Stepan (NYSE:SCL) Rating Increased to Buy at StockNews.com

Stepan (NYSE:SCL) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a note issued to investors on Friday.

Stepan Stock Performance

NYSE SCL traded up $0.53 on Friday, reaching $72.87. 155,255 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 92,157. The firm has a market cap of $1.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.25 and a beta of 0.80. Stepan has a fifty-two week low of $69.78 and a fifty-two week high of $96.68. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $75.08 and a 200-day moving average price of $80.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 1.27.

Stepan (NYSE:SCL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.39. The company had revenue of $546.84 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $577.23 million. Stepan had a return on equity of 4.56% and a net margin of 2.10%. Stepan’s quarterly revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.64 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Stepan will post 2.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Stepan

In related news, VP David Kabbes purchased 1,056 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 14th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $71.39 per share, for a total transaction of $75,387.84. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly 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 accessible through this link. Insiders own 6.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Stepan

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. US Bancorp DE raised its holdings in Stepan by 6.4% in the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 13,532 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,045,000 after buying an additional 817 shares during the period. Semanteon Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Stepan during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,195,000. Pullen Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Stepan in the third quarter worth $390,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its stake 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 valued at $6,404,000 after purchasing an additional 74,809 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Stepan by 7,700.0% in the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 8,190 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $633,000 after purchasing an additional 8,085 shares in the last quarter. 82.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.