of the company and driving its long-term vision.
• Mark Portnoy: Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director. He has been instrumental in expanding the company's core business units, including the adoption of the PrepaCyte-CB processing technology.
• Jill Taymans: Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance. She provides financial oversight, having served as CFO since 1998, ensuring a long-term, conservative approach to capital management.
• Oleg Mikulinsky: Chief Information Officer. He oversees the technology and data infrastructure, which is critical for the cryogenic storage and biostorage services like ExtraVault.

The average tenure for this management team is over 14 years, which shows they know the business inside and out. That's a rare thing in the biotech world.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) Mission and Values

Cryo-Cell International, Inc.'s core purpose extends beyond its pioneering role as the world's first private cord blood bank, focusing intensely on patient life improvement through cellular therapies and maintaining the highest quality in biostorage. This commitment is the foundation of its cultural DNA, driving its transition into a vertically integrated cellular therapy company.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc.'s Core Purpose

You're investing in a company that sees itself as a medical innovator, not just a storage facility. Their mission is a three-pronged approach: premier cryopreservation, cellular therapy development, and cost-effective biostorage. This focus on future treatments is why they are transforming into an autonomous, vertically integrated cellular therapy business, a strategic move that reflects their long-term aspiration to treat conditions like autism and cerebral palsy.

Official mission statement

The formal mission statement is clear about their dual focus-service quality and therapeutic development. They are defintely not just a vault.

• Provide premier cord blood and cord tissue cryopreservation services.
• Develop, manufacture, and administer cellular therapies to significantly improve the lives of patients worldwide.
• Offer the highest quality and most cost-effective biostorage solutions available.

To put a number on their reach, over 500,000 parents from 87 countries have entrusted Cryo-Cell International, Inc. with their baby's stem cells, showing the global trust built on this mission.

Vision statement

While not a single, formal sentence, the company's vision is to be the leader that bridges stem cell banking with clinical application, maximizing the potential of regenerative medicine. They aim to be the go-to source for advanced cellular solutions.

• Be the industry's most trusted, quality-driven cellular therapy company, recognized by accreditations like AABB and FACT.
• Expand their core business to include biopharmaceutical manufacturing and operating clinics for experimental treatments.
• Maximize shareholder value by leveraging their intellectual property and global network.

Their public banking program, a partnership with Duke University, has already provided cord blood for more than 700 transplants, showing their vision is already translating into real-world impact. If you want to dive deeper into how these initiatives affect their bottom line, check out Breaking Down Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. slogan/tagline

The company's messaging centers on the profound, long-term health benefit of their service, capturing the emotional and medical value they provide to families.

• Protecting. What Matters Most.

This mission is what you're buying into, but remember, the financial reality is always key. For the third quarter of fiscal 2025, the company reported consolidated revenues of $7.83 million, which generated a net income of $749,000 for the quarter ending August 31, 2025. That's the quick math on their current health as they pursue this expansive vision.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) How It Works

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. operates as a specialized biotech firm, primarily generating revenue by cryopreserving (freezing and storing) umbilical cord blood and tissue stem cells for private family use, which creates a long-term, annuity-like revenue stream from storage fees. The company also drives future value by commercializing its proprietary processing technology and advancing cellular therapies through a key licensing agreement with Duke University, moving beyond just storage into the regenerative medicine space.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc.'s Product/Service Portfolio

Cryo-Cell International, Inc.'s Operational Framework

The company's core operation is a high-precision, regulated process that creates long-term, recurring revenue. Honestly, this is a storage business with a biotech twist, so the operational efficiency is defintely key.

• Collection and Logistics: Cryo-Cell provides collection kits to parents, then manages the time-sensitive transport of the cord blood and tissue specimens to its central laboratory in Oldsmar, Florida.
• Processing and Separation: In the lab, the company processes the cord blood using its proprietary PrepaCyte-CB system, which is designed to remove more red blood cells and plasma, resulting in a purer stem cell concentrate than other methods.
• Cryogenic Storage: Specimens are cryopreserved (frozen) in ultra-low temperature liquid nitrogen storage tanks, housed in a highly secure, monitored facility that is FDA-registered and cGMP-/cGTP-compliant.
• Revenue Generation: The value comes from two primary fees: an initial processing fee and a recurring annual storage fee. For the first quarter of fiscal 2025, processing and storage fee revenue was approximately $7.87 million.
• Therapeutic Expansion: A separate, but growing, operational focus is the development and administration of cellular therapies under the Duke University license, which will eventually involve operating specialized infusion clinics. You can get a deeper dive into the numbers here: Breaking Down Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors

Cryo-Cell International, Inc.'s Strategic Advantages

Cryo-Cell's success isn't just about being the first; it's about regulatory compliance, proprietary technology, and a smart move into the clinical application of its stored assets.

• Pioneering Market Position: Founded in 1989, it was the world's first private cord blood bank, giving it a massive head start and brand recognition in the U.S. and internationally. Over 500,000 parents from 87 countries have entrusted their cells to the company.
• Proprietary Technology Lock-in: Exclusive rights to the PrepaCyte-CB processing technology provide a competitive edge, as it's marketed to deliver a superior, more viable stem cell product for future therapeutic use.
• Clinical and IP Leverage: The exclusive license agreement with Duke University gives the company a direct path to commercializing cord blood and tissue stem cells for specific clinical indications, such as autism and cerebral palsy, which transforms a storage service into a potential therapeutic provider.
• High Regulatory Barrier to Entry: The facility maintains the highest industry standards, including being AABB accredited and the first U.S. private bank to receive FACT accreditation, which is a major trust signal and a costly hurdle for competitors to clear.
• Financial Stability from Recurring Revenue: The vast majority of the company's revenue-like the $31.99 million TTM revenue reported through May 31, 2025-is derived from predictable, recurring annual storage fees, which offers a stable financial base to fund its clinical expansion efforts.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) How It Makes Money

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. primarily makes money through a subscription-like model where parents pay an initial fee to process and store their baby's umbilical cord blood and tissue stem cells, plus recurring annual storage fees. This core business is supplemented by revenue from its public banking program and the sale of related products.

