MFN Partners Management LP Takes Position in Bausch Health Cos Inc. $BHC

MFN Partners Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Bausch Health Cos Inc. (NYSE:BHC) in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 6,000,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $29,580,000,000. Bausch Health Cos accounts for approximately 0.6% of MFN Partners Management LP’s portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest position.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Paulson & CO. Inc. raised its stake in Bausch Health Cos by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. Paulson & CO. Inc. now owns 73,255,869 shares of the company’s stock worth $509,128,000 after acquiring an additional 2,500,000 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in shares of Bausch Health Cos by 24.9% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 11,363,498 shares of the company’s stock worth $61,362,000 after purchasing an additional 2,262,894 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Bausch Health Cos by 65.7% during the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 5,143,641 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,748,000 after purchasing an additional 2,038,813 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Bausch Health Cos during the 4th quarter valued at $25,592,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Bausch Health Cos by 10.8% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,604,818 shares of the company’s stock valued at $19,456,000 after buying an additional 350,823 shares in the last quarter. 78.65% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on BHC shares. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Bausch Health Cos from $10.00 to $9.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 27th. Wall Street Zen raised Bausch Health Cos from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, August 1st. Weiss Ratings upgraded Bausch Health Cos from a “sell (d-)” rating to a “sell (d)” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Zacks Research upgraded Bausch Health Cos from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised Bausch Health Cos to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $8.00.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Aimee J. Lenar sold 36,827 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.03, for a total value of $258,893.81. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 334,853 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,354,016.59. The trade was a 9.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Company insiders own 20.67% of the company’s stock.

More Bausch Health Cos News

Here are the key news stories impacting Bausch Health Cos this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Upgraded to Buy: BHC was raised to Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting improved expectations for the company’s earnings and potentially supporting further near-term gains. Bausch Upgraded to Buy
• Positive Sentiment: Higher earnings estimates: Zacks analysts raised forecasts across multiple periods, including FY2027 EPS to $3.84 from $3.59 and FY2028 EPS to $3.04 from $3.02. Estimates for several 2027 and 2028 quarters were also increased, reinforcing the view that earnings momentum could drive the stock higher. Rising Earnings Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Bausch + Lomb growth thesis: An investment analysis highlighted 9% year-over-year revenue growth in the second quarter, margin expansion and strong operating cash flow. Growth in premium intraocular lenses and branded pharmaceuticals could improve product mix, EBITDA and cash generation while supporting deleveraging. Bausch Plus Lomb Analysis
• Neutral Sentiment: Despite the estimate increases, Zacks Research continues to rate BHC Strong Sell. The broader analyst consensus is “Reduce,” with an average price target of $8, indicating limited upside relative to current trading levels.
• Negative Sentiment: Insider Aimee Lenar sold 36,827 shares worth approximately $258,894 under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. Although the scheduled nature reduces its significance, the transaction cut her direct holding by 9.91%. Insider Share Sale

Bausch Health Cos Stock Performance

BHC opened at $6.42 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 54.68, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.17 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a fifty day moving average of $5.36 and a 200 day moving average of $5.46. Bausch Health Cos Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $4.33 and a fifty-two week high of $8.00.

Bausch Health Cos (NYSE:BHC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The company reported $1.26 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.96 by $0.30. Bausch Health Cos had a negative net margin of 10.12% and a negative return on equity of 561.95%. The business had revenue of $2.83 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.59 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Bausch Health Cos Inc. will post 4.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Bausch Health Cos

Bausch Health Cos Inc, formerly known as Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, is a global specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The company operates through two primary segments: Ophthalmology, led by its Bausch + Lomb franchise, and Diversified Brands, which encompasses prescription dermatology, gastrointestinal, neurology and branded pharmaceutical products. Bausch Health develops, manufactures and markets a range of therapeutic and over-the-counter offerings designed to address conditions such as cataracts, dry eye, glaucoma, acne, rosacea, migraine and gastrointestinal disorders.

The Ophthalmology segment under the Bausch + Lomb name provides products for eye health, including prescription drops, contact lens care solutions, intraocular lenses, surgical instruments and diagnostic devices.