Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) Plans Annual Dividend of $0.87

Balchem Co. (NASDAQ:BCPC) declared an annual dividend on Wednesday, December 11th,Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th will be given a dividend of 0.87 per share by the basic materials company on Friday, January 17th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 26th. This is a positive change from Balchem’s previous annual dividend of $0.79.

Balchem has raised its dividend by an average of 10.9% per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 15 years. Balchem has a dividend payout ratio of 16.2% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Balchem to earn $4.64 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.79 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 17.0%.

Balchem Stock Down 0.5 %

BCPC opened at $177.25 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $5.76 billion, a PE ratio of 47.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.30 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 2.98. Balchem has a 1 year low of $135.00 and a 1 year high of $186.03. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $175.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $168.85.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BCPC has been the topic of a number of research reports. HC Wainwright raised their target price on shares of Balchem from $185.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. StockNews.com raised Balchem from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th.

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.