Quantbot Technologies LP Has $780,000 Position in Stepan (NYSE:SCL)

Quantbot Technologies LP increased its position in shares of Stepan (NYSE:SCL - Free Report) by 334.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,102 shares of the basic materials company's stock after buying an additional 7,778 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP's holdings in Stepan were worth $780,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd acquired a new stake in Stepan in the 3rd quarter worth $244,000. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Stepan by 27.1% in the 3rd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 5,834 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $451,000 after acquiring an additional 1,243 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Stepan by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 374,220 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $28,908,000 after purchasing an additional 18,854 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Stepan during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $392,000. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Stepan during the third quarter valued at approximately $370,000. 82.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Stepan Price Performance

NYSE:SCL traded up $0.12 on Monday, reaching $77.02. The stock had a trading volume of 92,733 shares, compared to its average volume of 95,137. Stepan has a 1-year low of $69.78 and a 1-year high of $96.68. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $75.66 and a 200-day moving average price of $79.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The company has a market capitalization of $1.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.26 and a beta of 0.81.

Stepan (NYSE:SCL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.38. The business had revenue of $546.84 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $577.23 million. Stepan had a net margin of 2.10% and a return on equity of 4.56%. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.64 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Stepan will post 2.54 EPS for the current year.

Stepan Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 13th. Investors of record on Friday, November 29th will be given a $0.385 dividend. This represents a $1.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.00%. This is a positive change from Stepan's previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 29th. Stepan's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 74.63%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Stepan from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Sunday, November 17th.

Stepan 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.