Q1 2026 Balchem Corp Earnings Call

April 30, 2026

Operator 2: Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Balchem Q1 2026 Earnings Conference Call. I'd now like to turn the call over to Martin Bengtsson, Chief Financial Officer. You may begin.

Operator: Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Balchem Q1 2026 earnings conference call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question during this time, simply press star followed by the number one on your telephone keypad. If you'd like to withdraw your question, again press star one. Thank you. I'd now like to turn the call over to Martin Bengtsson, Chief Financial Officer. You may begin.

Speaker #3: After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question during this time, simply press star followed by the number one on your telephone keypad.

Speaker #3: If you would like to withdraw your question, again press star one. Thank you. I'd now like to turn the call over to Martin Bengtsson, Chief Financial Officer, you may begin.

Speaker #2: Thank you. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining our conference call this morning to discuss the results of Balchem Corporation for the quarter ending March 31, 2026.

Martin Bengtsson: Thank you. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining our conference call this morning to discuss the results of Balchem Corporation for the quarter ending 31 March 2026. My name is Martin Bengtsson, Chief Financial Officer, and hosting this call with me is Ted Harris, our Chairman, President, and CEO. Following the advice of our counsel, auditors, and the SEC, at this time I would like to read our forward-looking statement. Statements made in today's call that are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements. We can give no assurance that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements will prove correct, and various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, including risks and factors identified in Balchem's most recent Form 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports. The company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Today's call and commentary also include non-GAAP financial measures.

Speaker #2: My name is Martin Bengtsson, Chief Financial Officer. And hosting this call with me is Ted Harris, our Chairman, President, and CEO. Following the advice of our Council Auditors and the SEC, at this time I would like to read our forward-looking statement.

Speaker #2: Statement made in today's call that are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements. We can give no assurance that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements will prove correct and various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations.

Martin Bengtsson: We can give no assurance that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements will prove correct, and various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, including risks and factors identified in Balchem's most recent Form 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports. The company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Today's call and commentary also include non-GAAP financial measures.

Speaker #2: Including risks and factors identified in BALCHEM's most recent Form 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports. The company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Speaker #2: Today's call and commentary also include non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the reconciliations in our earnings release for further details. I will now turn the call over to Ted Harris, our Chairman, President, and CEO.

Martin Bengtsson: Please refer to the reconciliations in our earnings release for further details. I will now turn the call over to Ted Harris, our Chairman, President and CEO.

Speaker #3: Thanks, Martin. Good morning and welcome to our conference call. We were extremely pleased with the financial results for the first quarter of 2026. And the overall performance of our company as we kicked off the new year with positive momentum from the strong performance throughout 2025.

Ted Harris: Thanks, Martin. Good morning, and welcome to our conference call. We were extremely pleased with the financial results for Q1 2026 and the overall performance of our company as we kicked off the new year with positive momentum from the strong performance throughout 2025. Our healthy growth continues to be fueled by ongoing market penetration of our unique portfolio of specialty nutrients and delivery systems and the favorable better for you trends within the food and nutrition markets that are well aligned with our food ingredient formulation systems and capabilities. We delivered record Q1 consolidated sales, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net earnings, and adjusted EPS, as well as strong cash flows. We also delivered year-over-year sales and earnings growth in all three of our reporting segments.

Speaker #3: Our healthy growth continues to be fueled by ongoing market penetration of our unique portfolio of specialty nutrients, and delivery systems. And the favorable better-for-you trends within the food and nutrition markets.

Speaker #3: That are well aligned with our food ingredient formulation systems and capabilities. We delivered record first quarter consolidated sales adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net earnings, and adjusted EPS.

Speaker #3: As well as strong cash flows. We also delivered year-over-year sales and earnings growth in all three of our reporting segments. The first quarter of 2026 was the 27th consecutive quarter of quarterly year-over-year growth in adjusted EBITDA for BALCHEM.

Ted Harris: The Q1 of 2026 was the 27th consecutive quarter of quarterly year-over-year growth in adjusted EBITDA for Balchem. We are very proud of this accomplishment, particularly in light of the market environment within which we have operated over the last 27 quarters. Before we get into more detail on the quarter, I would like to make a few comments about the overall market environment, including the evolving geopolitical and macroeconomic situation, as well as some of the progress we have made on several important strategic initiatives. We continue to see healthy demand across the vast majority of our end markets.

Speaker #3: We are very proud of this accomplishment, particularly in light of the market environment within which we have operated over the last 27 quarters. Before we get into more detail on the quarter, I would like to make a few comments about the overall market environment, including the evolving geopolitical and macroeconomic situation, as well as some of the progress we have made on several important strategic initiatives.

Speaker #3: We continue to see healthy demand across the vast majority of our end markets. Our human nutrition and health segment continues to perform very well.

Ted Harris: Our Human Nutrition and Health segment continues to perform very well, driven by healthy demand for both our unique portfolio of minerals, nutrients, and vitamins, and our food ingredients and solutions, which are benefiting from trends toward nutrient-dense, high protein, high fiber, and low sugar or better for you foods where our nutrient portfolio and our formulations expertise bring considerable value to our customers. In the Animal Nutrition and Health segment, we delivered another quarter of year-over-year growth on improved demand in both our monogastric and ruminant businesses as a result of further market penetration of our rumen-protected, precision-release encapsulated nutrient portfolio and the ongoing improvement of market conditions in the European monogastric market. We remain encouraged by the overall performance of our Animal Nutrition and Health product portfolio.

Speaker #3: Driven by healthy demand for both our unique portfolio of minerals, nutrients, and vitamins, and our food ingredients and solutions, which are benefiting from trends toward nutrient-dense, high-protein, high-fiber, and low-sugar or better-for-you foods where our nutrient portfolio and our formulations expertise bring considerable value to our customers.

Speaker #3: In the animal nutrition and health segment, we delivered another quarter of year-over-year growth on improved demand in both our monogastric and ruminant businesses, as a result of further market penetration of our rumen-protected precision-release encapsulated nutrient portfolio and the ongoing improvement of market conditions in the European monogastric market.

Speaker #3: And we remain encouraged by the overall performance of our animal nutrition and health product portfolio. Within our specialty product segment, both our performance gases and our plant nutrition businesses are performing well.

Ted Harris: Within our Specialty Products segment, both our performance gases and our plant nutrition businesses are performing well, driven primarily by higher demand within performance gases as a result of healthier market conditions and successful margin management and geographic expansion growth within plant nutrition. As we have shown over the years, we have been able to deliver strong historical performance while facing significant market volatility, and we believe we remain well positioned to effectively manage through this current geopolitical and macroeconomic environment as well. We are once again entering a period of significant inflation, largely petrochemical based and primarily impacting our Animal Nutrition and Health segment, as well as potential supply chain disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Speaker #3: Driven primarily by higher demand within performance gases, as a result of healthier market conditions and successful margin management and geographic expansion growth within plant nutrition.

Speaker #3: As we have shown over the years, we have been able to deliver strong historical performance while facing significant market volatility. And we believe we remain well positioned to effectively manage through this current geopolitical and macroeconomic environment as well.

