Edgestream Partners L.P. Acquires 36,706 Shares of Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC)

Edgestream Partners L.P. grew its stake in shares of Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) by 403.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 45,815 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after buying an additional 36,706 shares during the period. Edgestream Partners L.P. owned 0.14% of Balchem worth $7,468,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. FMR LLC increased its holdings in Balchem by 944.3% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 497,495 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $87,559,000 after acquiring an additional 449,854 shares during the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Balchem during the fourth quarter valued at about $23,628,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Balchem in the fourth quarter worth about $13,359,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Balchem by 129.7% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 98,853 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $17,398,000 after buying an additional 55,822 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC boosted its stake in Balchem by 405.8% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 60,777 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $10,695,000 after buying an additional 48,762 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.91% of the company’s stock.

Balchem Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of NASDAQ BCPC opened at $176.16 on Friday. Balchem Co. has a 1-year low of $137.69 and a 1-year high of $186.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.99 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The business’s 50 day moving average is $162.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $169.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.82, a PEG ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.69.

Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 21st. The basic materials company reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.11 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $240.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $239.96 million. Balchem had a net margin of 13.47% and a return on equity of 11.37%. As a group, research analysts expect that Balchem Co. will post 4.64 EPS for the current year.

Balchem Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were paid a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.4%. This is an increase from Balchem’s previous annual dividend of $0.79. Balchem’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.14%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on BCPC shares. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $190.00 price objective on shares of Balchem in a research note on Monday, February 24th. StockNews.com cut shares of Balchem from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, Sidoti upgraded shares of Balchem to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th.

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.