Salem Investment Counselors Inc. Decreases Stock Position in Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC)

Salem Investment Counselors Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) by 3.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 76,345 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 3,000 shares during the period. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. owned approximately 0.23% of Balchem worth $12,444,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of BCPC. Westside Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Balchem in the third quarter worth $27,000. nVerses Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Balchem in the third quarter worth $35,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in Balchem in the third quarter worth $35,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Balchem by 73.4% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 841 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $148,000 after buying an additional 356 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in shares of Balchem by 642.5% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 839 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $148,000 after buying an additional 726 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.91% of the company’s stock.

Balchem Stock Up 0.3 %

NASDAQ BCPC traded up $0.44 during trading on Monday, hitting $154.66. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 33,867 shares, compared to its average volume of 118,724. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 2.98 and a quick ratio of 1.90. The company has a market cap of $5.03 billion, a PE ratio of 41.58, a P/E/G ratio of 5.32 and a beta of 0.69. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $172.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $170.81. Balchem Co. has a fifty-two week low of $135.84 and a fifty-two week high of $186.03.

Balchem Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared an annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th will be issued a $0.87 dividend. This represents a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 26th. This is an increase from Balchem’s previous annual dividend of $0.79. Balchem’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 23.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

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.