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 as principal ingredients 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. Its surfactants are also used in various applications, including emulsifiers for spreading agricultural products; and industrial applications comprising latex systems, plastics, and composites. The Polymers segment provides polyurethane polyols that are used in the manufacture of rigid foam for thermal insulation in the construction industry, as well as a base raw material for coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers (CASE); polyester resins, including liquid and powdered products, which are used in CASE applications; and phthalic anhydride that is used in unsaturated polyester resins, alkyd resins, and plasticizers for applications in construction materials, as well as components of automotive, boating, and other consumer products. The Specialty Products segment offers flavors, emulsifiers, and solubilizers for use in food, flavoring, nutritional supplement, and pharmaceutical applications. Stepan Company was founded in 1932 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois.

Stepan Company

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 2, 2025 – Zacks Value Investor is a podcast hosted weekly by Zacks Stock Strategist Tracey Ryniec. Every week, Tracey will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life. To listen to the podcast, click here: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2745162/chemical-stocks-plunge-values-or-traps
Chemical Stocks Plunge: Values or Traps?
Welcome to Episode #416 of the Value Investor Podcast.
(1:00) - Can You Find Strong Value Investments Within The Chemical Industry?
(7:30) - Tracey’s Top Stock Picks
(25:00) - Episode Roundup: EMN, DOW, SCL, JMPLY
Every week, Tracey Ryniec, the editor of Zacks Value Investor portfolio, shares some of her top value investing tips and stock picks.
The chemical industry stocks have been struggling as earnings estimates have been cut.
The Chemical – Diversified industry is in the bottom 4% of Zacks Rank Industries. It ranks 234 out of 245 industries.
Why is it ranked so low?
When this podcast was recorded on Aug 27, 2025, there were 28 companies in the industry. Out of those, there were no Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buys). There was only one #2 (Buy) stock. It’s featured on the podcast.
There were thirteen #3 (Hold) stocks, four #4 (Sells) and eleven #5 (Strong Sell) stocks.
The number of Strong Sell stocks in this industry reflects that the problems are industry wide. It has been an industry wide slowdown for the last 4 years.
When these companies say “challenging macroeconomic environment”, they mean it. And now they are also dealing with tariffs.
There is a lot of uncertainty.
Definition of a Value Stock Compared to a Trap
It can look attractive to buy a stock that has sold off. Some of the chemical companies are trading at 5-year lows.
A value stock is usually defined as one that is trading with low valuations in price-to-earnings, price-to-sales, or PEG ratios.
But those aren’t the only factors. To avoid the trap, look at the earnings. Are they declining? Or growing?
Value investors should be buying rising earnings. They, too, want growth. A trap will have declining earnings.
3 Chemical Stocks Trading Near 5-Year Lows: Values or Traps?
1. Eastman Chemical Co. (EMN)
Eastman Chemical has a market cap of $7.8 billion. It operates 16 manufacturing facilities globally and makes chemicals, plastics and fibers. Shares are down 25.3% year-to-date and are at 5-year lows.
Eastman Chemical has a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 11.2. A P/E ratio under 15 usually indicates value. It also pays a dividend, currently yielding 4.9%.
Eastman Chemical is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Is Eastman Chemical a value or a trap?
2. Dow Inc. DOW
Dow has a market cap of $17.5 billion. It operates 91 manufacturing sites in 30 countries. Shares of Dow are down 39% year-to-date.
It does not have a P/E as earnings are expected to be a loss of $0.83. Dow recently cut its dividend 50% but it still yields 5.7%. It has paid a dividend every year since 1912.
Dow is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Is Dow a value or a trap?
3. Stepan Co. SCL
Stepan has a market cap of just $1.2 billion. It’s a specialty chemicals company with Surfactants and Polymers. Shares of Stepan are down 22.3% year-to-date.
It trades with a forward P/E of 24. Stepan also pays a dividend, which is yielding 3%. It has raised its dividend every year for 57 years.
Stepan is also a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Is Stepan a value or a trap?
Bonus Stock on the Podcast: A Zacks #2 (Buy) Stock
Find out which are values, and which are traps, on this week’s podcast and see the top ranked bonus stock too.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Zacks Value Investor Highlights: Eastman Chemical, Dow and Stepan

