Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) Rating Increased to Buy at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report released on Tuesday morning.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. HC Wainwright set a $180.00 price objective on shares of Balchem and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Sidoti raised shares of Balchem to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th.

Balchem Price Performance

BCPC opened at $164.94 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $5.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.97, a PEG ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $162.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $166.42. Balchem has a twelve month low of $145.70 and a twelve month high of $186.03.

Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The basic materials company reported $1.22 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.25 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $250.52 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $245.70 million. Balchem had a net margin of 13.47% and a return on equity of 11.37%. Balchem’s revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.03 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Balchem will post 4.64 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Balchem

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in Balchem by 93.8% in the fourth quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 157 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 76 shares during the period. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in Balchem in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Federated Hermes Inc. purchased a new stake in Balchem in the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Balchem by 534.2% during the first quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 241 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 203 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd boosted its position in shares of Balchem by 36.6% in the 1st quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 437 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $73,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. 87.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Balchem

Balchem Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets specialty performance ingredients and products for the nutritional, food, pharmaceutical, animal health, medical device sterilization, plant nutrition, and industrial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Human Nutrition and Health, Animal Nutrition and Health, and Specialty Products.