Speaker #3: We are once again entering a period of significant inflation largely petrochemical-based and primarily impacting our animal nutrition and health segment. As well as potential supply chain disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Speaker #3: We will once again leverage our robust global supply chain, our procurement expertise, and our strong market positions to raise prices where necessary to help manage through this dynamic market environment.

Ted Harris: We will once again leverage our robust global supply chain, our procurement expertise, and our strong market positions to raise prices where necessary to help manage through this dynamic market environment. While we are likely to experience some modest margin compression resulting from the timing lag that occurs between input cost inflation and pricing adjustments, particularly within our Animal Nutrition and Health segment, we do expect to deliver continued quarterly year-over-year growth on a consolidated basis over the coming quarters. We will continue to monitor the developments closely and adjust accordingly as we have done effectively in the past. Additionally, I would like to share some significant progress we have made on several important strategic initiatives that will further support our future growth.

Speaker #3: While we are likely to experience some modest margin compression resulting from the timing lag that occurs between input cost inflation and pricing adjustments, particularly within our animal nutrition and health segment, we do expect to deliver continued quarterly year-over-year growth on a consolidated basis over the coming quarters.

Speaker #3: We will continue to monitor the developments closely and adjust accordingly as we have done effectively in the past. Additionally, I would like to share some significant progress we have made on several important strategic initiatives that will further support our future growth.

Speaker #3: A newly published peer-reviewed research study using functional magnetic resonance imaging, a non-invasive safe neuroimaging procedure that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow and the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients.

Ted Harris: A newly published peer-reviewed research study using functional magnetic resonance imaging, a non-invasive, safe neuroimaging procedure that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow and oxygenation, was published in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients. This important study examined the effects of Balchem's VitaCholine nutrient on working memory-related brain activation and functional connectivity in post-menopausal women. The results showed that VitaCholine intake significantly enhanced functional connectivity within the working memory network, improving brain efficiency within 3 hours of consumption. This study helps highlight the benefits of VitaCholine across different life stages, with previous research showing that VitaCholine supports fetal brain development during pregnancy and lactation, with lasting effects beyond birth. It also suggests that VitaCholine may help enhance cognitive health in older adults.

Speaker #3: This important study examined the effects of BALCHEM's VITACOLIN nutrient on working memory-related brain activation. And functional connectivity in post-menopausal women. The results showed that VITACOLIN intake significantly enhanced functional connectivity within the working memory network, improving brain efficiency within three hours of consumption.

Speaker #3: This study helps highlight the benefits of VITACOLIN across different life stages with previous research showing that VITACOLIN supports fetal brain development during pregnancy and lactation, with lasting effects beyond birth.

Speaker #3: It also suggests that VITACOLIN may help enhance cognitive health in older adults. We are excited about these results and we will continue to invest in both research and marketing around VITACOLIN to raise the awareness and drive market penetration of this important essential nutrient.

Ted Harris: We are excited about these results. We will continue to invest in both research and marketing around VitaCholine to raise the awareness and drive market penetration of this important essential nutrient. Additionally, on 22 April 2025, Earth Day, we released our 2025 sustainability report, highlighting our sustainability initiatives and accomplishments. Guided by our core values and our vision of making the world a healthier place, our sustainability report demonstrates our commitment to bringing innovative solutions for global health and nutrition needs, and to operate with excellence as strong stewards of our employees, customers, shareholders, and communities. We are very proud of the progress made on our 2030 sustainability goals to reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and water usage by 25%.

Speaker #3: Additionally, on April 22nd, Earth Day, we released our 2025 Sustainability Report highlighting our sustainability initiatives and accomplishments. Guided by our core values and our vision of making the world a healthier place, our sustainability report demonstrates our commitment to bringing innovative solutions for global health and nutrition needs, and to operate with excellence as strong stewards of our employees, customers, shareholders, and communities.

Speaker #3: We are very proud of the progress made on our 2030 Sustainability Goals to reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and water usage by 25%. Compared to our 2020 baseline, in 2025 we successfully reduced Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 31%, surpassing our 2030 goal.

Ted Harris: Compared to our 2020 baseline, in 2025, we successfully reduced Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 31%, surpassing our 2030 goal. We reduced water withdrawal by approximately 16%, showing substantial progress toward our water usage reduction objective. Now, regarding the Q1 financial results. This morning, we reported record quarterly consolidated revenue of $271 million, which was 8.1% higher than the prior year quarter. We delivered record quarterly GAAP earnings from operations of $56 million, an increase of 9% versus the prior year. Consolidated net income closed the quarter at $40 million, an increase of 8.7%. This quarterly net income translated to diluted net earnings per share of $1.25 on a GAAP basis, up 10.6%.

Speaker #3: And we reduced water withdrawal by approximately 16%, showing substantial progress toward our water usage reduction objective. Now, regarding the first quarter financial results, this morning we reported record quarterly consolidated revenue of $271 million which was 8.1% higher than the prior year quarter.

Speaker #3: We delivered record quarterly gap earnings from operations of $56 million and increase of 9% versus the prior year. Consolidated net income closed the quarter at $40 million, an increase of 8.7%.

Speaker #3: This quarterly net income translated to diluted net earnings per share of $1.25 on a gap basis, up 10.6%. When an adjusted basis, we delivered record quarterly adjusted EBITDA of $74 million.

Ted Harris: On an adjusted basis, we delivered record quarterly adjusted EBITDA of $74 million, an increase of 12.1%. Our quarterly adjusted net earnings were $43 million, an increase of 7.4%, which translated to $1.33 per diluted share, up 9%. Overall, it was an excellent quarter for Balchem, marked by strong financial results and meaningful progress made on our strategic priorities. With that, I'm now going to turn the call back over to Martin to go through the Q1 financial results in more detail and the results for each of our business segments.

Speaker #3: An increase of 12.1%. Our quarterly adjusted net earnings were $43 million, an increase of 7.4%, which translated to $1.33 per diluted share up 9%.

Speaker #3: Overall, it was an excellent quarter for BALCHEM. Marked by strong financial results and meaningful progress made on our strategic priorities. And with that, I'm now going to turn the call back over to Martin to go through the first quarter financial results in more detail and the results for each of our business segments.

Speaker #2: Thank you, Ted. The first quarter was a strong start to 2026. Our record first quarter net sales of $271 million were 8.1% higher than prior year.

Martin Bengtsson: Thank you, Ted. The Q1 was a strong start to 2026. Our record Q1 net sales of $271 million were 8.1% higher than prior year, driven by strength across all three segments: Human Nutrition and Health, Animal Nutrition and Health, and Specialty Products. The impact from foreign currency exchange, driven primarily by the stronger euro, had a favorable impact to our sales growth of approximately 2% in the Q1. Our gross margin dollars were $101 million, up 14.6%, and our gross margin percent expanded to 37.3% of sales, up 210 basis points. The gross margin performance was driven primarily by the sales growth and manufacturing efficiencies, partially offset by raw material inflation.

Speaker #2: Driven by strength across all three segments, human nutrition and health, animal nutrition and health, and specialty products. The impact from foreign currency exchange driven primarily by the stronger euro had a favorable impact to our sales growth of approximately 2% in the first quarter.