(1:00) - Can You Find Strong Value Investments Within The Chemical Industry?
(7:30) - Tracey’s Top Stock Picks
(25:00) - Episode Roundup: EMN, DOW, SCL, JMPLY
Welcome to Episode #416 of the Value Investor Podcast.
Every week, Tracey Ryniec, the editor of Zacks Value Investor portfolio, shares some of her top value investing tips and stock picks.
The chemical industry stocks have been struggling as earnings estimates have been cut.
The Chemical – Diversified industry is in the bottom 4% of Zacks Rank Industries. It ranks 234 out of 245 industries.
Why is it ranked so low?
When this podcast was recorded on Aug 27, 2025, there were 28 companies in the industry. Out of those, there were no Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buys). There was only one #2 (Buy) stock. It’s featured on the podcast.
There were thirteen #3 (Hold) stocks, four #4 (Sells) and eleven #5 (Strong Sell) stocks.
The number of Strong Sell stocks in this industry reflects that the problems are industry wide. It has been an industry wide slowdown for the last 4 years.
When these companies say “challenging macroeconomic environment”, they mean it. And now they are also dealing with tariffs.
There is a lot of uncertainty.
Definition of a Value Stock Compared to a Trap
It can look attractive to buy a stock that has sold off. Some of the chemical companies are trading at 5-year lows.
A value stock is usually defined as one that is trading with low valuations in price-to-earnings, price-to-sales, or PEG ratios.
But those aren’t the only factors. To avoid the trap, look at the earnings. Are they declining? Or growing?
Value investors should be buying rising earnings. They, too, want growth. A trap will have declining earnings.
3 Chemical Stocks Trading Near 5-Year Lows: Values or Traps?
1. Eastman Chemical Co. (EMN)
Eastman Chemical has a market cap of $7.8 billion. It operates 16 manufacturing facilities globally and makes chemicals, plastics and fibers. Shares are down 25.3% year-to-date and are at 5-year lows.
Eastman Chemical has a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 11.2. A P/E ratio under 15 usually indicates value. It also pays a dividend, currently yielding 4.9%.
Eastman Chemical is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Is Eastman Chemical a value or a trap?
2. Dow Inc. (DOW)
Dow has a market cap of $17.5 billion. It operates 91 manufacturing sites in 30 countries. Shares of Dow are down 39% year-to-date.
It does not have a P/E as earnings are expected to be a loss of $0.83. Dow recently cut its dividend 50% but it still yields 5.7%. It has paid a dividend every year since 1912.
Dow is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Is Dow a value or a trap?
3. Stepan Co. (SCL)
Stepan has a market cap of just $1.2 billion. It’s a specialty chemicals company with Surfactants and Polymers. Shares of Stepan are down 22.3% year-to-date.
It trades with a forward P/E of 24. Stepan also pays a dividend, which is yielding 3%. It has raised its dividend every year for 57 years.
Stepan is also a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Is Stepan a value or a trap?
Bonus Stock on the Podcast: A Zacks #2 (Buy) Stock
Find out which are values, and which are traps, on this week’s podcast and see the top ranked bonus stock too.
Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor Stock
This under-the-radar company specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. And it's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.
With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028.
See This Stock Now for Free >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Chemical Stocks Plunge: Values or Traps?

