BNP Paribas Financial Markets Increases Position in Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its holdings in shares of Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) by 283.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 81,805 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after acquiring an additional 60,449 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned about 0.25% of Balchem worth $13,334,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Barclays PLC raised its stake in shares of Balchem by 405.8% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 60,777 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $10,695,000 after acquiring an additional 48,762 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in shares of Balchem in the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. Argent Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Balchem by 39.1% during the 4th quarter. Argent Capital Management LLC now owns 5,821 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $949,000 after buying an additional 1,636 shares in the last quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP increased its stake in shares of Balchem by 8.3% during the fourth quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 1,420 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $231,000 after buying an additional 109 shares during the period. Finally, Annex Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Balchem by 35.4% in the fourth quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 7,496 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,222,000 after acquiring an additional 1,959 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.91% of the company’s stock.

Balchem Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of Balchem stock opened at $163.60 on Friday. Balchem Co. has a 52-week low of $145.70 and a 52-week high of $186.03. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $162.43 and its 200-day moving average price is $166.47. 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 company has a market cap of $5.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.63, a PEG ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.93.

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). Balchem had a net margin of 13.47% and a return on equity of 11.37%. The business had revenue of $250.52 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $245.70 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.03 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Balchem Co. will post 4.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have issued reports on BCPC shares. StockNews.com cut shares of Balchem from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Sidoti raised shares of Balchem to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, HC Wainwright set a $180.00 target price on Balchem and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, April 28th.

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.