International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF) Lowered to “Hold” Rating by Vertical Research

International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Vertical Research from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued on Thursday, MarketBeat reports. They currently have a $93.00 target price on the specialty chemicals company’s stock. Vertical Research’s target price points to a potential upside of 5.58% from the company’s current price.

Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of International Flavors & Fragrances from $96.00 to $88.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 24th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on International Flavors & Fragrances from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. Berenberg Bank raised their target price on International Flavors & Fragrances from $83.00 to $84.80 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on International Flavors & Fragrances from $97.00 to $105.00 in a report on Thursday, May 7th. Finally, Benchmark assumed coverage on shares of International Flavors & Fragrances in a research report on Tuesday, June 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $100.00 price objective for the company. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $91.27.

International Flavors & Fragrances Stock Performance

NYSE IFF opened at $88.08 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The company has a market cap of $22.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 80.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.93. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $77.44 and a two-hundred day moving average of $75.31. International Flavors & Fragrances has a 1-year low of $59.14 and a 1-year high of $89.32.

International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.07 by ($0.25). The business had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.62 billion. International Flavors & Fragrances had a return on equity of 7.09% and a net margin of 2.78%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.15 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that International Flavors & Fragrances will post 4.55 EPS for the current year.

International Flavors & Fragrances announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, August 4th that authorizes the company to repurchase $2.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the specialty chemicals company to buy up to 12.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Paul J. Fribourg purchased 260,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, June 1st. The stock was purchased at an average price of $74.28 per share, for a total transaction of $19,312,800.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 2,682,730 shares in the company, valued at $199,273,184.40. The trade was a 10.73% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 1.07% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in IFF. Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. purchased a new stake in International Flavors & Fragrances during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Root Financial Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances by 97.9% in the first quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 554 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 274 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances by 55.7% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 587 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances by 884.1% during the 2nd quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC now owns 679 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 610 shares during the last quarter. Finally, EFG International AG bought a new stake in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances in the fourth quarter worth $73,000. 96.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

International Flavors & Fragrances News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting International Flavors & Fragrances this week:

• Positive Sentiment: IFF authorized a $2.5 billion share repurchase program, allowing it to buy back as much as 12.1% of outstanding shares. The authorization signals management’s view that the stock is undervalued and could support earnings per share. International Flavors & Fragrances to Buyback $2.50 Billion in Shares
• Positive Sentiment: The company is continuing to streamline its portfolio. The planned sale of its Food Ingredients business to CVC for approximately $4.3 billion, along with the sale of botanical extracts, vitamins, minerals and food-enhancement activities, should strengthen the balance sheet and concentrate IFF on higher-growth, higher-margin businesses. IFF Enters Agreement to Sell Its Food Ingredients Business to CVC
• Positive Sentiment: Investor reaction suggests the buyback, divestiture proceeds and management’s transformation strategy outweighed near-term earnings concerns. Recent insider buying and a median analyst price target around $91 also provide additional support for the undervaluation argument. Why International Flavors & Fragrances Stock Is Up Today
• Neutral Sentiment: Second-quarter revenue rose 1.8% year over year, while management highlighted growth in key segments and ongoing portfolio changes. However, the outlook remains dependent on successful execution of the restructuring and asset-sale strategy. IFF 2026 Q2 Results Earnings Call Presentation
• Negative Sentiment: IFF reported adjusted earnings of $0.82 per share, below estimates of roughly $1.07–$1.14, and revenue of $1.95 billion, well short of the approximately $2.62 billion consensus. Earnings also declined from $1.15 a year earlier. International Flavors Q2 Earnings Miss Estimates, Sales Rise Year Over Year
• Negative Sentiment: Management lowered its 2026 sales guidance, highlighting continued demand and execution risks. The earnings miss and guidance reduction could limit the stock’s upside if the anticipated benefits from divestitures and buybacks take longer to materialize. IFF Misses Q2 Sales Expectations and Lowers Guidance

International Flavors & Fragrances Company Profile

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc (NYSE:IFF) is a global leader in the creation and production of flavors, fragrances, cosmetic actives and nutritional lipids. The company develops taste and scent solutions for a wide array of end markets including food and beverage, personal care, household goods and pharmaceutical products. Its portfolio spans natural and nature-identical flavors, fine fragrances, functional ingredients for skin and hair care, and specialty oils that enhance nutritional value and sensory appeal.

IFF’s research and development network comprises innovation centers in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, where multidisciplinary teams collaborate on aroma chemistry, sensory science and biotechnology.