Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) Trading Down 85.2% – Here’s Why

Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC)’s stock price dropped 85.2% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $163.04 and last traded at $24.28. Approximately 111,229 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 2% from the average daily volume of 114,079 shares. The stock had previously closed at $164.52.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently commented on the company. Sidoti raised Balchem to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. StockNews.com lowered Balchem from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and issued a $190.00 price target on shares of Balchem in a report on Monday, February 24th.

Balchem Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $5.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 1.99. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $165.07 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $169.28.

Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) last released its quarterly earnings data 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). Balchem had a net margin of 13.47% and a return on equity of 11.37%. The firm had revenue of $240.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $239.96 million. Equities research analysts anticipate that Balchem Co. will post 4.64 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Pathstone Holdings LLC lifted its position in shares of Balchem by 6.5% during the third quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 10,361 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,824,000 after purchasing an additional 632 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in Balchem during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,153,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Balchem by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 361,970 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $63,707,000 after buying an additional 7,562 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. grew its position in shares of Balchem by 61.1% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 43,178 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $7,599,000 after buying an additional 16,378 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in shares of Balchem by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 28,488 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $4,989,000 after purchasing an additional 456 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.91% of the company’s stock.

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.