International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF) Stock Rated "Moderate Buy" by Wall Street Brokerages

Key Points

• Wall Street maintains a “Moderate Buy” consensus on IFF, with 12 buy, six hold and one strong-buy rating among 19 analysts. The average 12-month price target is $94.28, while Oppenheimer recently raised its target to $108.
• IFF’s latest quarterly results missed expectations, reporting $0.82 in adjusted EPS versus the $1.07 consensus and revenue of $1.95 billion versus $2.62 billion expected. Analysts nevertheless forecast full-year EPS of $3.24.
• The company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.40, equal to a 1.7% yield, and authorized a $2.5 billion share-repurchase program covering up to 12.1% of outstanding shares.

Shares of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF - Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the nineteen research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, twelve have issued a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $94.28.

A number of research firms recently issued reports on IFF. Wall Street Zen raised International Flavors & Fragrances from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday. Zacks Research raised International Flavors & Fragrances from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 20th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on International Flavors & Fragrances from $101.00 to $100.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 7th. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on International Flavors & Fragrances from $95.00 to $108.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Argus upped their price target on International Flavors & Fragrances from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th.

International Flavors & Fragrances Stock Performance

Shares of International Flavors & Fragrances stock opened at $94.11 on Friday. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $85.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $79.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 86.34, a PEG ratio of 3.97 and a beta of 0.91. International Flavors & Fragrances has a 12 month low of $61.29 and a 12 month high of $94.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 2.06 and a quick ratio of 1.72.

International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.82 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.07 by ($0.25). International Flavors & Fragrances had a net margin of 2.78% and a return on equity of 7.11%. The business had revenue of $1.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.62 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.15 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that International Flavors & Fragrances will post 3.24 earnings per share for the current year.

International Flavors & Fragrances Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Investors of record on Friday, September 18th were given a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 18th. International Flavors & Fragrances's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 146.79%.

International Flavors & Fragrances declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, August 4th that permits the company to buy back $2.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the specialty chemicals company to purchase up to 12.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Share repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Key Stories Impacting International Flavors & Fragrances

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

• Positive Sentiment: Oppenheimer raised its price target to $108 from $95 and maintained an “Outperform” rating, implying additional upside from recent trading levels. Oppenheimer Adjusts Price Target on International Flavors & Fragrances to $108 From $95, Keeps Outperform Rating
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research upgraded IFF from “Hold” to “Strong Buy,” adding a favorable analyst-rating catalyst for the stock. Zacks Research Stock Recommendations
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised its EPS forecasts across multiple periods: Q3 2026 to $0.72 from $0.71, FY2026 to $3.20 from $3.19, Q3 2027 to $1.01 from $1.00, Q4 2027 to $1.11 from $1.10, FY2027 to $4.00 from $3.99, and FY2028 to $4.73 from $4.71. The revisions suggest modestly improving expectations for IFF’s earnings trajectory.
• Neutral Sentiment: Despite the bullish analyst commentary, IFF’s latest reported quarter missed consensus estimates for both earnings and revenue, so investors may look for evidence that operational improvement supports the more optimistic forecasts.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider De Mendonca Ana Paula Teles sold 5,718 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.19, for a total value of $475,680.42. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Michael Deveau sold 8,825 shares of International Flavors & Fragrances stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.55, for a total transaction of $754,978.75. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 5,199 shares in the company, valued at approximately $444,774.45. The trade was a 62.93% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders sold 15,543 shares of company stock worth $1,315,659. 1.07% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of International Flavors & Fragrances

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Apollon Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances by 15.0% in the 3rd quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,118 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $845,000 after purchasing an additional 1,319 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in International Flavors & Fragrances by 23.5% in the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 5,351 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $447,000 after purchasing an additional 1,017 shares in the last quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI grew its stake in International Flavors & Fragrances by 9.6% in the third quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI now owns 2,876 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $241,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares in the last quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC increased its holdings in International Flavors & Fragrances by 6.3% in the third quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 10,356 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $865,000 after buying an additional 612 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in International Flavors & Fragrances in the third quarter valued at about $54,000. 96.02% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About International Flavors & Fragrances

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc NYSE: IFF develops and manufactures ingredients, flavor systems, fragrances and specialty solutions used in consumer and industrial products. Its offerings support food and beverage manufacturers, fragrance and personal care companies, household-product makers, pharmaceutical businesses and other customers.

The company's portfolio includes flavors for beverages, dairy products, sweet goods, savory foods and other applications; fragrances for fine fragrance, personal care and home care products; and functional ingredients, enzymes, cultures, natural extracts and other specialty materials.

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