KBC Group NV Has $2.06 Million Stock Position in International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF)

KBC Group NV grew its stake in International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF - Free Report) by 23.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 26,546 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock after buying an additional 5,062 shares during the quarter. KBC Group NV's holdings in International Flavors & Fragrances were worth $2,060,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new position in International Flavors & Fragrances in the 1st quarter worth $1,271,000. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances in the fourth quarter valued at about $8,099,000. Cibc World Markets Corp boosted its position in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances by 299.1% during the fourth quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 138,522 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $11,712,000 after buying an additional 103,810 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in International Flavors & Fragrances by 23.6% in the 4th quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 361,073 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $30,529,000 after buying an additional 68,970 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Chicago Capital LLC acquired a new stake in International Flavors & Fragrances in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $688,000. Institutional investors own 96.02% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Kevin O'byrne bought 4,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 22nd. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $76.05 per share, for a total transaction of $342,225.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 7,696 shares in the company, valued at $585,280.80. The trade was a 140.80% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Stephen N. Landsman bought 12,000 shares of International Flavors & Fragrances stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 19th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $77.28 per share, for a total transaction of $927,360.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the executive vice president owned 12,000 shares in the company, valued at $927,360. This represents a ∞ increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have acquired 22,050 shares of company stock worth $1,688,512. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

International Flavors & Fragrances Stock Performance

IFF stock traded down $0.30 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $76.33. 838,249 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,531,271. International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. has a 1-year low of $65.85 and a 1-year high of $106.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.52 billion, a PE ratio of -23.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.41 and a beta of 1.04. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $76.23 and a 200-day simple moving average of $79.30. The company has a current ratio of 1.87, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58.

International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.20 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.12 by $0.08. International Flavors & Fragrances had a positive return on equity of 7.99% and a negative net margin of 7.31%. The business had revenue of $2.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.83 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.13 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. will post 4.32 earnings per share for the current year.

International Flavors & Fragrances Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 11th. Investors of record on Friday, June 20th will be given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.10%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 20th. International Flavors & Fragrances's dividend payout ratio is -48.93%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays raised shares of International Flavors & Fragrances from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and raised their price target for the stock from $76.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. Tigress Financial started coverage on shares of International Flavors & Fragrances in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $105.00 target price for the company. Mizuho cut their price target on shares of International Flavors & Fragrances from $95.00 to $87.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on International Flavors & Fragrances from $110.00 to $100.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 8th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on International Flavors & Fragrances from $84.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $93.43.

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.