Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. Has $2.80 Million Stake in Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC)

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) by 26.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,836 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,936 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. owned about 0.06% of Balchem worth $2,802,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Comerica Bank acquired a new stake in Balchem during the 3rd quarter worth about $11,750,000. Congress Asset Management Co. MA grew its holdings in Balchem by 32.5% during the 3rd quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA now owns 225,303 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $27,947,000 after acquiring an additional 55,203 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its holdings in Balchem by 142.7% during the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 85,647 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $10,624,000 after acquiring an additional 50,351 shares during the period. William Blair Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Balchem by 25.0% in the 3rd quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 183,916 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $22,813,000 after buying an additional 36,729 shares during the period. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its stake in shares of Balchem by 9.8% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 402,621 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $49,941,000 after buying an additional 36,011 shares during the period. 87.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Balchem

In related news, SVP Michael Robert Sestrick sold 11,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.21, for a total value of $1,700,631.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 6,736 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,032,022.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Balchem news, CAO William A. Backus sold 15,000 shares of Balchem stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.73, for a total transaction of $2,320,950.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 12,914 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,998,183.22. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Michael Robert Sestrick sold 11,100 shares of Balchem stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.21, for a total transaction of $1,700,631.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 6,736 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,032,022.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 76,630 shares of company stock valued at $11,843,249. 1.77% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Balchem Stock Performance

Shares of BCPC opened at $140.64 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 2.12 and a quick ratio of 1.38. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $152.45 and a 200-day moving average of $139.85. The company has a market cap of $4.54 billion, a PE ratio of 42.00, a P/E/G ratio of 4.34 and a beta of 0.71. Balchem Co. has a one year low of $110.74 and a one year high of $159.52.

Balchem (NASDAQ:BCPC) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 16th. The basic materials company reported $0.95 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.93 by $0.02. Balchem had a return on equity of 10.69% and a net margin of 11.77%. The company had revenue of $228.70 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $234.66 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.66 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Balchem Co. will post 4.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded Balchem from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st.

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.