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – August 15, 2025 – Zacks Equity Research shares nLight LASR as the Bull of the Day and Stepan SCL as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Chipotle Mexican Grill CMG, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. LOCO and Shake Shack Inc. SHAK.
Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:
nLight is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) that has an F for Value and an A for Growth. The company not only has a very memorable ticker symbol, it aso provider high power semiconductor and fiber laser. The company recently posted a strong quarter and this could lead to a major breakout. Let's learn more about why this stock is the Bull of the Day.
Description
nLIGHT, Inc. engages in the provision of semiconductor and fiber lasers for aerospace and defense, industrial, and microfabrication applications. It operates through the Laser Products and Advanced Development segments. The Laser Products segment designs, manufactures, and sells a range of semiconductor lasers and fiber lasers that are typically integrated into laser systems or manufacturing tools built by customers.
The Advanced Development segment focuses on research, design, and prototyping of next-generation laser technologies, leveraging expertise in laser technology, development, beam control, and advanced optics. The company was founded by Scott H. Keeney, Mark DeVito, and Jason Farmer in June 2000 and is headquartered in Camas, WA.
Earnings History
When I look at a stock, the first thing I do is look to see if the company is beating the number. This tells me right away where the market's expectations have been for the company and how management has communicated to the market. A stock that consistently beats has management communicating expectations to Wall Street that can be achieved. That is what you want to see.
NLighthas posted two consecutive beats of the Zacks Consensus Estimate as well as one miss and one meet. The takeaway from the earnings history is that the company has an average positive earnings surprise of 50% over the last year.
The most recent earnings print saw the company post $0.06 when the consensus was at -$0.09. That 15 cent beat translates into a positive earnings surprise of 166%.
Earnings Estimates Revisions
Earnings estimate revisions is what the Zacks Rank is all about.
Estimates are moving higher for NLight.
The full year 2025 has increased from a loss of $0.28 to a loss of $0.16 over the last 60 days.
2026 has increased from a loss of $0.21 to a loss of $0.10 over the same time period.
There is good growth projected for NLight. This fiscal year analysts are expecting $234M in revenue which would be good for 18% topline growth.
Next fiscal year, the consensus is calling for $245M and that would be good for 4.6%.
Valuation
There is no forward PE for NLight is still losing money despite the surprise profitability the company posted in the most recent quarter. The price to book is low at 6.3x and that certainly has room to grow based on its peer group average. Price to sales comes in at 6.3x.
Margins have increased from -28.1% to -24.4% and most recently at -14.7% and investors are patiently awaiting those numbers to become positive. The problem is, when the operating margins do turn positive this stock is likely to be much in price.
Stepan is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) after the company recently posted a miss and the stock has sold off as a result. This article will look at why this stock is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) as it is the Bear of the Day.
Description
Stepan Company is a major manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in a broad range of industries. Stepan is a leading producer of surfactants, which are the key ingredients in consumer and industrial cleaning compounds. The Company is also a leading supplier of polyurethane polyols used in the expanding thermal insulation market and C.A.S.E. (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, and Elastomers) industries..
Earnings History
When I look at a stock, the first thing I do is look to see if the company is beating the number. This tells me right away where the market's expectations have been for the company and how management has communicated to the market. A stock that consistently beats has management communicating expectations to Wall Street that can be achieved. That is what you want to see.
In the case Stepan I see the company has beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters that Zacks has data for and missed on two as well. This alone does not make the stock a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and it doesn't make it a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) either.
