Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) Shares Bought by O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC

O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) by 21.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,862 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,388 shares during the period. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Balchem were worth $1,281,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in BCPC. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in Balchem by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 9,413 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,534,000 after buying an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP boosted its holdings in Balchem by 8.3% in the fourth quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 1,420 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $231,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. Inspire Investing LLC grew its stake in Balchem by 4.9% during the 4th quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 2,462 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $401,000 after purchasing an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Balchem during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Inspire Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Balchem by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 5,123 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $835,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares in the last quarter. 87.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Balchem Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BCPC opened at $155.78 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The company has a market capitalization of $5.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.63. Balchem Co. has a twelve month low of $137.69 and a twelve month high of $186.03. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $165.43 and a 200-day simple moving average of $168.96.

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

BCPC has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Sidoti raised shares of Balchem to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and set a $190.00 price objective on shares of Balchem in a report on Monday, February 24th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Balchem from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th.

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.