Speaker #2: Our gross margin dollars were $101 million, up 14.6%, and our gross margin percent expanded to 37.3% of sales, up 210 basis points. The gross margin performance was driven primarily by the sales growth and manufacturing efficiencies, partially offset by raw material inflation.

Speaker #2: Consolidated operating expenses for the first quarter were $45 million as compared to $37 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to higher compensation-related costs and an increase in professional services.

Martin Bengtsson: Consolidated operating expenses for Q1 were $45 million as compared to $37 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to higher compensation-related costs and an increase in professional services. GAAP earnings from operations for Q1 were a record $56 million, an increase of 9%. On an adjusted basis, as detailed in our earnings release this morning, record non-GAAP earnings from operations of $61 million were up 9.5%. Adjusted EBITDA was a record $74 million, an increase of 12.1%, with an adjusted EBITDA margin rate of 27.4%. Net interest expense for Q1 was $2 million, a decrease of $1 million, primarily driven by lower outstanding borrowings and lower interest rates.

Speaker #2: Gap earnings from operations for the first quarter were a record $56 million. An increase of 9%. On an adjusted basis, as detailed in our earnings release this morning, record non-gap earnings from operations of $61 million were up 9.5%.

Speaker #2: Adjusted EBITDA was a record $74 million. An increase of 12.1%, with an adjusted EBITDA margin rate of 27.4%. Net interest expense for the first quarter was $2 million.

Speaker #2: A decrease of $1 million primarily driven by lower outstanding borrowings and lower interest rates. Our net debt was $96 million with an overall leverage ratio on a net debt basis of 0.3.

Martin Bengtsson: Our net debt was $96 million, with an overall leverage ratio on a net debt basis of 0.3. The effective tax rates for Q1 2026 and 2025 were 23.3% and 22.7% respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate from the prior year was primarily due to an increase in certain state taxes. Consolidated net income closed the quarter at $40 million, up 8.7%. This quarterly net income translated into diluted net earnings per share of $1.25, a 10.6% increase. On an adjusted basis, our Q1 adjusted net earnings were $43 million, an increase of 7.4%, which translated to $1.33 per diluted share.

Speaker #2: The effective tax rate rates for the first quarters of 2026 and 2025 were 23.3% and 22.7% respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate from the prior year was primarily due to an increase in certain state taxes.

Speaker #2: Consolidated net income closed the quarter at $40 million, up 8.7%. This quarterly net income translated into diluted net earnings per share of $1.25, a 10.6% increase.

Speaker #2: On an adjusted basis, our first quarter adjusted net earnings were $43 million, an increase of 7.4%, which translated to $1.33 per diluted share. Cash flows from operations were $40 million.

Martin Bengtsson: Cash flows from operations were $40 million with free cash flow of $34 million. We closed out the quarter with $73 million of cash on the balance sheet. As we look at Q1 from a segment perspective, our Human Nutrition and Health segment saw sales of $172 million, up 8.3%, driven by growth in both our Nutrients business and our food ingredients and solutions businesses. Earnings from operations of $40 million were up 5.4%, driven by the higher sales and a favorable mix, partially offset by certain higher manufacturing input costs and higher operating expenses. Q1 adjusted earnings from operations for this segment were $43 million, up 6%.

Speaker #2: With free cash flow of $34 million. And we closed out the quarter with $73 million of cash on the balance sheet. As we look at the first quarter from a segment perspective, our human nutrition and health segment saw sales of $172 million up 8.3%, driven by growth in both our nutrients business and our food ingredients and solutions businesses.

Speaker #2: Earnings from operations of $40 million were up 5.4%, driven by higher sales and a favorable mix, partially offset by certain higher manufacturing input costs and higher operating expenses.

Speaker #2: First quarter adjusted earnings from operations for this segment were $43 million up 6%. We were encouraged by the continued momentum in human nutrition and health, where our differentiated ingredients and solutions align with a consumer shift toward better-for-you nutrition.

Martin Bengtsson: We were encouraged by the continued momentum in Human Nutrition and Health, where our differentiated ingredients and solutions align with a consumer shift toward better for your nutrition. We believe this positions us well to further leverage our formulation expertise and portfolio of differentiated branded ingredients to drive sustained growth. Our Animal Nutrition and Health segment delivered sales of $62 million, up 8.6%. The increase was driven by higher sales in both the monogastric and ruminant businesses. Animal Nutrition and Health delivered earnings from operations of $6 million, up 8.7%, driven by the higher sales, partially offset by certain higher manufacturing input costs and higher operating expenses. Q1 adjusted earnings from operations for this segment were $6 million, up 8.2%. We delivered another quarter of improved performance in our Animal Nutrition and Health segments.

Speaker #2: We believe this positions us well to further leverage our formulation expertise and portfolio of differentiated, branded ingredients to drive sustained growth. Our animal nutrition and health segment delivered sales of $62 million up 8.6%.

Speaker #2: The increase was driven by higher sales in both the monogastric and ruminant businesses. Animal Nutrition and Health delivered earnings from operations of $6 million.

Speaker #2: Up 8.7%, driven by the higher sales partially offset by certain higher manufacturing input costs and higher operating expenses. First quarter adjusted earnings from operations for this segment were $6 million.

Speaker #2: Up 8.2%. We delivered another quarter of improved performance in our animal nutrition and health segment. We continued to drive adoption of our encapsulated rumen-protected nutrients in the dairy market, our US monogastric business remained steady, and our European monogastric business continued to improve following the EU anti-dumping duties.

Martin Bengtsson: We continued to drive adoption of our encapsulated rumen-protected nutrients in the dairy markets. Our US monogastric business remained steady, and our European monogastric business continued to improve following the EU anti-dumping duties. Looking ahead, we're paying careful attention to the conflict in the Middle East and the potential impacts it may have on the animal nutrition markets. We are seeing increases in raw material input costs along with increased freight costs, which will need to be offset or passed on to our customers. We feel good about the momentum we have built within our Animal Nutrition and Health segment, and while we are likely to experience some modest margin compression resulting from the timing lag that occurs between input cost inflation and pricing adjustments, we remain confident in our ability to continue to drive growth in this segment over time.

Speaker #2: Looking ahead, we're paying careful attention to the conflict in the Middle East and the potentially impacts it may have on the animal nutrition markets.

Speaker #2: We are seeing increases in raw material input costs along with increased freight costs, which will need to be offset or passed on to our customers.

Speaker #2: We feel good about the momentum we have built within our animal nutrition and health segment. And while we are likely to experience some modest margin compression resulting from the timing lag that occurs between input cost inflation and pricing adjustments, we remain confident in our ability to continue to drive growth in this segment over time.

Speaker #2: Our specially product segment delivered quarterly sales of $35 million. Up 4.4%, driven by healthy growth in performance gaps. Specially products delivered a record quarterly earnings from operations of $12 million.

Martin Bengtsson: Our Specialty Products segment delivered quarterly sales of $35 million, up 4.4%, driven by healthy growth in performance gases. Specialty Products delivered a record quarterly earnings from operations of $12 million, up 24.5%, driven primarily by higher sales and a favorable mix. Q1 adjusted earnings from operations for this segment were a record $13 million, up 21.2%. We were very pleased with the performance of Specialty Products, delivering yet another quarter of solid growth, and we believe Specialty Products is well positioned to continue to deliver consistent, profitable growth as we look forward. Overall, Q1 was another strong quarter for Balchem, and we are really pleased with the results.