The Zacks Rank does care about the earnings history, but it is much more heavily influenced by the movement of earnings estimates.
The most recent quarter saw the company report EPS of $0.52 when the consensus was calling for $0.92. That 40 cent miss translates into a negative earnings surprise of 43.5%.
Earnings Estimates
The Zacks Rank tells us which stocks are seeing earnings estimates move higher or in this case lower. For Stepan I see annual estimates for next year moving lower of late.
The current fiscal year consensus number has held still at $3.33 over the last 60 days.
The next year has moved from $4.43 to $4.01 over the last 60 days.
Negative movement in earnings estimates like that is why this stock is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
It should be noted that a lot of stocks in the Zacks universe are seeing negative earnings estimate revisions. That means that the stocks that are seeing small but negative earnings estimate revisions are falling to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Additional content:
Can Chipotle's New Menu Innovations Revive Comp Momentum?
Chipotle Mexican Grill is betting big on menu innovation to reignite comparable sales growth after a sluggish start to 2025. In the second quarter of 2025, the company's comps fell 4% despite a 3% revenue increase, as softer consumer sentiment and heightened value-seeking behavior weighed on traffic. Management, however, sees recent product launches and marketing efforts as catalysts to regain momentum.
The standout performer has been Chipotle Honey Chicken, which appeared in one out of every four orders during its run and generated strong customer feedback. Another key addition is Adobo Ranch, the brand's first new dip in five years, which has shown early success in boosting add-on sales. These limited-time offers (LTOs) are complemented by a broader strategy to expand sides and dips, a category management views as incremental to transactions and profitability.
Chipotle's "Summer of Extras" rewards program also played a role, engaging 5 million participants and lifting frequency among lower-visit customers. The company plans to carry forward these learnings into the fall with another targeted rewards campaign, alongside additional LTOs.
Management remains confident that a higher cadence of innovation, combined with operational enhancements like new high-efficiency kitchen equipment, will help return comps to mid-single-digit growth in the near term. While macroeconomic headwinds remain, Chipotle's approach of pairing craveable new flavors with a clear value proposition could strengthen brand relevance and encourage repeat visits.
If these initiatives sustain recent transaction gains into the second half, CMG's sales trajectory could see a meaningful rebound, validating its strategy to keep the menu fresh while staying true to the core.
Competitive Pressures in the Fast-Casual Arena
Chipotle's menu innovation drive unfolds in a competitive landscape where other publicly traded fast-casual players are stepping up their game. El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., while specializing in fire-grilled chicken, has been leaning on flavor-forward limited-time offerings and value meals to appeal to cost-conscious diners. Its focus on fresh ingredients and customizable bowls directly targets a similar health-minded demographic.
Another notable rival is Shake Shack Inc.. Though burger-focused, its frequent seasonal launches, such as limited-edition shakes and globally inspired sandwiches, mirror Chipotle's strategy of using novelty to boost traffic. The chain's loyalty initiatives and digital ordering enhancements also compete for the same convenience-seeking consumer base.
With competitors deploying aggressive promotional calendars, CMG's challenge is to ensure that its new menu items not only generate buzz but also translate into sustainable comp sales growth.
CMG's Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Chipotle's shares have lost 23.8% in the past six months compared with the industry's decline of 9.8%.
From a valuation standpoint, CMG trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 4.46X, up from the industry's average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMG's 2025 and 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year uptick of 8% and 17.5%, respectively.
Chipotle currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
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Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor Stock
This under-the-radar company specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. And it's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.
With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028.
See This Stock Now for Free >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