Cryo-Cell International's Revenue Breakdown

The company's revenue engine is dominated by its long-term storage contracts, which provide a predictable, annuity-like income stream. Based on the detailed breakdown from the fiscal second quarter of 2025, the vast majority of revenue is tied to the private banking service.

Here's the quick math: Out of the $7.9 million in total revenue for Q2 2025, the core processing and storage fees accounted for $7.87 million. This is the financial bedrock, but it's a mature segment, seeing a slight dip from the prior year's $7.97 million. Public banking revenue, though small at $43,000, is a strategic, growing area, up from $41,000 year-over-year, which is a good sign for their collaboration with Duke University.

Business Economics

The economics of Cryo-Cell International are defined by high initial customer acquisition costs followed by high-margin, recurring revenue. It's a classic razor-and-blade model, only here, the 'razor' is the initial processing fee and the 'blades' are the annual storage fees.

• Annuity Model: The long-term storage fees, paid by over 500,000 clients, create a stable, predictable revenue base. This is the most valuable part of the business, defintely.
• High Barrier to Entry: The business requires significant capital expenditure to maintain an FDA-registered, cGMP-/cGTP-compliant, and FACT-accredited facility, which keeps competition limited.
• Proprietary Technology: Exclusive rights to the PrepaCyte-CB processing technology give them a competitive edge in cell recovery, which they can use to justify premium pricing.
• Strategic Diversification: The company is actively expanding its core Cellular Processing and Cryogenic Storage segment into biopharmaceutical services, like the ExtraVault services for biostorage and distribution, which could open new, non-consumer revenue streams.

The cost of acquiring a new client is high-marketing to expectant parents is expensive-but the lifetime value of a customer is substantial, often spanning 18 to 21 years of storage fees.

Cryo-Cell International's Financial Performance

Cryo-Cell International's most recent results, for the fiscal third quarter ended August 31, 2025, show a clear picture of a company facing revenue headwinds in its core segment but remaining profitable. The near-term trend is a slight contraction in sales and a more significant drop in net income.

• Total Revenue: Consolidated revenue for Q3 2025 was $7.83 million, a 3% decrease from the $8.07 million reported in Q3 2024. For the first nine months of 2025, total revenue was $23.72 million, slightly down from $23.96 million in the same period last year.
• Profitability: Net income for Q3 2025 was $749,000, which is a notable decline from the $1.05 million reported in the prior-year quarter. The nine-month net income also fell sharply to $1.39 million from $2.26 million year-over-year.
• Market Sentiment: Analysts project a Q4 2025 revenue of $7.700 million and a consensus Earnings Per Share (EPS) forecast of -$0.110, suggesting a challenging end to the fiscal year. The stock's negative Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of -58.71 indicates the recent earnings decline is a concern for valuation.

What this estimate hides is the potential for their strategic initiatives, like cellular therapies and biostorage, to start contributing more meaningfully to the top line in 2026. You can read more about their long-term goals and strategy here: Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL).

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) Market Position & Future Outlook

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) is strategically pivoting from a pure-play cord blood bank to a vertically integrated cellular therapy company, positioning itself to capitalize on the rapidly expanding regenerative medicine market. While the core storage business provides a stable, recurring revenue base-evidenced by $7.83 million in consolidated revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2025-the company's future growth hinges on successfully monetizing its exclusive technology and clinical trial partnerships.

Competitive Landscape

The private cord blood banking sector is highly consolidated, with a few large players dominating the U.S. market. Cryo-Cell International competes primarily on quality and proprietary technology, not just scale, which is a crucial distinction for investors to grasp. The company holds an estimated 8.5% of the private cord blood banking market, competing directly with larger entities that have banked significantly more units.

Opportunities & Challenges

The global cord blood banking market is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of over 5.0% from 2025, so the tailwinds are strong. The challenge is executing the shift into clinical applications, which is capital-intensive and subject to regulatory risk. Here's the quick math on the near-term landscape.

Industry Position

Cryo-Cell International maintains a strong position as a quality leader, which is defintely a core value proposition in a highly sensitive industry like this. The company was the first U.S. private cord blood bank to receive FACT (Foundation for the Accreditation for Cellular Therapy) accreditation, a key differentiator against competitors.

• Quality Focus: The company offers the industry's best $100,000 Payment Guarantee for viable samples, reflecting confidence in its processing.
• Technology Edge: Exclusive rights to the PrepaCyte-CB processing system allow for superior stem cell recovery compared to older methods.
• Financial Health: Despite a slight Q3 2025 revenue dip, the company reported a net income of $749,000 for the quarter, indicating a profitable core business that can fund its strategic pivot.

You need to look closely at the balance sheet to see how much of that profit is being reinvested in the new biopharma ventures. For a deeper dive into the numbers, check out Breaking Down Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Finance: Track the revenue contribution from the new ExtraVault and clinic segments quarterly to gauge the success of the diversification strategy.