KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Invests $7.19 Million in International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new stake in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF) in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm bought 84,677 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,189,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA grew its position in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances by 11.1% during the 4th quarter. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA now owns 114,179 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $9,654,000 after acquiring an additional 11,406 shares during the period. Choreo LLC grew its holdings in International Flavors & Fragrances by 55.7% during the fourth quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 24,401 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $2,055,000 after purchasing an additional 8,728 shares during the period. Covea Finance increased its position in International Flavors & Fragrances by 79.0% in the fourth quarter. Covea Finance now owns 123,090 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $10,407,000 after buying an additional 54,340 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances in the fourth quarter worth about $7,508,000. Finally, S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC grew its stake in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances by 372.9% during the 4th quarter. S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC now owns 63,104 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $5,335,000 after acquiring an additional 49,761 shares during the period. 96.02% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Kevin O’byrne acquired 6,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $80.44 per share, with a total value of $522,860.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 6,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $522,860. This trade represents a ? increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

International Flavors & Fragrances Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE IFF opened at $77.58 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.84, a quick ratio of 1.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. has a 12-month low of $77.05 and a 12-month high of $106.77. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $83.12 and its 200-day moving average price is $90.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 82.53, a P/E/G ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.21.

International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 18th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.97 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.14. International Flavors & Fragrances had a return on equity of 7.72% and a net margin of 2.12%. The firm had revenue of $2.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.67 billion. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. will post 4.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

International Flavors & Fragrances Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 21st will be issued a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 21st. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.06%. International Flavors & Fragrances’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 170.21%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Argus raised shares of International Flavors & Fragrances from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of International Flavors & Fragrances from $107.00 to $104.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 20th. Cfra cut International Flavors & Fragrances from a “buy” rating to a “sell” rating and set a $77.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Thursday, February 20th. Citigroup cut their target price on International Flavors & Fragrances from $110.00 to $105.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on International Flavors & Fragrances from $90.00 to $88.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, International Flavors & Fragrances has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $103.77.

International Flavors & Fragrances Company Profile

International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc engages in the manufacture and supply of flavors and fragrances used in the food, beverage, personal care, and household products industries. It operates through the following segments: Nourish, Health & Biosciences, Scent and Pharma Solutions. The Nourish segment consists of legacy Taste segment combined with N&B’s Food & Beverage division and the food protection business of N&B’s Health & Biosciences division.