F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., Board Member at Stepan (NYSE:SCL), reported an insider buy on May 14, according to a new SEC filing.
What Happened: Jr. made a significant move by purchasing 1,396 shares of Stepan as reported in a Form 4 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The transaction’s total worth stands at $124,983.
Stepan’s shares are actively trading at $87.89, experiencing a down of 0.0% during Wednesday’s morning session.
Delving into Stepan’s Background
Stepan Co manufactures and sells a variety of chemicals and chemical-based products. The company organizes itself into three segments based on product type. The surfactants segment, which generates the majority of revenue, sells cleaning agents used in detergents, shampoos, body wash, fabric softeners, toothpastes, and other personal-care products. Surfactants are chemical agents that affect the interaction between two surfaces. The polymers segment sells polyurethane used to manufacture rigid foam for thermal insulation, as well as phthalic anhydride used to make plastic components for the construction, automotive, and boating industries. The specialty products segment sells chemicals used in food and flavoring. Majority of Stepan’s revenue comes from the United States.
Breaking Down Stepan’s Financial Performance
Decline in Revenue: Over the 3 months period, Stepan faced challenges, resulting in a decline of approximately -15.35% in revenue growth as of 31 March, 2024. This signifies a reduction in the company’s top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Materials sector.
Evaluating Earnings Performance:
Gross Margin: The company faces challenges with a low gross margin of 12.75%, suggesting potential difficulties in cost control and profitability compared to its peers.
Earnings per Share (EPS): Stepan’s EPS is below the industry average, signaling challenges in bottom-line performance with a current EPS of 0.61.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, Stepan adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
Market Valuation:
Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: Stepan’s stock is currently priced at a premium level, as reflected in…
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