Speaker #2: Up 24.5%, driven primarily by higher sales and a favorable mix. First quarter adjusted earnings from operations for this segment were a record $13 million.

Speaker #2: Up 21.2%. We were very pleased with the performance of specially products delivering yet another quarter of solid growth, and we believe specially products is well positioned to continue to deliver consistent profitable growth as we look forward.

Speaker #2: So overall, the first quarter was another strong quarter for BALCHEM, and we are really pleased with the results. While the global geopolitical and macroeconomic environment remains dynamic and includes areas of uncertainty, we believe we are well positioned to continue executing our strategy and to deliver continued growth through the rest of 2026.

Martin Bengtsson: While the global geopolitical and macroeconomic environment remains dynamic and includes areas of uncertainty, we believe we are well positioned to continue executing our strategy and to deliver continued growth through the rest of 2026. I'm now going to turn the call back over to Ted for some closing remarks.

Speaker #2: I'm now going to turn the call back over to Ted for some closing remarks.

Speaker #1: Thanks, Martin. We were very pleased with the financial results reported earlier today. We executed well within a dynamic and evolving macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop.

Ted Harris: Thanks, Martin. We were very pleased with the financial results reported earlier today. We executed well within a dynamic and evolving macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop, delivering another strong quarter of solid growth, while at the same time advancing our strategic initiatives. Looking ahead, we remain excited about 2026 and confident in our ability to deliver continued top and bottom-line growth while further advancing our long-term growth platforms. I will now hand the call back over to Martin, who will open up the call for questions.

Speaker #1: Delivering another strong quarter of solid growth while at the same time advancing our strategic initiatives. Looking ahead, we remain excited about 2026 and confident in our ability to deliver continued top and bottom line growth while further advancing our long-term growth platforms.

Speaker #1: I will now hand the call back over to Martin, who will open up the call for questions.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Ted. This now concludes the formal portion of the conference. So at this point, we will open up the conference call for questions.

Martin Bengtsson: Thank you, Ted. This now concludes the formal portion of the conference. At this point, we will open up the conference call for questions.

Speaker #4: Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone keypad.

Operator 2: Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one in your telephone keypad. If you would like to withdraw your question, simply press star one again. Your first question comes from a line of Robert Labick from CJS Securities. Your line is open.

Operator: Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one in your telephone keypad. If you would like to withdraw your question, simply press star one again. Your first question comes from a line of Robert Labick from CJS Securities. Your line is open.

Speaker #4: If you would like to withdraw your question, simply press star one again. Your first question comes from a line of Bob Labeck from CJS Securities.

Speaker #4: Your line is open.

Speaker #5: Good morning. Congratulations on another record quarter.

Robert Labick: Good morning. Congratulations on another record quarter.

Bob Labick: Good morning. Congratulations on another record quarter.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Bob.

Martin Bengtsson: Thank you, Bob.

Ted Harris: Thanks, Bob.

Speaker #6: Thanks, Bob.

Speaker #5: Sure. Yeah. So one of the keys to your growth and success has been the branded ingredients. And Ted, you spoke a little about Vitacolin already.

Robert Labick: Sure. Yeah, you know, one of the keys to your growth and success has been the branded ingredients. Ted, you spoke a little about VitaCholine already. I know you're kinda like, you know, early-ish on a branding strategy so far, but what percent of sales are branded that's, you know, out of what's applicable now, and what could that look like in, you know, five or 10 years?

Bob Labick: Sure. Yeah, you know, one of the keys to your growth and success has been the branded ingredients. Ted, you spoke a little about VitaCholine already. I know you're kinda like, you know, early-ish on a branding strategy so far, but what percent of sales are branded that's, you know, out of what's applicable now, and what could that look like in, you know, five or 10 years?

Speaker #5: I know you're kind of early-ish on a branding strategy so far, but what percent of sales are branded? That's out of what's applicable now.

Speaker #5: And what could that look like in 5 or 10 years?

Speaker #1: Yeah. Again, Bob, thanks for your comments. Our branded ingredients and let's just talk about human nutrition and health make up about, I would say, 40 to 50 percent of our human nutrition and health business today.

Ted Harris: Yeah. Again, Bob, thanks for your comments. Our branded ingredients, and let's just talk about Human Nutrition and Health, make up about, I would say, 40% to 50% of our Human Nutrition and Health business today. That doesn't mean to say on the other 50% to 60% we don't have brands, but they're more B2B brands. The power brands, as we refer to them, like VitaCholine that you talked about, K2VITAL and K2VITAL DELTA, OptiMSM, Albion Minerals, for example, are brands that obviously we're selling to supplement nutritional beverage manufacturers, but are recognized by the consumer. Those are the ones that we're really investing in. Let's say 40% to 50% of H&H today.

Speaker #1: And that doesn't mean to say on the other 50 to 60 percent we don't have brands, but they're more B2B brands. The power brands, as we refer to them, like Vitacolin that you talked about, K2, Vital, and K2 Vital Delta, Opti, MSM, Albion Minerals, for example, are brands that obviously we're selling to supplement, nutritional beverage manufacturers.

Speaker #1: But our recognized by the consumer. And so those are the ones that we're really investing in. So let's say 40 to 50 percent of H&H today and that part of the business is obviously growing faster than the other parts of the business.

Ted Harris: That part of the business is obviously growing faster than the other parts of the business. Over time will clearly become a bigger and bigger part of our portfolio.

Speaker #1: So over time, we'll clearly become a bigger and bigger part of our portfolio.

Speaker #5: Okay, great. And we've talked on previous calls about the Jets partnership and the new customers that have come in, notably in Vitacolin and, I think, energy drinks in particular.

Robert Labick: Okay, great. We've talked on previous calls about, you know, the Jets partnership and the new customers that have come, notably in VitaCholine and I think, you know, energy drinks in particular. Are there other areas of expansion, you know, still to come from this? Are there opportunities for, you know, just more general sports drinks versus energy drinks? How do you know, take the company down that path if possible?

Bob Labick: Okay, great. We've talked on previous calls about, you know, the Jets partnership and the new customers that have come, notably in VitaCholine and I think, you know, energy drinks in particular. Are there other areas of expansion, you know, still to come from this? Are there opportunities for, you know, just more general sports drinks versus energy drinks? How do you know, take the company down that path if possible?

Speaker #5: Are there other areas of expansion still to come from this? Are there opportunities for just more general sports drinks versus energy drinks? Or how do you take the company down that path if possible?

Speaker #1: Yeah. So obviously, historically, supplement has been our primary targeted market. But as you mentioned, we've had pretty significant success more recently relative to sports beverages energy drinks and the like.

Ted Harris: Yeah. you know, obviously, historically, you know, supplements have been our primary targeted market. As you mentioned, we've had pretty significant success more recently relative to sports beverages, energy drinks and the like. As you can imagine, it's a great application for our products, partly because you don't have the capacity or volume limitation that you can have in a supplement or a multivitamin. We've found it to be an excellent application for our products. Trends are leading to significant growth in those areas. I do think that that will continue to grow and, you know, kind of that word energy drink, you know, versus nutritional beverage.

