Stepan (NYSE:SCL) Stock Rating Upgraded by StockNews.com

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

Stepan Stock Up 0.8 %

NYSE:SCL opened at $72.89 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $75.08 and its two-hundred day moving average is $80.72. Stepan has a 52 week low of $69.78 and a 52 week high of $96.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.26 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.

Stepan (NYSE:SCL) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.39. Stepan had a net margin of 2.10% and a return on equity of 4.56%. The company had revenue of $546.84 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $577.23 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.64 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Stepan will post 2.09 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Stepan

In related news, VP David Kabbes purchased 1,056 shares of Stepan stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 14th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $71.39 per share, with a total value of $75,387.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 1,056 shares in the company, valued at approximately $75,387.84. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 6.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Stepan

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of SCL. Quest Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Stepan by 3,053.3% during the second quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 473 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 458 shares during the period. Copeland Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Stepan in the third quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in Stepan during the second quarter worth $59,000. Adirondack Trust Co. grew its stake in shares of Stepan by 60.0% during 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, 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Stepan during the second quarter worth about $123,000. 82.70% of the stock is 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.