Algert Global LLC Raises Stock Position in Stepan Company $SCL

Key Points

• Algert Global LLC significantly increased its stake in Stepan Company by 140.4%, acquiring a total of 25,638 shares, valued at approximately $1.41 million.
• Wall Street analysts have downgraded Stepan's stock rating, with Zacks Research lowering it from "hold" to "strong sell," leading to a consensus rating of "Sell."
• Stepan Company posted quarterly earnings of $0.52 per share, missing expectations of $0.92, while also reporting revenue marginally below analyst expectations at $594.69 million.

Algert Global LLC raised its holdings in shares of Stepan Company (NYSE:SCL - Free Report) by 140.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 25,638 shares of the basic materials company's stock after acquiring an additional 14,972 shares during the quarter. Algert Global LLC owned approximately 0.11% of Stepan worth $1,411,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its position in shares of Stepan by 24.4% during the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 14,018 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $907,000 after purchasing an additional 2,746 shares in the last quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Stepan by 781.4% during the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 617 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 547 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC grew its holdings in Stepan by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 46,688 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $3,022,000 after buying an additional 1,898 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Stepan by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,310,760 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $84,806,000 after buying an additional 18,392 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Stepan by 4.3% in the fourth quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 12,865 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $832,000 after buying an additional 528 shares in the last quarter. 82.70% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Stepan Trading Down 1.5%

Shares of NYSE:SCL traded down $0.80 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $50.60. 17,241 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 132,892. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.92 and a beta of 0.98. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $53.99 and a 200-day moving average price of $54.73. Stepan Company has a 1 year low of $44.23 and a 1 year high of $82.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 0.86.

Stepan (NYSE:SCL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The basic materials company reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.92 by ($0.40). Stepan had a return on equity of 4.78% and a net margin of 2.57%.The business had revenue of $594.69 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $598.25 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.41 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Stepan Company will post 3.55 earnings per share for the current year.

Stepan Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a dividend of $0.385 per share. This represents a $1.54 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Stepan's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 60.63%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently weighed in on SCL. Zacks Research cut shares of Stepan from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Stepan from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, August 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Stepan has an average rating of "Sell".

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.