nLight and Stepan have been highlighted as Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day

(RTTNews) - The Stephan Co. (SPCO), Monday announced the appointment of Ruben Velasquez as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the company, effective July 15.
He will succeed Samuel Hinrichsen, who is presently serving as Vice President and Interim Chief Financial Officer.
Most recently, Velasquez served as Vice President Global Finance Transformation at 3M Company.
Friday, SPCO closed at $0.9, down 10 percent on the OTC Markets.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stephan Co. Appoints Ruben Velasquez As CFO

The following are today's upgrades for Validea's Price/Sales Investor model based on the published strategy of Kenneth Fisher. This value strategy rewards stocks with low P/S ratios, long-term profit growth, strong free cash flow and consistent profit margins.
STEPAN CO (SCL) is a small-cap growth stock in the Chemical Manufacturing industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Kenneth Fisher changed from 50% to 80% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Stepan Company is a manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in a range of industries. Its segment includes Surfactants, Polymers and Specialty Products. Surfactants are used in various consumer and industrial cleaning and disinfection products, such as detergents for washing clothes, dishes, floors and walls. Its other applications include fabric softeners, germicidal quaternary compounds, disinfectants, lubricating ingredients, emulsifiers for spreading agricultural products and industrial applications, such as latex systems, plastics and composites. Polymers include polyurethane polyols, polyester resins and phthalic anhydride. Polyurethane polyols are used in the manufacture of rigid foam for thermal insulation in the construction industry and are also a base raw material for coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers. Specialty Products include flavors, emulsifiers and solubilizers used in food, flavoring, nutritional supplements and pharmaceutical applications.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
Detailed Analysis of STEPAN CO
SCL Guru Analysis
SCL Fundamental Analysis
Kenneth Fisher Portfolio
About Kenneth Fisher: The son of Philip Fisher, who is considered the "Father of Growth Investing", Kenneth Fisher is a money manager, bestselling author, and longtime Forbes columnist. The younger Fisher wowed Wall Street in the mid-1980s when his book Super Stocks first popularized the idea of using the price/sales ratio (PSR) as a means of identifying attractive stocks. According to his alma mater, Humboldt State University, Fisher is also one of the world's foremost experts on 19th century logging. Appropriately, Fisher's firm, Fisher Investments, is located in a lush forest preserve in Woodside, California, where the contrarian-minded Fisher says he and his employees can get away from Wall Street groupthink.
About Validea: Validea is aninvestment researchservice that follows the published strategies of investment legends. Validea offers both stock analysis and model portfolios based on gurus who have outperformed the market over the long-term, including Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch and Martin Zweig. For more information about Validea, click here
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Validea Kenneth Fisher Strategy Daily Upgrade Report - 5/1/2025

In this video, I'll discuss the five cheapest dividend kings to buy now. To come up with the list, I used astock screenerto find stocks with a 14-Day RSI and buy-rated analyst ratings. You'll learn how the process works, and why I liked each company. And should you watch this video in the future, you'll quickly learn how to find quality, oversold stocks.
Stock prices used were the market prices of March 4, 2025. The video was published on March 7, 2025.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

5 Oversold Dividend Kings To Buy Before They Soar

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 3/3/25, Corteva Inc (Symbol: CTVA), Ball Corp (Symbol: BALL), and Stepan Co. (Symbol: SCL) will all trade ex-dividend for their respective upcoming dividends. Corteva Inc will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.17 on 3/17/25, Ball Corp will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.20 on 3/17/25, and Stepan Co. will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.385 on 3/14/25. As a percentage of CTVA's recent stock price of $62.80, this dividend works out to approximately 0.27%, so look for shares of Corteva Inc to trade 0.27% lower — all else being equal — when CTVA shares open for trading on 3/3/25. Similarly, investors should look for BALL to open 0.38% lower in price and for SCL to open 0.62% lower, all else being equal.
Below are dividend history charts for CTVA, BALL, and SCL, showing historical dividends prior to the most recent ones declared.
Corteva Inc (Symbol: CTVA):
Ball Corp (Symbol: BALL):
Stepan Co. (Symbol: SCL):
In general, dividends are not always predictable, following the ups and downs of company profits over time. Therefore, a good first due diligence step in forming an expectation of annual yield going forward, is looking at the history above, for a sense of stability over time. This can help in judging whether the most recent dividends from these companies are likely to continue. If they do continue, the current estimated yields on annualized basis would be 1.08% for Corteva Inc, 1.54% for Ball Corp, and 2.48% for Stepan Co..
Free Report: Top 8%+ Dividends (paid monthly)
In Thursday trading, Corteva Inc shares are currently off about 0.3%, Ball Corp shares are up about 0.8%, and Stepan Co. shares are down about 1.9% on the day.
Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen »
Also see:
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CBFV Dividend Growth Rate
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Ex-Dividend Reminder: Corteva, Ball and Stepan

