Inspire Advisors LLC Raises Stock Position in Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC)

Inspire Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) by 3.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,123 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after acquiring an additional 161 shares during the period. Inspire Advisors LLC’s holdings in Balchem were worth $835,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in Balchem by 21.7% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 8,471 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,381,000 after acquiring an additional 1,510 shares in the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC boosted its stake in shares of Balchem by 331.6% during the fourth quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 7,955 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,297,000 after purchasing an additional 6,112 shares in the last quarter. Amundi increased its holdings in Balchem by 151.3% during the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 19,096 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $3,000,000 after buying an additional 11,496 shares during the period. Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. raised its position in shares of Balchem by 25.3% in the 4th quarter. Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. now owns 17,109 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $2,789,000 after acquiring an additional 3,457 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Edgestream Partners L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Balchem by 403.0% during the 4th quarter. Edgestream Partners L.P. now owns 45,815 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $7,468,000 after purchasing an additional 36,706 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.91% of the company’s stock.

Balchem Stock Performance

BCPC opened at $169.20 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $5.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.63. 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’s 50-day moving average price is $163.30 and its 200-day moving average price is $169.86. Balchem Co. has a 52-week low of $137.69 and a 52-week high of $186.03.

Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 21st. The basic materials company reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.11 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $240.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $239.96 million. Balchem had a return on equity of 11.37% and a net margin of 13.47%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Balchem Co. will post 4.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on BCPC shares. StockNews.com lowered Balchem from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and set a $190.00 target price on shares of Balchem in a research report on Monday, February 24th. Finally, Sidoti raised shares of Balchem to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th.

Balchem Company Profile

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.