Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) Downgraded to Hold Rating by StockNews.com

Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) was downgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report released on Saturday.

Sensient Technologies Stock Performance

NYSE SXT opened at $72.75 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $73.10 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $75.16. The stock has a market cap of $3.08 billion, a PE ratio of 24.74 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 3.55. Sensient Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $66.15 and a fifty-two week high of $82.99.

Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 14th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $376.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $375.10 million. Sensient Technologies had a return on equity of 11.93% and a net margin of 8.01%. Sensient Technologies’s quarterly revenue was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.51 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Sensient Technologies will post 3.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sensient Technologies

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Sensient Technologies by 4.8% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 3,462 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $270,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the period. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. raised its position in Sensient Technologies by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 4,408 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $314,000 after purchasing an additional 203 shares during the last quarter. Versor Investments LP lifted its holdings in Sensient Technologies by 5.1% during the 4th quarter. Versor Investments LP now owns 4,521 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $322,000 after buying an additional 221 shares during the period. Xponance Inc. grew its position in shares of Sensient Technologies by 9.5% in the 4th quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 3,017 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $215,000 after buying an additional 261 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of Sensient Technologies by 49.4% in the fourth quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 920 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $66,000 after buying an additional 304 shares during the period. 90.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Sensient Technologies Company Profile

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.