Van ECK Associates Corp Acquires 3,110 Shares of Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC)

Van ECK Associates Corp raised its position in Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC - Free Report) by 4.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 67,362 shares of the basic materials company's stock after acquiring an additional 3,110 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp owned about 0.21% of Balchem worth $10,980,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of BCPC. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Balchem by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,234,226 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $217,224,000 after purchasing an additional 12,006 shares in the last quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Balchem by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,175,569 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $206,900,000 after purchasing an additional 20,360 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Balchem by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 928,904 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $163,514,000 after acquiring an additional 27,979 shares during the last quarter. Geneva Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Balchem by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Geneva Capital Management LLC now owns 779,869 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $137,257,000 after acquiring an additional 12,750 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC increased its holdings in shares of Balchem by 944.3% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 497,495 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $87,559,000 after acquiring an additional 449,854 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.91% of the company's stock.

Balchem Stock Performance

NASDAQ BCPC traded down $2.46 on Thursday, reaching $161.32. The stock had a trading volume of 120,676 shares, compared to its average volume of 125,672. 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 fifty day moving average of $162.76 and a two-hundred day moving average of $169.38. Balchem Co. has a 1-year low of $137.69 and a 1-year high of $186.03. The company has a market cap of $5.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.47 and a beta of 0.69.

Balchem Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 17th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were issued a $0.87 dividend. This represents a yield of 0.4%. This is a positive change from Balchem's previous annual dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. Balchem's dividend payout ratio is currently 23.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

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.