Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) Stock Price Down 85.2% – Should You Sell?

Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) shares dropped 85.2% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $163.04 and last traded at $24.28. Approximately 111,229 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 2% from the average daily volume of 114,079 shares. The stock had previously closed at $164.52.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BCPC has been the subject of several analyst reports. Sidoti raised Balchem to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Balchem from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $190.00 target price on shares of Balchem in a research report on Monday, February 24th.

Balchem Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $5.31 billion, a PE ratio of 41.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.63. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $164.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $169.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.99 and a quick ratio of 1.16.

Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 21st. The basic materials company reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.11 by ($0.08). Balchem had a net margin of 13.47% and a return on equity of 11.37%. The company had revenue of $240.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $239.96 million. On average, equities analysts expect that Balchem Co. will post 4.64 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Balchem

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Westside Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Balchem during the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Covestor Ltd increased its position in Balchem by 93.8% in the 4th 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 acquired a new position in shares of Balchem during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of Balchem in the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Balchem in the fourth quarter worth $33,000. 87.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.