Archive for June, 2006

  • Balchem
    , June 1st, 2006 at 1:36 pm

    Here’s another unknown stock that’s made tons of money for investors, Balchem (BCP). This is from the company’s Web site:

    Balchem provides state-of-the-art solutions and the finest quality products for a range of industries worldwide. The company consists primarily of three business segments: Encapsulated/Nutritional (Balchem Encapsulates) Products, ARC Specialty Products and BCP Ingredients, Inc. Balchem employs over 200 people in the United States who are engaged in many diverse activities, developing our company into chosen market leadership positions.
    Our Encapsulated/Nutritional segment (Balchem Encapsulates) utilizes proprietary microencapsulation technologies in an ever-expanding variety of applications – seeking out and answering key market needs. Through microencapsulation – essentially providing a protective coating designed to “control, protect and deliver” any of a wide range of ingredients – Balchem Encapsulates enables manufacturers to speed production, overcome challenges, enhance shelf life and improve the quality or effectiveness of their end-product. Our encapsulation segment continues to identify new and innovative applications for this delivery technology and includes our Chelated products (produced by our subsidiary, Chelated Minerals Corporaiton) which provide enhanced nutrient absorbtion for many animal species.
    Through ARC Specialty Products, Balchem provides packaged specialty chemicals for use in healthcare and other industries. ARC Specialty Products is the major supplier of packaged 100% Ethylene Oxide sterilant to contract sterilizers, medical device manufacturers, and others in the healthcare field. In addition to packaged 100% Ethylene Oxide, ARC Specialty Products supplies Ethylene Oxide blends, Propylene Oxide and Methyl Chloride in two-way, environmentally safe containers.
    BCP Ingredients, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Balchem, manufactures and supplies choline chloride, an essential nutrient for animal health, predominantly to the poultry and swine industries. Choline, part of the vitamin B complex, plays a vital role in the metabolism of fat and the building and maintaining of cell structures. Choline deficiency can result in, among other symptoms, reduced growth and perosis in chicks, and fatty liver, kidney necrosis and general poor condition in baby pigs. In addition, certain derivatives of choline chloride are also manufactured and sold into industrial applications.
    Across all operations, our Company is committed to, and known for, customer service and satisfaction.

    Balchem isn’t even a member of the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index. The stock is currently followed by one analyst.
    Here’s a 20-year stock chart against the S&P 500:
    bcp.bmp

  • Joseph Weisenthal on Anya Kamenetz
    , June 1st, 2006 at 1:26 pm

    Bravo to Joseph Weisenthal, who skewers professional whiner and “Generation Debt” columnist Anya Kamenetz:

    At the risk of of sounding like Holden Caulfield, Kamenetz is the worst kind of phony. It’s common that in wealthy societies privileged persons seek to identify with and give voice to an oppressed class. This can be a good thing when such a class actually exists. But Kamenetz goes a step further. She brilliantly created a new oppressed class and made a lucrative career out of being its spokesperson. Surely it will be a new model for similarly ambitious people for years to come.

    Nah, she’ll just grow up to be Gretchen Morgenson (oooh burn).

  • The Bambi Blog
    , June 1st, 2006 at 1:20 pm

    For no reason in particular, I give you the Bambi Blog!
    Watch as Bambi Francisco talks with assorted tech nerds about their nerdy start-up nerd farms. Enjoy!