Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) Cut to "Hold" at Wall Street Zen

Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC - Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report released on Wednesday.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. HC Wainwright set a $180.00 price target on shares of Balchem and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Sidoti raised shares of Balchem to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th.

Balchem Trading Down 0.9%

BCPC traded down $1.59 on Wednesday, reaching $165.96. 93,766 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 137,453. The company has a market cap of $5.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Balchem has a one year low of $145.70 and a one year high of $186.03. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $161.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $165.99.

Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The basic materials company reported $1.22 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.25 by ($0.03). Balchem had a return on equity of 11.37% and a net margin of 13.47%. The firm had revenue of $250.52 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $245.70 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.03 earnings per share. Balchem's quarterly revenue was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Balchem will post 4.64 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Balchem

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BCPC. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in Balchem by 93.8% during the fourth quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 157 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Balchem during the first quarter worth $27,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in Balchem in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Federated Hermes Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Balchem during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its position in Balchem by 534.2% in the first quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 241 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 203 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.91% of the company's stock.

About Balchem

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.