Empower Advisory Group LLC Buys 2,441 Shares of Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC)

Empower Advisory Group LLC raised its stake in Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC - Free Report) by 2.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 115,868 shares of the basic materials company's stock after purchasing an additional 2,441 shares during the quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC owned 0.36% of Balchem worth $18,886,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Westside Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Balchem during the third quarter worth about $27,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in Balchem during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. nVerses Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Balchem in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of Balchem in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in shares of Balchem by 642.5% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 839 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $148,000 after buying an additional 726 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.91% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

Balchem Stock Up 1.5 %

BCPC traded up $2.38 on Friday, hitting $163.72. The company had a trading volume of 194,105 shares, compared to its average volume of 127,683. Balchem Co. has a 52-week low of $137.69 and a 52-week high of $186.03. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $162.20 and a 200-day simple moving average of $169.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 2.98 and a quick ratio of 1.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.01, a P/E/G ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.69.

Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 21st. The basic materials company reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.11 by ($0.08). Balchem had a net margin of 12.90% and a return on equity of 10.99%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Balchem Co. will post 4.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Balchem Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were given a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. This is an increase from Balchem's previous annual dividend of $0.79. This represents a dividend yield of 0.4%. Balchem's dividend payout ratio is currently 23.39%.

Balchem 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.