Speaker #1: And as you can imagine, it's a great application for our products, partly because you don't have the capacity or volume limitation that you can have in a supplement or a multivitamin.

Speaker #1: And so we've found it to be an excellent application for our products. And trends are leading to significant growth in those areas. So I do think that that will continue to grow and kind of that word energy drink versus nutritional beverage.

Speaker #1: I do think many of these products started to be more kind of in the energy drink and all that comes with that term. In that category.

Ted Harris: I do think many of these products started to be more kinda in the energy drink and, you know, all that comes with that term, in that category. Now those drinks are expanding much more broadly to more of a nutritional beverage focus, meal replacement focus, a much, you know, healthier product than or better for you product, to use those words, than the historical energy drinks. We really believe that that nutritional beverage market is a significant opportunity for us and will grow rapidly over time. I think that's really where the predominance of our opportunity lies in the near to midterm.

Speaker #1: And now those drinks are expanding much more broadly to more of a nutritional beverage focus, meal replacement focus, a much healthier product than or better for you product to use those words than the historical energy drinks.

Speaker #1: And we really believe that that nutritional beverage market is a significant opportunity for us and will grow rapidly over time. So I think that's really where the predominance of our opportunity lies in the near to midterm.

Speaker #1: And relative to investing marketing dollars in the brands, it does expand far beyond partnering with an NFL team. We're already partnering with a women's professional soccer team in Europe and the Bayern Munich women's team.

Ted Harris: Relative to investing marketing dollars in the brands, you know, it does expand, you know, far beyond partnering with an NFL team. You know, we're already partnering with a women's professional soccer team in Europe in the Bayern Munich women's team. We're investing in other sorta influencer areas, digital media, areas and so forth. We do continue to expand that effort in other areas. You know, I think we talked about on, you know, calls many, many quarters ago that the investment in the Jets was a pilot to some extent.

Speaker #1: We're investing in other sort of influencer areas, digital media, areas, and so forth. So we do continue to expand that effort in other areas so we really I think we talked about on calls many, many quarters ago that the investment in the Jets was a pilot to some extent.

Ted Harris: We certainly look back on that as being a successful pilot and one that we wanna now expand through other consumer marketing awareness campaigns, some of which I just mentioned.

Speaker #1: We certainly look back on that as being a successful pilot and one that we want to now expand through other consumer marketing awareness campaigns some of which I just mentioned.

Ted Harris: We certainly look back on that as being a successful pilot and one that we wanna now expand through other consumer marketing awareness campaigns, some of which I just mentioned.

Speaker #5: Okay. Super. And one last one for me. I'll jump back in queue. But looking at the gross margins the 37.2 percent surprised on the upside it was really strong in fact.

Robert Labick: Okay, super. One last one for me, I'll jump back in queue. Looking at the P&L, the gross margins, the 37.2% surprised on the upside. It was, you know, really strong, in fact. Maybe just give us a little more details of what kinda drove that. I know with raw material, you know, cost pressures coming, how should we think about gross margins and the, you know, going forward?

Bob Labick: Okay, super. One last one for me, I'll jump back in queue. Looking at the P&L, the gross margins, the 37.2% surprised on the upside. It was, you know, really strong, in fact. Maybe just give us a little more details of what kinda drove that. I know with raw material, you know, cost pressures coming, how should we think about gross margins and the, you know, going forward?

Speaker #5: So maybe just give us a little more details of what kind of drove that. And I know with raw material cost pressures coming how should we think about gross margins and going forward?

Speaker #3: Yeah. Bob, strong performance on the gross margin as you point out and as you're familiar we've talked about in the past that we do have a favorable tailwind in our portfolio from the fact that our higher margin businesses are the ones growing the fastest.

Martin Bengtsson: Bob, strong performance on the gross margin, as you point out and as you're familiar. We've talked about in the past that we do have a favorable tailwind in our portfolio from the fact that our higher margin businesses are the ones growing the fastest. Minerals and nutrients and HNH being an example of that. Similarly, on the animal nutrition side of ruminant being higher margin and generally growing faster than monogastric. Just from a portfolio perspective, we have that tailwind that supports expansion of the margins. On top of that, we have been fairly effective more recently to just manage the balance between price and inflation and drive some benefits that way as well, along with having, you know, effective manufacturing operations here supporting the PNL.

Speaker #3: So minerals and nutrients in H&H being an example of that and similarly on the animal nutrition side of ruminant being higher margin and generally growing faster than monogastric.

Speaker #3: And just from a portfolio perspective, we have that tailwind that supports expansion of the margins. On top of that, we have been fairly effective more recently to just manage the balance between price and inflation.

Speaker #3: And drive some benefits that way as well. Along with having effective manufacturing operations here supporting the P&L. So everything has just been working fairly well from a gross margin perspective.

Martin Bengtsson: Everything has just been working fairly well from a gross margin perspective, and you're seeing that come through. The reference we made to seeing inflation is true and real. We do see inflation coming, and we see that accelerating a bit with what's happening in the Middle East. As you know from the past, when we went through this with COVID, we've been quite effective historically at managing that, both through our supply chain and through our procurement, but also in terms of pricing that through to our customers, where needed. It tends to have a little bit of a dilutive impact, right? If your costs go up $1 and you price through $1, mathematically, your margin rate goes down.

Speaker #3: And you're seeing that come through. The reference we made to seeing inflation is true. And real. We do see inflation coming. And we see that accelerating a bit with what's happening in the Middle East.

Speaker #3: And as you know from the past when we went through this with COVID, we've been quite effective historically at managing that both through our supply chain and through our procurement but also in terms of pricing that through to our customers where needed.

Speaker #3: But it tends to have a little bit of a dilutive impact, right? If you're costs go up a dollar and you price through a dollar, mathematically, your margin rate goes down.

Speaker #3: So I think we'll see a little bit of that to a modest extent as we go forward in this inflationary environment. So while we continue to grow our margin dollars, we may see a little bit of a margin rate compression as a result of the environment.

Martin Bengtsson: I think we'll see a little bit of that to a modest extent as we go forward in this inflationary environment. While we continue to grow our margin dollars, we may see a little bit of a margin rate compression as a result of the environment.

Speaker #5: Okay, got it. Thank you, and congrats again. I will get back in the queue.

Robert Labick: Okay. Got it. Thank you, and congrats again. I will get back in queue.

Bob Labick: Okay. Got it. Thank you, and congrats again. I will get back in queue.

Speaker #1: Great. Thanks, Bob.

Ted Harris: Great. Thanks, Bob.

Speaker #2: Your next question comes from a line of Ram Silvaraju from HC Wainwright. Your line is open.

Operator 2: Your next question comes from a line of Ram Selvaraju from H.C. Wainwright. Your line is open.

Operator: Your next question comes from a line of Ram Selvaraju from H.C. Wainwright. Your line is open.

Speaker #4: Thanks so much for taking our questions. Firstly, I was wondering if you could comment on sort of ongoing evolution of your thinking regarding the positioning of Vitacoline and in particular, how you are thinking about optimizing the value of this franchise especially given the most recent data that you cited published in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients.

