Stock Traders Purchase High Volume of Call Options on Bausch Health Cos (NYSE:BHC)

Bausch Health Cos Inc. (NYSE:BHC) saw unusually large options trading activity on Thursday. Stock investors purchased 6,018 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 120% compared to the average daily volume of 2,732 call options.

Insider Transactions at Bausch Health Cos

In other Bausch Health Cos news, insider Aimee Lenar sold 36,827 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 19th. The shares were 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 $2,354,016.59. The trade was a 9.91% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Company insiders own 20.67% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bausch Health Cos

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Paulson & CO. Inc. bought a new position in Bausch Health Cos in the 2nd quarter worth about $361,151,000. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in Bausch Health Cos by 24.9% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 11,363,498 shares of the company’s stock valued at $61,362,000 after purchasing an additional 2,262,894 shares in the last quarter. MFN Partners Management LP bought a new stake in Bausch Health Cos during the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,580,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in Bausch Health Cos by 10.8% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,604,818 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,456,000 after buying an additional 350,823 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its holdings in Bausch Health Cos by 10.0% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,575,772 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,509,000 after buying an additional 143,581 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.65% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BHC has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded Bausch Health Cos from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, August 1st. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Bausch Health Cos in a research report on Thursday. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on Bausch Health Cos from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Bausch Health Cos from $6.50 to $8.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Bausch Health Cos from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $8.25.

Bausch Health Cos Price Performance

NYSE BHC opened at $8.22 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.08 billion, a PE ratio of -3.59 and a beta of 0.37. Bausch Health Cos has a fifty-two week low of $4.33 and a fifty-two week high of $9.04. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $6.23 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $5.72.

Bausch Health Cos (NYSE:BHC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 28th. The company reported $1.77 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.52. The business had revenue of $2.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.72 billion. Bausch Health Cos had a negative return on equity of 369.48% and a negative net margin of 7.57%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Bausch Health Cos will post 4.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Key Stories Impacting Bausch Health Cos

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

• Positive Sentiment: Raised 2026 revenue outlook: Bausch Health now expects fiscal 2026 revenue of $11.0 billion to $11.2 billion, above the approximately $10.9 billion analyst consensus. This signals confidence in continued operating momentum.
• Positive Sentiment: Third-quarter earnings beat expectations: The company reported $1.77 in quarterly EPS versus consensus estimates ranging from $1.08 to $1.25, while revenue reached approximately $2.90 billion to $2.94 billion, ahead of expectations. Growth in the Salix business, led by Xifaxan, and improved profitability were key drivers. BHC Q3 earnings beat article
• Positive Sentiment: Debt-management action: Bausch Health Americas plans to redeem $643 million of 8.5% notes due in 2027. Redeeming high-cost debt could reduce future interest expense and refinancing risk. Debt redemption article
• Positive Sentiment: Higher price target: Royal Bank of Canada raised its BHC target to $10 from $9, although it maintained a “sector perform” rating.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst views remain divided: Conflicting opinions on Bausch Health suggest that strong results have not eliminated concerns about valuation, debt, and the durability of growth. Analyst views article
• Neutral Sentiment: Options activity increased: Investors purchased roughly 6,018 call options, about 120% above typical volume, indicating heightened speculative interest but not necessarily sustained fundamental demand.
• Negative Sentiment: Profit-taking and underlying risks: After the stock’s sharp post-earnings advance, investors may be locking in gains. Bausch Health continues to report a negative net margin and negative return on equity, leaving leverage and execution risks as important concerns.

About Bausch Health Cos

Bausch Health Companies Inc (NYSE:BHC) is a multinational specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded, generic and over-the-counter medicines. Its portfolio serves several therapeutic areas, including gastroenterology, dermatology, neurology, ophthalmology, hospital products and other specialty-care markets.

The company markets products through businesses such as Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ortho Dermatologics, Solta Medical and its international pharmaceutical operations.