Stephens Investment Management Group LLC Has $45.46 Million Stock Position in Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC)

Stephens Investment Management Group LLC cut its position in Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) by 0.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 278,927 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 2,524 shares during the period. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC’s holdings in Balchem were worth $45,464,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in BCPC. FMR LLC grew its stake in Balchem by 944.3% in the third 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 period. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Balchem by 129.7% in the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 98,853 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $17,398,000 after purchasing an additional 55,822 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in shares of Balchem by 405.8% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 60,777 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $10,695,000 after purchasing an additional 48,762 shares in the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. grew its position in Balchem by 12.4% in the 3rd quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 301,440 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $53,053,000 after purchasing an additional 33,373 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Balchem by 3.1% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 928,904 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $163,514,000 after buying an additional 27,979 shares during the last quarter. 87.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Balchem Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:BCPC opened at $160.28 on Friday. 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 stock has a market cap of $5.21 billion, a PE ratio of 43.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.42 and a beta of 0.69. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $165.18 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $170.24. Balchem Co. has a 1-year low of $137.69 and a 1-year high of $186.03.

Balchem Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on BCPC shares. HC Wainwright lifted their price objective on shares of Balchem from $185.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. StockNews.com upgraded Balchem from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th.

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.