Ram Selvaraju: Thanks so much for taking our questions. firstly, I was wondering if you could comment on sort of ongoing evolution of your thinking regarding the positioning of VitaCholine, and in particular, how you are thinking about optimizing the value of this franchise, especially given the most recent data that you cited, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients, and how this might evolve going forward. When you think about historically, the work that's already been done demonstrating that choline is an essential prenatal nutrient. Now you have data showing that it has applicability to enhance potentially cognitive health in older adults.

Speaker #4: And how this might evolve going forward when you think about, historically, the work that's already been done demonstrating that choline is an essential prenatal nutrient.

Speaker #4: Now you have data showing that it has applicability to enhance potentially cognitive health in older adults. Just give us a sense of how you're thinking about the evolution of that brand and how best to position it particularly from the perspective of promotional and marketing strategies that you may not necessarily have employed in the past.

Ram Selvaraju: Just give us a sense of how you're thinking about the evolution of that brand and how best to position it, particularly from the perspective of, you know, promotional and marketing strategies that you may not necessarily have employed in the past. Secondly, I think it would be helpful if you could give us a sense, particularly in light of the most recent geopolitical developments, how this might affect the industrial side of Balchem's business, especially when we think about potentially increased US state side-based oil and petroleum production that may include, you know, enhanced fracking activity. Lastly, Martin, I was wondering if you could just comment on the effective tax rate.

Speaker #4: Secondly, I think it would be helpful if you could give us a sense particularly in light of the most recent geopolitical developments how this might affect the industrial side of BALCHEM's business especially when we think about potentially increased US stateside-based oil and petroleum production that may include enhanced fracking activity.

Speaker #4: And then lastly, Martin, I was wondering if you could just comment on the effective tax rate that was a little bit ahead of what we had originally projected.

Ram Selvaraju: It was a little bit ahead of what we had originally projected, I was wondering if we should use that as kind of the serviceable tax rate assumption going forward, or if you anticipate the effective tax rate to modulate a little bit over the course of the remainder of this year. Thank you.

Speaker #4: So I was wondering if we should use that as kind of the serviceable tax rate assumption going forward or if you anticipate the effective tax rate to modulate a little bit over the course of the remainder of this year.

Speaker #4: Thank you.

Speaker #1: Okay. Thanks, Ram, for your questions. And maybe I'll take the first two and Martin, you can answer. The last one. And I'll start, Ram, with your second one around industrial.

Ted Harris: Thanks, Ram, for your questions. Maybe I'll take the first two, and Martin, you can answer the last one. I'll start, Ram, with your second one around industrial. As everybody knows, we no longer report out industrial separately. But that business, you know, continues, has continued for a number of years, at a, you know, very low level I would say. But that business is clearly up. It is still not a measurable contributor to our overall results and business. But regardless of that, the results are up, sales are up, demand is up, which is what you would expect given the current situation with increased activity in that part of the economy.

Speaker #1: As everybody knows, we no longer report out industrial separately. But that business continues has continued for a number of years. At a very low level, I would say.

Speaker #1: But that business is clearly up. It's still not a measurable contributor to our overall results and business. But regardless of that, the results are up.

Speaker #1: Sales are up. Demand is up which is what you would expect given the current situation with increased activity in that part of the economy.

Speaker #1: So we are seeing new business from that. Again, it's not to a material nature. And we strongly believe it will never return to what it once was.

Ted Harris: We are seeing, you know, new business from that. Again, it's not to a material nature, and we strongly believe it will never return to what it once was, but it's nice to see higher demand in that area, based on the increased activity. Relative to the ongoing VitaCholine positioning, we are really excited about the results of this most recent study. You know, specifically for servicing post-menopausal women in that community and that targeted market. It does suggest that older adults can benefit from VitaCholine intake more broadly. That is a huge market compared to the prenatal market that you mentioned.

Speaker #1: But it's nice to see higher demand in that area, based on the increased activity. Relative to the ongoing Vitacoline positioning, we are really excited about the results of this most recent study.

Speaker #1: Specifically, for servicing post-menopausal women. And that community and that targeted market. But it does suggest that older adults can benefit from Vitacoline intake more broadly.

Speaker #1: And that is a huge market compared to the prenatal market that you mentioned. Historically, choline was a product that was sold into infant formula and really didn't even appear that much in prenatal vitamins.

Ted Harris: Historically, choline was a product that was sold into infant formula and really didn't even appear that much in prenatal vitamins. I think we can look back and say we were very successful in doing the science, having the studies to support the prenatal market. Today, it really is broadly part of a prenatal vitamin regimen. It's incredibly rare for me to ask a pregnant woman, you know, what her vitamin regimen is, and it not to include choline. I think we've been very successful there. The reality is that's a relatively small market. This could be an absolute breakthrough from a VitaCholine perspective and really open up that, as I used the word earlier, huge adult cognition market. I think it's an early study.

Speaker #1: I think we can look back and say we were very, very successful in doing the science, having the studies to support the prenatal market.

Speaker #1: And today, it really is broadly part of a prenatal vitamin regimen. It's incredibly rare for me to ask a pregnant woman what her vitamin regimen is.

Speaker #1: And it not to include choline. So I think we've been very successful there. But the reality is that's a relatively small market. So this could be an absolute breakthrough from a Vitacoline perspective and really open up that, as I use the word earlier, huge adult cognition market.

Speaker #1: I think it's an early study. It's a study that has definitive results for post-menopausal women. We need more studies for sure. To show effectiveness across a wider segment of the population.

Ted Harris: It's a study that has definitive results for post-menopausal women. We need more studies for sure to show effectiveness across a wider segment of the population in the that age group. This is a good first start, and we always expected this just to be the start, so we're investing in some more studies. Then as we've also learned, we need to support that science and those studies with marketing. Obviously marketing to aging adults that either are experiencing cognitive issues or are concerned about cognitive issues, is a very different marketing campaign to positioning VitaCholine as a nutrient that athletes should take, which is what we were doing for the New York Jets.

Speaker #1: In that age group. But this is a good first start. And we always expected this just to be the start. So we're investing in some more studies.

Speaker #1: And then, as we've also learned, we need to support that science and those studies with marketing. And, obviously, marketing to aging adults that either are experiencing cognitive issues or are concerned about cognitive issues is a very different marketing campaign compared to positioning Vitacoline as a nutrient that athletes should take, which is what we were doing for the New York Jets.

Speaker #1: So we will have to reposition our marketing efforts or newly position our marketing efforts to support the emerging science in this area. And to build awareness in the aging population and ultimately to drive market penetration of Vitacoline in that category.

Ted Harris: We will have to reposition our marketing efforts or newly position our marketing efforts to support the emerging science in this area and to build awareness in the aging population and ultimately to drive market penetration of VitaCholine in that category. That's exactly what we're going to do. With that, I'll hand it over to Martin to talk about tax.

Speaker #1: And that's exactly what we're going to do. So with that, I'll hand it over to Martin to talk about tax.

