Bausch Health Cos (NYSE:BHC) Raised to Hold at Zacks Research

Bausch Health Cos (NYSE:BHC) was upgraded by stock analysts at Zacks Research from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued on Thursday,Zacks.com reports. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Bausch Health Cos’ Q4 2026 earnings at $1.16 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $4.24 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.84 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.91 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $1.07 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $1.02 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $3.84 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $0.65 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $0.86 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $3.04 EPS.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Bausch Health Cos from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, August 1st. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on Bausch Health Cos from $10.00 to $9.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 27th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Bausch Health Cos from a “sell (d-)” rating to a “sell (d)” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Bausch Health Cos to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Bausch Health Cos has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $8.00.

Bausch Health Cos Stock Down 5.7%

Shares of BHC opened at $6.42 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $2.40 billion, a P/E ratio of -2.17 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 54.68, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.44. Bausch Health Cos has a 52 week low of $4.33 and a 52 week high of $8.00. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $5.36 and its 200 day simple moving average is $5.46.

Bausch Health Cos (NYSE:BHC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The company reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.96 by $0.30. Bausch Health Cos had a negative net margin of 10.12% and a negative return on equity of 561.95%. The firm had revenue of $2.83 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.59 billion. On average, analysts forecast that Bausch Health Cos will post 4.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Bausch Health Cos

In other news, insider Aimee J. Lenar sold 36,827 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.03, for a total transaction of $258,893.81. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 334,853 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,354,016.59. This represents a 9.91% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 20.67% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Paulson & CO. Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Bausch Health Cos during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $361,151,000. MFN Partners Management LP bought a new position in Bausch Health Cos in the second quarter valued at about $29,580,000,000. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Bausch Health Cos during the fourth quarter worth about $25,592,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new position in shares of Bausch Health Cos in the second quarter worth about $22,644,000. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in shares of Bausch Health Cos by 24.9% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 11,363,498 shares of the company’s stock worth $61,362,000 after acquiring an additional 2,262,894 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.65% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Bausch Health Cos

Here are the key news stories impacting Bausch Health Cos this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Upgraded to Buy: BHC was raised to Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting improved expectations for the company’s earnings and potentially supporting further near-term gains. Bausch Upgraded to Buy
• Positive Sentiment: Higher earnings estimates: Zacks analysts raised forecasts across multiple periods, including FY2027 EPS to $3.84 from $3.59 and FY2028 EPS to $3.04 from $3.02. Estimates for several 2027 and 2028 quarters were also increased, reinforcing the view that earnings momentum could drive the stock higher. Rising Earnings Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Bausch + Lomb growth thesis: An investment analysis highlighted 9% year-over-year revenue growth in the second quarter, margin expansion and strong operating cash flow. Growth in premium intraocular lenses and branded pharmaceuticals could improve product mix, EBITDA and cash generation while supporting deleveraging. Bausch Plus Lomb Analysis
• Neutral Sentiment: Despite the estimate increases, Zacks Research continues to rate BHC Strong Sell. The broader analyst consensus is “Reduce,” with an average price target of $8, indicating limited upside relative to current trading levels.
• Negative Sentiment: Insider Aimee Lenar sold 36,827 shares worth approximately $258,894 under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. Although the scheduled nature reduces its significance, the transaction cut her direct holding by 9.91%. Insider Share Sale

Bausch Health Cos Company Profile

Bausch Health Cos Inc, formerly known as Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, is a global specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The company operates through two primary segments: Ophthalmology, led by its Bausch + Lomb franchise, and Diversified Brands, which encompasses prescription dermatology, gastrointestinal, neurology and branded pharmaceutical products. Bausch Health develops, manufactures and markets a range of therapeutic and over-the-counter offerings designed to address conditions such as cataracts, dry eye, glaucoma, acne, rosacea, migraine and gastrointestinal disorders.

The Ophthalmology segment under the Bausch + Lomb name provides products for eye health, including prescription drops, contact lens care solutions, intraocular lenses, surgical instruments and diagnostic devices.