Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) Sets New 1-Year High - Still a Buy?

Sensient Technologies Corporation (NYSE:SXT - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $109.09 and last traded at $108.14, with a volume of 489913 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $107.23.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on Sensient Technologies from $93.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, July 3rd. Wall Street Zen cut Sensient Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, March 22nd. Finally, CJS Securities began coverage on Sensient Technologies in a report on Tuesday, June 10th. They set a "market perform" rating and a $95.00 price target on the stock.

Sensient Technologies Stock Performance

The business's fifty day moving average is $97.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $82.08. The company has a quick ratio of 1.74, a current ratio of 4.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.61 billion, a PE ratio of 35.93 and a beta of 0.56.

Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, April 25th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.86 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.82 by $0.04. Sensient Technologies had a net margin of 8.19% and a return on equity of 12.14%. The firm had revenue of $392.33 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $387.70 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.73 earnings per share. Sensient Technologies's revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Sensient Technologies Corporation will post 3.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sensient Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, May 12th were issued a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 12th. Sensient Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 54.30%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Sensient Technologies

In related news, Director Mario Ferruzzi sold 1,668 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.45, for a total value of $159,210.60. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 7,946 shares in the company, valued at $758,445.70. This trade represents a 17.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Sensient Technologies

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. CWM LLC lifted its position in Sensient Technologies by 8.6% in the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,894 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $141,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Xponance Inc. lifted its position in Sensient Technologies by 5.0% in the first quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 3,169 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $236,000 after buying an additional 152 shares during the last quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Sensient Technologies by 4.8% in the fourth quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 4,408 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $314,000 after buying an additional 203 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in Sensient Technologies by 132.6% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 435 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 248 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. lifted its position in Sensient Technologies by 0.3% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 91,255 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $6,792,000 after buying an additional 282 shares during the last quarter. 90.86% of the stock is currently 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.