Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) Rating Lowered to Hold at StockNews.com

Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT - Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a note issued to investors on Saturday.

Sensient Technologies Stock Performance

Sensient Technologies stock traded up $0.02 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $73.38. 260,542 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 169,814. Sensient Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $66.15 and a fifty-two week high of $82.99. The stock has a market cap of $3.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.96 and a beta of 0.71. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $73.21 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $75.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 3.55 and a quick ratio of 1.34.

Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 14th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.65 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $376.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $375.10 million. Sensient Technologies had a net margin of 8.01% and a return on equity of 11.93%. Sensient Technologies's revenue was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.51 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Sensient Technologies will post 3.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Remove Ads

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SXT. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its stake in shares of Sensient Technologies by 66.7% in the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 58,643 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $4,704,000 after acquiring an additional 23,474 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its position in shares of Sensient Technologies by 135.8% during the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 23,059 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $1,850,000 after purchasing an additional 13,279 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Sensient Technologies during the third quarter worth approximately $471,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Sensient Technologies by 1.2% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 590,149 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $47,342,000 after buying an additional 7,235 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eagle Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Sensient Technologies by 2.3% in the third quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. now owns 86,390 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $6,874,000 after buying an additional 1,909 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.86% of the company's stock.

About Sensient Technologies

Sensient Technologies Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets colors, flavors, and other specialty ingredients in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa. The company offers flavor-delivery systems, and compounded and blended products; ingredient products, such as essential oils, natural and synthetic flavors, and natural extracts; and chili powder, paprika, and chili pepper, as well as dehydrated vegetables comprising parsley, celery, and spinach to the food, beverage, and personal care industries.