Martin Bengtsson: Yes, Ram. As we spoke about in the past, we tend to use 23% effective tax rate. That's sort of the planning rate for you. I think when we spoke last time I thought we were probably err on the side of doing better than that. In Q1 we had 23.3%, so a bit above that, just based on timing of various items and some changes in state tax laws that impacted that negatively and also various discrete items that hit the quarters differently. I think as we look forward here, I think the rate will be higher in Q2 as well versus that 23%, and then I think you'll be lower in H2, as we're working our way towards that 23%.

Speaker #2: Yes, Ram, we spoke about it in the past. We tend to use a 23% effective tax rate as sort of the planning rate for you.

Speaker #2: And I think when we spoke last time, I thought we were probably error on the side of doing better than that. In Q1, we had 23.3.

Speaker #2: So a bit above that just based on timing of various items. And some changes in state tax laws. That impacted that negatively. And also various discrete items that hit the quarters differently.

Speaker #2: I think as we look forward here, I think the rate will be higher in Q2 as well versus that 23%. And then I think you'll be lower in the back half of the year as we're working our way towards that 23%.

Speaker #2: So I think it's still a good planning rate to use, the 23%. As you model things for the full year.

Martin Bengtsson: I think it's still a good planning rate to use, the 23%, as you model things for the, for the full year.

Speaker #3: Thanks so much. And congrats again on a very solid quarter.

Ram Selvaraju: Thanks so much, and congrats again on a very solid quarter.

Speaker #1: Great. Thank you, Ram.

Ted Harris: Great.

Martin Bengtsson: Thank you.

Ted Harris: Thank you, Ram.

Speaker #4: Your next question comes from a line of Daniel Harmon open.

Operator 2: Your next question comes from the line of Daniel Harriman from Sidoti. Your line is open.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Daniel Harriman from Sidoti. Your line is open.

Daniel Harriman: Ted, Martin, good morning. Thank you so much for taking my questions. Again, congratulations on continued execution and great performance.

Speaker #5: Head, Martin. Good morning. Thank you so much for taking my questions. And again, congratulations on continued execution and great performance. I've got two questions this morning.

Ted Harris: Thanks, Danny.

Daniel Harriman: I've got two questions this morning. I'll start with one for Ted. Last quarter, I'd kinda touched on or asked you about international growth, and I was just wondering if you might be able to provide us on an update or if there's anything been going on that we should pay attention to there across the three businesses. Martin, on the European monogastric side of things, I was just curious if you could give a little bit more color about where we are in the recovery there, and if there's more room for you guys in terms of both volume and pricing. Really appreciate it. Thank you.

Speaker #5: I'll start with one for Ted. Last quarter, I'd kind of touched on or asked you about international growth. And I was just wondering if you might be able to provide us on an update or if there's anything been going on that we should pay attention to there across the three businesses.

Speaker #5: And then, Martin, on the European monogastric side of things, I was just curious if you could give a little bit more color about where we are in the recovery there, and if there's more room for you guys in terms of both volume and pricing.

Speaker #5: Really appreciate it. Thank you.

Speaker #1: Yeah. So on the geographic expansion and international growth, that continues to be a primary strategic focus area for our company. And one that we feel really good about the progress that we're making.

Ted Harris: Yeah. On the geographic expansion and international growth, that continues to be a primary strategic focus area for our company and one that we feel really good about the progress that we're making. Part of that progress involves hiring people in the various international regions around the world, and we're doing that, and we're hiring really good people. I would say when you look at our OpEx this quarter, Martin talked a little bit about it being higher than normal. Part of that at least is driven by some one-time items, but part of it's also driven by an investment in sales and marketing around the globe as we do invest in geographic expansion.

Speaker #1: Part of that progress involves hiring people in the various international regions around the world. And we're doing that. And we're hiring really good people.

Speaker #1: I would say when you look at our OpEx this quarter, Martin talked a little bit about it being higher than normal. And part of that, at least, is driven by some one-time items.

Speaker #1: But part of it's also driven by an investment in sales and marketing around the globe as we do invest in geographic expansion. So we're making good progress in hiring people, building out the infrastructure that we need to drive geographic expansion.

Ted Harris: We're making good progress in hiring people, building out the infrastructure that we need to drive geographic expansion. The results are showing. We are seeing higher growth rates in most international locations versus the US. We're still driving really good growth in the US, but the international growth rates have been better for us because of the low base that we're starting in. We're focused on it. It's a primary strategic objective for us, and we're making really good progress relative to that strategic initiative.

Speaker #1: And the results are showing. We are seeing higher growth rates in most international locations versus the US. We're still driving really good growth in the US.

Speaker #1: But the international growth rates have been better for us because of the low base that we're starting in. So we're focused on it. It's a primary strategic objective for us.

Speaker #1: And we're making really good progress relative to that strategic initiative.

Speaker #2: Yeah, on the animal nutrition, Europe and the recovery of the monogastric business there, we are clearly seeing an uptick following the anti-dumping. In Q1, we did see a double-digit volume improvement.

Martin Bengtsson: Yeah. Daniel, on the Animal Nutrition Europe and the recovery of the monogastric business there, we are clearly seeing an uptick following the anti-dumping. In Q1, we did see a double-digit volume improvement. It's definitely there, combined with improved pricing. There is clearly an upwards trend in that business that I think has the potential to continue to strengthen further. The sort of impacts that we're keeping an eye on right now is really stemming from the Middle East conflict, right? Whether or not that will have an impact to the European end markets or not, just given the higher input costs that they will be facing here going forward. In terms of the EU anti-dumping, we are clearly seeing benefits from that at the moment.

Speaker #2: So it's definitely there combined with improved pricing. So there is clearly an upward trend in that business that I think has the potential to continue to strengthen further.

Speaker #2: And the sort of impacts that we're keeping an eye on right now is really stemming from the Middle East conflict, right? And whether or not that will have an impact to the European end markets or not, just given the higher input costs that they will be facing here going forward.

Speaker #2: But in terms of the EU anti-dumping, we are clearly seeing benefits from that at the moment.

Speaker #5: That's really helpful. Thank you again, guys.

Daniel Harriman: That's really helpful. Thank you again, guys.

Speaker #1: Thanks, Daniel.

Ted Harris: Thanks, Daniel.

Speaker #4: Your next question comes from a line of Artem Chubarov from Rothschild Redburn. Your line is open.

Operator 2: Your next question comes from the line of Artem Chubarov from Rothschild Redburn. Your line is open.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Artem Chubarov from Rothschild Redburn. Your line is open.

Speaker #5: Thank you. Yes. And hello, Ted and Martin. Congrats on a good quarter. And I would like to yeah, I would like to ask probably two questions.

Artem Chubarov: Thank you. Yes, hello, Ted and Martin. Congrats on a good quarter.

Ted Harris: Thank you, Artem.

Artem Chubarov: Um-

Ted Harris: I would like to-

Artem Chubarov: Yeah, I would like to ask probably two questions. The first on H&H. Any color on how nutrients or food ingredients businesses performed in the quarter will be helpful just to understand the magnitude of growth and whether you expect these to persist. The second question is on Specialty Products. Obviously, you've reported quite exceptional improvement in profitability, so would be just helpful to understand where it came from, perhaps whether it was a price or volume, and how did that develop by region, whether it was Europe or the US. Thank you.

