Brokers Issue Forecasts for Stepan's Q1 Earnings (NYSE:SCL)

Stepan (NYSE:SCL - Free Report) - Analysts at Seaport Res Ptn issued their Q1 2025 EPS estimates for Stepan in a research report issued on Wednesday, October 30th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst M. Harrison forecasts that the basic materials company will earn $1.18 per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for Stepan's current full-year earnings is $2.09 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Stepan's Q2 2025 earnings at $1.27 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $1.16 EPS and Q4 2025 earnings at $0.69 EPS.

Separately, StockNews.com lowered Stepan from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday, July 28th.

Stepan Stock Performance

Shares of Stepan stock traded up $0.53 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $72.87. The company had a trading volume of 155,255 shares, compared to its average volume of 92,157. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $75.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $80.72. The firm has a market cap of $1.64 billion, a PE ratio of 36.25 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 0.92. Stepan has a one year low of $69.78 and a one year high of $96.68.

Stepan (NYSE:SCL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.39. Stepan had a net margin of 2.10% and a return on equity of 4.56%. The company had revenue of $546.84 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $577.23 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.64 EPS. Stepan's revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year.

Stepan Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 29th will be issued a $0.385 dividend. This represents a $1.54 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.11%. This is an increase from Stepan's previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 29th. Stepan's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 74.63%.

Insider Activity

In other Stepan news, VP David Kabbes acquired 1,056 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 14th. The stock was bought at an average price of $71.39 per share, with a total value of $75,387.84. Following the completion of the purchase, the vice president now owns 1,056 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $75,387.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 6.90% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Stepan

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in shares of Stepan by 6.4% in the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 13,532 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $1,045,000 after buying an additional 817 shares during the last quarter. Semanteon Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Stepan during the third quarter valued at about $1,195,000. Pullen Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Stepan during the third quarter worth about $390,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Stepan by 924.5% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 82,901 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $6,404,000 after purchasing an additional 74,809 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Stepan by 7,700.0% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 8,190 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $633,000 after purchasing an additional 8,085 shares during the last quarter. 82.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Stepan Company Profile

Stepan Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells specialty and intermediate chemicals to other manufacturers for use in various end products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Surfactants, Polymers, and Specialty Products. The Surfactants segment offers surfactants that are used in consumer and industrial cleaning and disinfection products, including detergents for washing clothes, dishes, carpets, and floors and walls, as well as shampoos and body washes; and other applications, such as fabric softeners, germicidal quaternary compounds, disinfectants, and lubricating ingredients.