Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) Stock Price Down 84.3% – Time to Sell?

Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) dropped 84.3% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $159.07 and last traded at $24.84. Approximately 43,232 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 65% from the average daily volume of 122,315 shares. The stock had previously closed at $158.46.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

Balchem Stock Performance

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $167.87 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $170.79. 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 capitalization of $5.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.77, a PEG ratio of 4.36 and a beta of 0.69.

Balchem Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 26th were paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. This is an increase from Balchem’s previous annual dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.4%. Balchem’s dividend payout ratio is presently 23.39%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Balchem

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BCPC. Inspire Investing LLC grew its stake in Balchem by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 2,348 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $413,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Balchem by 6.1% during the 3rd quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,674 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $295,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the period. Xponance Inc. grew its stake in Balchem by 5.2% during the 2nd quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 2,046 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $315,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP lifted its position in Balchem by 8.3% in the 4th quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 1,420 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $231,000 after buying an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Westside Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Balchem during the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. 87.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.