Stepan Competitors

Stepan (NYSE:SCL) and The Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability and dividends.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

74.9% of Stepan shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 76.5% of The Sherwin-Williams shares are held by institutional investors. 6.2% of Stepan shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.6% of The Sherwin-Williams shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Stepan and The Sherwin-Williams, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Stepan presently has a consensus price target of $130.00, suggesting a potential downside of 5.28%. The Sherwin-Williams has a consensus price target of $309.9412, suggesting a potential upside of 8.34%. Given The Sherwin-Williams' stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe The Sherwin-Williams is more favorable than Stepan.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Stepan and The Sherwin-Williams' gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

The Sherwin-Williams has higher revenue and earnings than Stepan. The Sherwin-Williams is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Stepan, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

Stepan has a beta of 0.74, suggesting that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, The Sherwin-Williams has a beta of 1.01, suggesting that its stock price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

Stepan pays an annual dividend of $1.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. The Sherwin-Williams pays an annual dividend of $2.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.8%. Stepan pays out 23.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. The Sherwin-Williams pays out 10.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Stepan has raised its dividend for 26 consecutive years. Stepan is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Profitability

This table compares Stepan and The Sherwin-Williams' net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Summary

The Sherwin-Williams beats Stepan on 13 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

Stepan (NYSE:SCL) and Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, profitability, dividends, risk, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations.

Dividends

Stepan pays an annual dividend of $1.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Ecolab pays an annual dividend of $1.92 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Stepan pays out 23.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Ecolab pays out 33.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Stepan has increased its dividend for 26 consecutive years and Ecolab has increased its dividend for 36 consecutive years. Stepan is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Risk & Volatility

Stepan has a beta of 0.74, suggesting that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ecolab has a beta of 1.01, suggesting that its stock price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

74.9% of Stepan shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 73.6% of Ecolab shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.2% of Stepan shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 1.2% of Ecolab shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Stepan and Ecolab, as provided by MarketBeat.

Stepan currently has a consensus target price of $130.00, indicating a potential downside of 5.28%. Ecolab has a consensus target price of $228.70, indicating a potential upside of 2.07%. Given Ecolab's higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Ecolab is more favorable than Stepan.

Profitability

This table compares Stepan and Ecolab's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Stepan and Ecolab's revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Ecolab has higher revenue and earnings than Stepan. Stepan is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ecolab, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Ecolab beats Stepan on 9 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF) and Stepan (NYSE:SCL) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, risk, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends and analyst recommendations.

Dividends

International Flavors & Fragrances pays an annual dividend of $3.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Stepan pays an annual dividend of $1.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. International Flavors & Fragrances pays out 49.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Stepan pays out 23.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. International Flavors & Fragrances has raised its dividend for 11 consecutive years and Stepan has raised its dividend for 26 consecutive years.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

94.4% of International Flavors & Fragrances shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 74.9% of Stepan shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of International Flavors & Fragrances shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.2% of Stepan shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares International Flavors & Fragrances and Stepan's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for International Flavors & Fragrances and Stepan, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

International Flavors & Fragrances presently has a consensus target price of $147.5385, indicating a potential upside of 4.48%. Stepan has a consensus target price of $130.00, indicating a potential downside of 5.28%. Given International Flavors & Fragrances' stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe International Flavors & Fragrances is more favorable than Stepan.

Volatility & Risk

International Flavors & Fragrances has a beta of 0.97, indicating that its share price is 3% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Stepan has a beta of 0.74, indicating that its share price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares International Flavors & Fragrances and Stepan's revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

International Flavors & Fragrances has higher revenue and earnings than Stepan. International Flavors & Fragrances is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Stepan, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

International Flavors & Fragrances beats Stepan on 12 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

Stepan (NYSE:SCL) and Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends and analyst recommendations.

Dividends

Stepan pays an annual dividend of $1.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Albemarle pays an annual dividend of $1.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. Stepan pays out 23.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Albemarle pays out 25.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Stepan has raised its dividend for 26 consecutive years and Albemarle has raised its dividend for 27 consecutive years. Albemarle is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

74.9% of Stepan shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 86.4% of Albemarle shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.2% of Stepan shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of Albemarle shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Stepan and Albemarle's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Stepan and Albemarle, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Stepan currently has a consensus target price of $130.00, indicating a potential downside of 5.28%. Albemarle has a consensus target price of $142.1429, indicating a potential downside of 13.23%. Given Stepan's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Stepan is more favorable than Albemarle.

Volatility and Risk

Stepan has a beta of 0.74, indicating that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Albemarle has a beta of 1.59, indicating that its stock price is 59% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Stepan and Albemarle's revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Albemarle has higher revenue and earnings than Stepan. Stepan is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Albemarle, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Albemarle beats Stepan on 11 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

Stepan (NYSE:SCL) and Celanese (NYSE:CE) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends and analyst recommendations.

Profitability

This table compares Stepan and Celanese's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Dividends

Stepan pays an annual dividend of $1.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Celanese pays an annual dividend of $2.72 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.6%. Stepan pays out 23.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Celanese pays out 28.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Stepan has raised its dividend for 26 consecutive years and Celanese has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Stepan and Celanese's revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Celanese has higher revenue and earnings than Stepan. Celanese is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Stepan, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

74.9% of Stepan shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 97.5% of Celanese shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.2% of Stepan shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Celanese shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Stepan and Celanese, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Stepan currently has a consensus target price of $130.00, indicating a potential downside of 5.28%. Celanese has a consensus target price of $156.6667, indicating a potential downside of 6.29%. Given Stepan's higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Stepan is more favorable than Celanese.

Volatility and Risk

Stepan has a beta of 0.74, indicating that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Celanese has a beta of 1.21, indicating that its stock price is 21% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Celanese beats Stepan on 13 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

RPM International (NYSE:RPM) and Stepan (NYSE:SCL) are both construction companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations and risk.

Dividends

RPM International pays an annual dividend of $1.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.6%. Stepan pays an annual dividend of $1.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. RPM International pays out 49.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Stepan pays out 23.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. RPM International has raised its dividend for 19 consecutive years and Stepan has raised its dividend for 26 consecutive years.

Profitability

This table compares RPM International and Stepan's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares RPM International and Stepan's top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

RPM International has higher revenue and earnings than Stepan. Stepan is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than RPM International, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

74.7% of RPM International shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 74.9% of Stepan shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.6% of RPM International shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 6.2% of Stepan shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Volatility and Risk

RPM International has a beta of 1.01, suggesting that its stock price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Stepan has a beta of 0.74, suggesting that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for RPM International and Stepan, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

RPM International presently has a consensus price target of $96.8750, suggesting a potential downside of 0.11%. Stepan has a consensus price target of $130.00, suggesting a potential downside of 5.28%. Given RPM International's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe RPM International is more favorable than Stepan.

Summary

RPM International beats Stepan on 12 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.