Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Has $5.95 Million Position in Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its holdings in Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) by 43.4% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 36,527 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after purchasing an additional 11,049 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in Balchem were worth $5,954,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in BCPC. Westside Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Balchem in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in Balchem during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in Balchem during the third quarter worth $35,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Balchem during the 4th quarter valued at $95,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Balchem by 230.8% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 645 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $106,000 after purchasing an additional 450 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.91% of the company’s stock.

Balchem Trading Down 1.4 %

Shares of Balchem stock opened at $161.17 on Monday. Balchem Co. has a 52-week low of $137.69 and a 52-week high of $186.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.24 billion, a PE ratio of 41.01, 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 current ratio of 1.99 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $164.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $169.40.

Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) last posted 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). The business had revenue of $240.00 million during 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%. On average, analysts expect that Balchem Co. will post 4.64 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently commented on BCPC. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $190.00 price objective on shares of Balchem in a research report on Monday, February 24th. Sidoti raised Balchem to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Balchem from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th.

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.