Stepan Past Earnings Performance
Past criteria checks 0/6
Stepan's earnings have been declining at an average annual rate of -34.4%, while the Chemicals industry saw earnings declining at 4% annually. Revenues have been declining at an average rate of 0.7% per year.
Key information
-34.42%
Earnings growth rate
-34.32%
EPS growth rate
| Chemicals Industry Growth | 12.93% |
| Revenue growth rate | -0.69% |
| Return on equity | -1.19% |
| Net Margin | -0.61% |
| Last Earnings Update | 31 Mar 2026 |
Recent past performance updates
Recent updates
Narrative Update • Jun 04
SCL: Higher Margins And Revenue Outlook Will Support Long-Term Dividend Upside
Analysts have raised their price target for Stepan to $75.00, with the shift supported by updated assumptions for slightly lower discount rates, expectations of higher revenue, stronger profit margins, and a reduced future P/E multiple. What's in the News No recent company specific news items, periodical coverage, or key developments were provided for Stepan in the supplied sources.Narrative Update • Apr 28
SCL: Stable Margins And Buybacks Will Support Long-Term Dividend Upside
Analysts kept their fair value estimate steady at $75, with only marginal tweaks to the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E assumptions. This indicates a largely unchanged view of Stepan's longer term potential.Narrative Update • Apr 12
SCL: Stable Margins And Buyback Completion Will Support Long-Term Dividend Upside
Analysts have nudged their Stepan price target slightly higher to $75.00, with modest tweaks to the discount rate and P/E assumptions supporting this updated view. What's in the News For the three months ended December 31, 2025, Stepan Company reported unaudited goodwill impairment of $6,245,000, which directly affects reported earnings quality for that period (Key Developments).Seeking Alpha • Mar 28
Stepan Company: The Ride Higher Isn't Over Yet
Summary Stepan Company (SCL) is reaffirmed as a 'buy' due to compelling valuation and significant cost-saving initiatives. SCL's Project Catalyst targets $100M in pre-tax savings over two years, with 60% expected in the current year. Despite mixed profitability and cash flow, SCL remains attractively priced versus peers, especially on cash flow metrics. Even if cost savings underdeliver, current valuation provides downside protection and long-term upside potential. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaNarrative Update • Mar 28
SCL: Steady Fair Value And Margins Will Support Long-Term Dividend Upside
Analysts have maintained their Stepan fair value estimate at $75.00, making only small adjustments to the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E assumptions. This signals that their overall view on the stock’s longer-term potential remains largely unchanged.Narrative Update • Mar 14
SCL: Steady Fair Value And Margins Will Support Long-Term Dividend Upside
Analysts have modestly revised their price outlook for Stepan, keeping fair value around $75.00 while making small tweaks to the discount rate and projected P/E. This reflects updated assumptions about the risk profile and valuation multiples rather than a shift in the underlying growth or margin view.Narrative Update • Feb 27
SCL: Higher Future P/E Assumptions Will Support Long-Term Dividend Upside
Analysts have adjusted their Stepan price target to $75.00, with the change tied to updated views on discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and a higher assumed future P/E multiple. What's in the News Stepan Company reported an unaudited goodwill impairment of $6,245,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2025.Narrative Update • Feb 11
SCL: Refined Discount Rate Assumptions Will Support Long-Term Dividend Upside
Analysts have kept their Stepan price target steady at $75.00, citing only slight tweaks to assumptions like discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E that were not material enough to change their overall valuation view. Valuation Changes Fair Value: Steady at $75.00, indicating no change in the analysts' central valuation estimate.Analysis Article • Feb 04
Why Investors Shouldn't Be Surprised By Stepan Company's (NYSE:SCL) 26% Share Price Surge
Despite an already strong run, Stepan Company ( NYSE:SCL ) shares have been powering on, with a gain of 26% in the last...Narrative Update • Jan 27
SCL: Higher Discount Rate Will Set Up Attractive Long-Term Dividend Returns
Analysts now estimate Stepan's fair value at US$75.00, reduced from US$82.21. This change reflects updated assumptions regarding a higher discount rate, revised profit margin expectations, a slightly higher revenue growth outlook, and a lower future P/E multiple.Analysis Article • Jan 08
Stepan (NYSE:SCL) May Have Issues Allocating Its Capital
To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? Amongst other things...Analysis Article • Dec 12
Why Stepan Company (NYSE:SCL) Could Be Worth Watching
Stepan Company ( NYSE:SCL ), is not the largest company out there, but it saw a double-digit share price rise of over...Analysis Article • Nov 04
Stepan (NYSE:SCL) Will Pay A Larger Dividend Than Last Year At $0.395
Stepan Company's ( NYSE:SCL ) periodic dividend will be increasing on the 15th of December to $0.395, with investors...Analysis Article • Sep 04
Here's What's Concerning About Stepan's (NYSE:SCL) Returns On Capital
What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Firstly...Analysis Article • Jul 31
Is It Time To Consider Buying Stepan Company (NYSE:SCL)?
