Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) Sees Strong Trading Volume – Should You Buy?

Shares of Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Friday . Approximately 62,570 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 44% from the previous session’s volume of 110,896 shares.The stock last traded at $164.36 and had previously closed at $166.51.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BCPC has been the subject of several analyst reports. HC Wainwright boosted their target price on Balchem from $185.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report 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 Price Performance

The company has a 50 day moving average of $174.99 and a 200 day moving average of $169.72. The company has a current ratio of 2.98, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The firm has a market cap of $5.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.49, a P/E/G ratio of 5.32 and a beta of 0.67.

Balchem Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 26th. This is a boost from Balchem’s previous annual dividend of $0.79. Balchem’s payout ratio is 23.39%.

Institutional Trading of Balchem

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Balchem by 1.0% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,234,226 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $217,224,000 after buying an additional 12,006 shares during the period. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Balchem by 1.8% in 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 during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 27,979 shares in the last quarter. Geneva Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Balchem by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Geneva Capital Management LLC now owns 779,869 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $137,257,000 after purchasing an additional 12,750 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Balchem by 0.9% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 697,461 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $107,372,000 after purchasing an additional 5,977 shares in the last quarter. 87.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.