Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) Upgraded by Sidoti to Hold Rating

Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC - Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at Sidoti to a "hold" rating in a research report issued on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Balchem from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating and issued a $190.00 price target on shares of Balchem in a research report on Monday, February 24th.

Balchem Stock Up 1.2 %

BCPC stock traded up $2.03 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $174.03. 134,481 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 131,741. The company has a market capitalization of $5.66 billion, a PE ratio of 44.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Balchem has a twelve month low of $137.69 and a twelve month high of $186.03. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $162.41 and a 200 day simple moving average of $169.56.

Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 21st. The basic materials company reported $1.03 earnings per share 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%. On average, research analysts forecast that Balchem will post 4.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Balchem

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its position in Balchem by 8.2% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 989 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $161,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its position in Balchem by 93.8% in the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 157 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its position in Balchem by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 9,413 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $1,534,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. Vident Advisory LLC lifted its position in Balchem by 6.0% in the 4th quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 1,421 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $232,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its position in Balchem by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 3,840 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $626,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. 87.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.