Speaker #5: The first on age and age. Any color on how nutrients or food ingredients businesses performed in the quarter will be helpful just to understand the magnitude of growth and whether you expect these to persist.

Speaker #5: And the second question is on specialty products. Obviously, you've reported quite exceptional improvement in profitability. So what would be just helpful to understand where it came from, perhaps whether it was a price or volume and how did that develop by region, whether it was Europe or the US.

Speaker #5: Thank you.

Speaker #1: Sure. So maybe I'll take a stab at this. And Martin, you can chime in as needed. We were really pleased with the overall performance of age and age, really as we have been for many quarters.

Ted Harris: Sure. Maybe I'll take a stab at this, and Martin, you can chime in, as needed. We were really pleased with the overall performance of H&H, really as we have been for many quarters. The story, I would say, in Q1 was very similar to the story that has played out over previous quarters. Not much changing. The minerals and nutrients portfolio, growing, you know, very, you know, strong, I would say, double digits, growth. Fueled, I think, you know, particularly by growth in our minerals business, which is performing really outstandingly, broadly speaking. All of the nutrients are growing nicely.

Speaker #1: And the story I would say in Q1 was very similar to the story that has played out over previous quarters. So not much changing.

Speaker #1: The minerals and nutrients portfolio growing very strong, I would say. Double digits growth. Fueled, I think, particularly by growth in our minerals business, which is performing really outstandingly broadly speaking, but all of the nutrients are growing nicely.

Ted Harris: That business is performing well and really fueled by, yes, to some extent, the better-for-you trends, but just the adoption of supplementation and the inclusion of nutrients in beverages, as we talked earlier. A little bit, you know, more of the same, which I view as positive. The food ingredients and solutions business grew, you know, I would say sorta, you know, lower to mid-single digits. Again, continue to grow at what I would say would be nice rates for that business.

Speaker #1: And that business is performing well and really fueled by, yes, to some extent, the better-for-you trends, but just the adoption of supplementation and the inclusion of nutrients in beverages as we talked earlier.

Speaker #1: So a little bit more of the same, which I view as positive. The food ingredient and solutions business grew. I would say sort of lower to mid-single digits so again, continued to grow at what I would say would be nice rates for that business.

Ted Harris: That growth truly is really being fueled by the better-for-you trends, whether it's meat sticks that we've talked about before, where some of our ingredients are included, or high-protein bars, high-fiber beverages, organic high-fiber cereals. Those kinds of products are really all performing very well for us and really driving the vast majority of growth within H&H. Again, I would say that story has been true for quite a number of quarters. So we're, you know, overall very pleased with the performance of H&H. We continue to believe that that story will continue for some time to come. We think it's quite sustainable. Relative to Specialty Products, it's a little bit of a different story.

Speaker #1: And that growth truly is really being fueled by the better-for-you trends, whether it's meat sticks that we've talked about before, where some of our ingredients are included, or high-protein bars, high-fiber beverages, organic, high-fiber cereals.

Speaker #1: Those kinds of products are really all performing very well for us. And really driving the vast majority of growth within age and age. And again, I would say that story has been true for quite a number of quarters.

Speaker #1: So we're overall very pleased with the performance of age and age. And we continue to believe that that story will continue for some time to come.

Speaker #1: We think it's quite sustainable. Relative to specialty products, it's a little bit of a different story. The favorable growth really is driven primarily from the performance gases part of specialty products.

Ted Harris: The favorable growth really is driven primarily from the performance gases part of Specialty Products. Again, very pleased with the overall performance of Specialty Products. This quarter it was primarily driven by performance gases, where we're seeing healthy demand both in the US and in Europe. You know, it seems odd, you know, a number of years later to still be talking about the pandemic, but those were markets that were pretty severely impacted by the pandemic and it had a result, you know, a kind of a long, kind of long played out impact, I would say, on those markets.

Speaker #1: Again, very pleased with the overall performance of specialty products. But this quarter, it was primarily driven by performance gases where we're seeing healthy demand, both in the US and in Europe.

Speaker #1: It seems odd a number of years later to still be talking about the pandemic, but those were markets that were pretty severely impacted by the pandemic.

Speaker #1: And it had a result, kind of a long-played-out impact, I would say, on those markets. And we would say those markets today are back to where they were very healthy, and our business is doing very well, both in the US and Europe, just on healthy demand.

Ted Harris: We would say those markets today are back to where they were, very healthy. Our business is doing very well both in the US and Europe just on healthy demand. The growth, as we talked about in plant nutrition, has been primarily driven by geographic expansion over time. We didn't deliver growth in Q1, but we're bullish about the performance of plant nutrition over the course of the year. We had significant margin improvement in that business in Q1, delivered healthy geographic expansion growth and, generally speaking, it's a healthy planting environment right now. Again, we feel good about our ability to deliver growth in that business this year.

Speaker #1: The growth, as we talked about in plant nutrition, has been primarily driven by geographic expansion over time. We didn't deliver growth in Q1, but we're bullish about the performance of plant nutrition over the course of the year.

Speaker #1: We had significant margin improvement in that business in Q1, delivered healthy geographic expansion growth. And generally speaking, it's a healthy planting environment right now.

Speaker #1: And so again, we feel good about our ability to deliver growth in that business this year. So really pleased with the performance of specialty products as well.

Ted Harris: Really pleased with the performance of Specialty Products as well, and believe that this performance that we've been delivering in that segment over the last number of quarters and in Q1 is sustainable. Hopefully that answers your questions.

Speaker #1: And believe that this performance that we've been delivering in that segment over the last number of quarters and in Q1 is sustainable. So hopefully, that answers your questions.

Speaker #5: It does, indeed. Thank you very much.

Artem Chubarov: It does indeed. Thank you very much.

Speaker #1: Okay. Great. Thanks, Artem.

Ted Harris: Okay, great. Thanks, Artem.

Speaker #3: And that concludes our question and answer session. I will now turn the call back over to Ted Harris for closing remarks.

Operator 2: That concludes our question and answer session. I will now turn the call back over to Ted Harris for closing remarks.

Operator: That concludes our question and answer session. I will now turn the call back over to Ted Harris for closing remarks.

Speaker #1: Yeah. Thank you very much. Once again, thank you all for joining our call today. We are very pleased with how we have started 2026.

Ted Harris: Yeah. Thank you very much. Once again, thank you all for joining our call today. We are very pleased with how we have started 2026, and we really appreciate your support and your time today. We look forward to reporting out our Q2 2026 results in late July. In the meantime, we will be participating in the Wells Fargo Industrials and Materials Conference in Chicago on 10 June, and the CJS Summer Investor Conference in White Plains, New York on 9 July. We certainly hope to see some of you there. Thanks again.

Speaker #1: And we really appreciate your support and your time today. And we look forward to reporting out our Q2 2026 results in late July. And in the meantime, we will be participating in the Wells Fargo Industrials and Materials Conference in Chicago on June 10th.

Speaker #1: And the CJS Summer Investor Conference in White Plains, New York, on July 9th. And we certainly hope to see some of you there. Thanks again.

Operator 2: This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect.

Operator: This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect.

Q1 2026 Balchem Corp Earnings Call

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