An uptick in inflation can of course be beneficial to many basic materials companies as they are often able to capitalize on higher commodity prices.Markets have remained resilient despite February’s CPI (Consumer Price Index) and PPI (Producer Price Index) data coming in hotter than anticipated but it may be time to consider buying several highly ranked basic materials stocks and here are a few to consider.Balchem (BCPC) Boasting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) we’ll start with Balchem Corporation which provi ...

Group 1 - Blachem (BCPC) is currently ranked 15 in the Zacks Sector Rank for the Basic Materials group, which consists of 237 companies [1] - The Zacks Rank for Blachem is 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook [1] - Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BCPC's full-year earnings has increased by 9.8%, reflecting improved analyst sentiment [2] Group 2 - Year-to-date, Blachem has returned approximately 5.2%, outperforming the Basic Materials sector average return of -3% [2] - Blachem belongs to the Chemical - Specialty industry, which is ranked 143 in the Zacks Industry Rank and has an average gain of 8.2% this year, indicating slight underperformance compared to its industry [3] - D S SMITH (DITHF) is another stock in the Basic Materials sector that has outperformed, with a year-to-date return of 43.7% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [2][3]

When it comes to short-term investing or trading, they say "the trend is your friend." And there's no denying that this is the most profitable strategy. But making sure of the sustainability of a trend to profit from it is easier said than done.Often, the direction of a stock's price movement reverses quickly after taking a position in it, making investors incur a short-term capital loss. So, it's important to ensure that there are enough factors -- such as sound fundamentals, positive earnings estimate rev ...

Core Viewpoint - Blachem (BCPC) is positioned as a strong investment opportunity due to its improving earnings outlook and analysts' increasing earnings estimates [1][2]. Current-Quarter Estimate Revisions - The earnings estimate for the current quarter is $0.95 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +35.71% [3]. - Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Blachem has risen by 5.56%, with one estimate moving higher and no negative revisions [3]. Current-Year Estimate Revisions - For the full year, Blachem is expected to earn $4.04 per share, which is a +20.6% change from the previous year [4]. - The consensus estimate for the current year has increased by 7.03%, with one estimate moving higher and no negative revisions [4]. Favorable Zacks Rank - Blachem currently holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to positive estimate revisions, indicating strong potential for stock performance [5]. - Research indicates that stocks with Zacks Rank 1 and 2 significantly outperform the S&P 500 [5]. Bottom Line - Investors have shown confidence in Blachem, evidenced by a 10% stock gain over the past four weeks, suggesting potential for further growth [6].

Core Viewpoint - Blachem (BCPC) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][2]. Earnings Outlook - The Zacks rating reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is crucial for stock price movements [1][3]. - Blachem is expected to earn $4.04 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2024, representing a year-over-year increase of 20.6% [5]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Blachem has increased by 7%, indicating a positive trend in earnings estimates [5]. - The Zacks Rank system effectively utilizes earnings estimate revisions to classify stocks, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [4]. Institutional Investor Influence - Institutional investors play a role in the correlation between earnings estimates and stock price movements, as they adjust their valuations based on these estimates [3]. - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 places Blachem in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for stock price appreciation in the near term [7].

Investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Is Blachem (BCPC) one of those stocks right now? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.Blachem is one of 236 companies in the Basic Materials group. The Basic Materials group currently sits at #15 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the in ...

Group 1 - Celanese (CE) has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while Blachem (BCPC) has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [1] - Value investors utilize various valuation metrics, including P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share to assess undervaluation [2] - CE has a forward P/E ratio of 12.63, significantly lower than BCPC's forward P/E of 39.68, suggesting CE is more attractively priced [2] Group 2 - CE's PEG ratio is 4.11, compared to BCPC's PEG ratio of 4.96, indicating CE's expected earnings growth is more favorably priced [2] - CE has a P/B ratio of 2.37, while BCPC's P/B ratio is 4.56, further supporting CE's valuation attractiveness [2] - Based on valuation metrics, CE holds a Value grade of B, whereas BCPC has a Value grade of F, suggesting CE is the superior option for value investors [3]

Blachem (BCPC) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.82 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.87 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.66 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -5.75%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this chemical company would post earnings of $0.91 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.90, delivering a surprise of -1.10%.Over the last four quarters, the company ...

Balchem Corporation (NASDAQ:BCPC) Q4 2023 Earnings Conference Call February 16, 2024 11:00 AM ET Company Participants Martin Bengtsson - CFO Ted Harris - Chairman, President and CEO Conference Call Participants Bob Labick - CJS Securities Kyle May - Sidoti Operator Greetings, and welcome to the Balchem Corporation Fourth Quarter and Year End 2023 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Martin Bengtsson, ...

MONTVALE, N.J., Feb. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Balchem Corporation (NASDAQ:BCPC) reported today financial results for its 2023 fiscal fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023. The Company reported quarterly net sales of $228.7 million, quarterly net earnings of $26.6 million, adjusted EBITDA(a) of $55.4 million, and free cash flow(a) of $56.0 million. Ted Harris, Chairman, CEO, and President of Balchem said, "The fourth quarter capped off another solid year for Balchem. We delivered record fourth quarter a ...