Stepan (NYSE:SCL) Cut to Hold at StockNews.com

Stepan (NYSE:SCL) was downgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report issued on Saturday.

Stepan Trading Down 0.1 %

NYSE SCL opened at $79.13 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $75.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $80.52. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market cap of $1.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.37 and a beta of 0.81. Stepan has a 12 month low of $69.78 and a 12 month high of $96.68.

Stepan (NYSE:SCL) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.38. The business had revenue of $546.84 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $577.23 million. Stepan had a net margin of 2.10% and a return on equity of 4.56%. Stepan’s revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.64 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Stepan will post 2.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Stepan

In related news, VP David Kabbes bought 1,056 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 14th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $71.39 per share, for a total transaction of $75,387.84. Following 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 filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 6.90% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Stepan

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of SCL. Quest Partners LLC increased its position in Stepan by 3,053.3% during the second quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 473 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 458 shares during the last quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Stepan during the 3rd quarter valued at about $48,000. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Stepan during the 2nd quarter valued at about $59,000. Adirondack Trust Co. lifted its stake in shares of Stepan by 60.0% in the 2nd quarter. Adirondack Trust Co. now owns 800 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $67,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. Finally, KBC Group NV boosted its holdings in shares of Stepan by 43.9% in the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 934 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $72,000 after buying an additional 285 shares during the last quarter. 82.70% of the stock is 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.