Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) Sees Large Volume Increase – What’s Next?

Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday . Approximately 62,570 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 44% from the previous session’s volume of 110,896 shares.The stock last traded at $164.36 and had previously closed at $166.51.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently commented on BCPC. HC Wainwright increased their price target on Balchem from $185.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. StockNews.com raised shares of Balchem from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 28th.

Balchem Trading Down 0.6 %

The business’s fifty day moving average is $174.99 and its two-hundred day moving average is $169.72. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 2.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The firm has a market cap of $5.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.32 and a beta of 0.67.

Balchem Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced an annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 26th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.4%. This is an increase from Balchem’s previous annual dividend of $0.79. Balchem’s payout ratio is presently 23.39%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Balchem

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Balchem by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 928,904 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $163,514,000 after purchasing an additional 27,979 shares during the last quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Balchem by 8.4% in the second quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 233,831 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $35,998,000 after buying an additional 18,104 shares during the period. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in Balchem by 22.1% in the second quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 20,582 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $3,169,000 after acquiring an additional 3,732 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Balchem by 2.1% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 361,970 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $63,707,000 after acquiring an additional 7,562 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp grew its holdings in Balchem by 26.2% during the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 11,893 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $2,093,000 after acquiring an additional 2,467 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.91% of the company’s stock.

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.