Bausch Health Cos (NYSE:BHC) Upgraded to “Hold” at Zacks Research

Zacks Research upgraded shares of Bausch Health Cos (NYSE:BHC) from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday,Zacks.com reports. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Bausch Health Cos’ Q4 2026 earnings at $1.16 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $4.24 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.84 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.91 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $1.07 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $1.02 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $3.84 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $0.65 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $0.86 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $3.04 EPS.

BHC has been the subject of several other research reports. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Bausch Health Cos from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, August 1st. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Bausch Health Cos to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Bausch Health Cos from a “sell (d-)” rating to a “sell (d)” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Bausch Health Cos from $10.00 to $9.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 27th. 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 MarketBeat, Bausch Health Cos currently has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average price target of $8.00.

Bausch Health Cos Stock Performance

Shares of Bausch Health Cos stock opened at $6.42 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $2.40 billion, a PE ratio of -2.17 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 54.68. Bausch Health Cos has a 52 week low of $4.33 and a 52 week high of $8.00. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $5.36 and its 200-day simple moving average is $5.46.

Bausch Health Cos (NYSE:BHC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The company reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.96 by $0.30. The firm had revenue of $2.83 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.59 billion. Bausch Health Cos had a negative return on equity of 561.95% and a negative net margin of 10.12%. Equities analysts forecast that Bausch Health Cos will post 4.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Bausch Health Cos

In related news, insider Aimee J. Lenar sold 36,827 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.03, for a total transaction of $258,893.81. Following the transaction, the insider owned 334,853 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,354,016.59. This represents a 9.91% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal 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. Insiders own 20.67% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bausch Health Cos

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Tacita Capital Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Bausch Health Cos during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Caption Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bausch Health Cos by 101.1% in the fourth quarter. Caption Management LLC now owns 4,464 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 405,789 shares in the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Bausch Health Cos by 12,589.7% in the fourth quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 4,949 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 4,910 shares in the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in Bausch Health Cos by 6,661.2% during the 3rd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 5,409 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 5,329 shares during the period. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its stake in Bausch Health Cos by 65.9% during the 2nd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 7,819 shares of the company’s stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 3,106 shares during the period. 78.65% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about Bausch Health Cos

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

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.