Geode Capital Management LLC Purchases 27,979 Shares of Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC)

Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) by 3.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 928,904 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after purchasing an additional 27,979 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC owned about 2.86% of Balchem worth $163,514,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. 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 buying an additional 449,854 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in Balchem by 129.7% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 98,853 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $17,398,000 after acquiring an additional 55,822 shares during the period. Barclays PLC raised its position in Balchem by 405.8% in the third 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. lifted its stake in Balchem by 12.4% during the third quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 301,440 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $53,053,000 after purchasing an additional 33,373 shares during the period. Finally, Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Balchem by 2.7% during the second quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,155,209 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $177,844,000 after purchasing an additional 29,825 shares in the last quarter. 87.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Balchem Price Performance

Shares of Balchem stock opened at $175.73 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.24, a P/E/G ratio of 5.32 and a beta of 0.67. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $175.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $169.27. The company has a current ratio of 2.98, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. Balchem Co. has a 1-year low of $135.84 and a 1-year high of $186.03.

Balchem Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared an annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a yield of 0.4%. This is a boost from Balchem’s previous annual dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 26th. Balchem’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.75%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. HC Wainwright raised 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 raised Balchem from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 28th.

Balchem 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.