Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC Purchases 20,360 Shares of Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC)

Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC - Free Report) by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,175,569 shares of the basic materials company's stock after purchasing an additional 20,360 shares during the quarter. Balchem comprises about 2.8% of Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC owned 3.63% of Balchem worth $206,900,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of BCPC. nVerses Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Balchem in the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its position in Balchem by 568.9% in the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 301 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 256 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in Balchem by 73.4% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 841 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $148,000 after acquiring an additional 356 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in shares of Balchem by 642.5% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 839 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $148,000 after purchasing an additional 726 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc acquired a new position in shares of Balchem in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $200,000. Institutional investors own 87.91% of the company's stock.

Balchem Stock Up 2.5 %

NASDAQ:BCPC traded up $4.13 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $171.46. 289,695 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 107,855. Balchem Co. has a twelve month low of $116.84 and a twelve month high of $186.03. The firm has a market cap of $5.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.88, a P/E/G ratio of 5.17 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 2.98. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $171.74 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $162.78.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on BCPC. HC Wainwright raised their target price on shares of Balchem from $170.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. StockNews.com raised Balchem from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday.

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.