Albemarle (ALB) came out with a quarterly loss of $1.09 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.49. This compares to earnings of $1.85 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -122.45%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this specialty chemicals company would post a loss of $0.31 per share when it actually produced a loss of $1.55, delivering a surprise of -400%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has not been able to surpass consensus EPS estimates.
Albemarle, which belongs to the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry, posted revenues of $1.23 billion for the quarter ended December 2024, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.08%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.36 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Albemarle shares have lost about 12.1% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 3.2%.
What's Next for Albemarle?
While Albemarle has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Albemarle: mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is -$0.34 on $1.28 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.44 on $5.32 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Chemical - Diversified is currently in the bottom 11% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, Stepan Co. (SCL), has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2024. The results are expected to be released on February 19.
This specialty chemicals company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.35 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +6.1%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 20% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.
Stepan Co.'s revenues are expected to be $512.55 million, down 3.7% from the year-ago quarter.
Should You Invest in Albemarle Corporation (ALB)?
Before you invest in Albemarle Corporation (ALB), want to know the best stocks to buy for the next 30 days? Check out Zacks Investment Research for our free report on the 7 best stocks to buy.
Zacks Investment Research has been committed to providing investors with tools and independent research since 1978. For more than a quarter century, the Zacks Rank stock-rating system has more than doubled the S&P 500 with an average gain of +24.08% per year. (These returns cover a period from January 1, 1988 through May 6, 2024.)
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Albemarle (ALB) Reports Q4 Loss, Misses Revenue Estimates

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 11/29/24, DuPont (Symbol: DD), Ashland Inc (Symbol: ASH), and Stepan Co. (Symbol: SCL) will all trade ex-dividend for their respective upcoming dividends. DuPont will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.38 on 12/16/24, Ashland Inc will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.405 on 12/15/24, and Stepan Co. will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.385 on 12/13/24. As a percentage of DD's recent stock price of $83.84, this dividend works out to approximately 0.45%, so look for shares of DuPont to trade 0.45% lower — all else being equal — when DD shares open for trading on 11/29/24. Similarly, investors should look for ASH to open 0.52% lower in price and for SCL to open 0.51% lower, all else being equal.
Below are dividend history charts for DD, ASH, and SCL, showing historical dividends prior to the most recent ones declared.
DuPont (Symbol: DD):
Ashland Inc (Symbol: ASH):
Stepan Co. (Symbol: SCL):
In general, dividends are not always predictable, following the ups and downs of company profits over time. Therefore, a good first due diligence step in forming an expectation of annual yield going forward, is looking at the history above, for a sense of stability over time. This can help in judging whether the most recent dividends from these companies are likely to continue. If they do continue, the current estimated yields on annualized basis would be 1.81% for DuPont, 2.08% for Ashland Inc, and 2.03% for Stepan Co..
In Wednesday trading, DuPont shares are currently down about 0.7%, Ashland Inc shares are down about 2.3%, and Stepan Co. shares are off about 2.3% on the day.
Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen »
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Ex-Dividend Reminder: DuPont, Ashland and Stepan

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. For the iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF (Symbol: IJS), we found that the implied analyst target price for the ETF based upon its underlying holdings is $122.57 per unit.
With IJS trading at a recent price near $111.90 per unit, that means that analysts see 9.54% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. Three of IJS's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Encore Capital Group Inc (Symbol: ECPG), Stepan Co. (Symbol: SCL), and Standard Motor Products, Inc. (Symbol: SMP). Although ECPG has traded at a recent price of $47.60/share, the average analyst target is 30.78% higher at $62.25/share. Similarly, SCL has 28.73% upside from the recent share price of $75.35 if the average analyst target price of $97.00/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting SMP to reach a target price of $40.50/share, which is 28.25% above the recent price of $31.58. Below is a twelve month price history chart comparing the stock performance of ECPG, SCL, and SMP:
Below is a summary table of the current analyst target prices discussed above:
Name
Symbol
Recent Price
Avg. Analyst 12-Mo. Target
% Upside to Target
iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF
IJS
$111.90
$122.57
9.54%
Encore Capital Group Inc
ECPG
$47.60
$62.25
30.78%
Stepan Co.
SCL
$75.35
$97.00
28.73%
Standard Motor Products, Inc.
SMP
$31.58
$40.50
28.25%
Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments? A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past. These are questions that require further investor research.
10 ETFs With Most Upside To Analyst Targets »
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MKL Average Annual Return
ANEN Historical Stock Prices
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding VETS
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.