Stepan Company (NYSE:SCL), is not the largest company out there, but it saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$114 and falling to the lows of US$89.24. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Stepan's current trading price of US$92.20 reflective of the actual value of the mid-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at Stepan’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.
Check out our latest analysis for Stepan
What Is Stepan Worth?
Good news, investors! Stepan is still a bargain right now. According to my valuation, the intrinsic value for the stock is $128.03, which is above what the market is valuing the company at the moment. This indicates a potential opportunity to buy low. Stepan’s share price also seems relatively stable compared to the rest of the market, as indicated by its low beta. If you believe the share price should eventually reach its true value, a low beta could suggest it is unlikely to rapidly do so anytime soon, and once it’s there, it may be hard to fall back down into an attractive buying range.
What kind of growth will Stepan generate?
Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let’s also take a look at the company's future expectations. Though in the case of Stepan, it is expected to deliver a negative earnings growth of -2.8%, which doesn’t help build up its investment thesis. It appears that risk of future uncertainty is high, at least in the near term.
What This Means For You
Are you a shareholder? Although SCL is currently undervalued, the negative outlook does bring on some uncertainty, which equates to higher risk. Consider whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to SCL, or whether diversifying into another stock may be a better move for your total risk and return.
Are you a potential investor? If you’ve been keeping tabs on SCL for some time, but hesitant on making the leap, I recommend you research further into the stock. Given its current undervaluation, now is a great time to make a decision. But keep in mind the risks that come with negative growth prospects in the future.
In light of this, if you'd like to do more analysis on the company, it's vital to be informed of the risks involved. You'd be interested to know, that we found 2 warning signs for Stepan and you'll want to know about these.
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
About NYSE:SCL
Stepan
Produces and sells specialty and intermediate chemicals to other manufacturers for use in various end products worldwide.
Adequate balance sheet average dividend payer.