While Stepan Company ( NYSE:SCL ) might not have the largest market cap around , it received a lot of attention from a...Analysis Article • Jun 10
Earnings Tell The Story For Stepan Company (NYSE:SCL)
Stepan Company's ( NYSE:SCL ) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 22.5x might make it look like a sell right now...Analysis Article • May 02
Results: Stepan Company Exceeded Expectations And The Consensus Has Updated Its Estimates
A week ago, Stepan Company ( NYSE:SCL ) came out with a strong set of first-quarter numbers that could potentially lead...Seeking Alpha • Apr 20
Stepan Company's Plunge Offers Investors A Chance To Clean Up
Summary Markets are inefficient short-term, creating opportunities for logical, value-oriented investors; Stepan Company is now a ‘buy’ due to recent price drops and management's positive outlook. Despite a 6% revenue drop in 2024, Stepan Company improved net income and EBITDA, driven by cost-cutting measures and productivity improvements. Management is optimistic about 2025, expecting volume growth, margin improvement, and positive free cash flow, targeting high-margin, growth-oriented markets. Analysts forecast revenue and earnings growth for Q1 2025; shares are attractively priced compared to peers, justifying an upgrade to a ‘buy’ rating. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Apr 16
Should You Investigate Stepan Company (NYSE:SCL) At US$47.60?
While Stepan Company ( NYSE:SCL ) might not have the largest market cap around , it received a lot of attention from a...Seeking Alpha • Feb 04
Stepan Company: A 'Moderate Buy' Despite A High Valuation
Summary Stepan Company, a specialty chemicals manufacturer, excels in operational efficiency and dividend growth, making it a stable investment despite current valuations. Q3 FY24 financials show margin expansion and significant net income growth, despite a 3% revenue decline, highlighting fiscal discipline. Trading at a forward P/E of 17.3x for 2025, Stepan's stock has a potential 26% upside, making it a promising investment opportunity. I am an investment analyst with a focus on income generation. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Jan 18
Shareholders Should Be Pleased With Stepan Company's (NYSE:SCL) Price
With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 31.4x Stepan Company ( NYSE:SCL ) may be sending very bearish signals at...Analysis Article • Nov 26
These 4 Measures Indicate That Stepan (NYSE:SCL) Is Using Debt Extensively
The external fund manager backed by Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, Li Lu, makes no bones about it when he says...Analysis Article • Nov 02
Stepan's (NYSE:SCL) Upcoming Dividend Will Be Larger Than Last Year's
The board of Stepan Company ( NYSE:SCL ) has announced that the dividend on 13th of December will be increased to...Seeking Alpha • Oct 30
Stepan Company: Not A Great Performance, But Good Value
Summary Stepan Company, despite underperformance and volatility, has long-term upside due to its unique position in the specialty chemicals market, particularly surfactants. The company's fundamentals have improved with reduced CapEx and positive FCF, but current earnings and macro pressures persist. SCL's growth potential is tied to the surfactant segment and market diversification, though the timing of earnings recovery remains uncertain. I rate Stepan as a "Buy" with a $90 PT, but caution that there are superior investments in the chemicals sector with better returns. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
New Narrative • Sep 24
Calculated Supply Chain And Market Expansion Drive Robust Growth And Margin Improvement
Operational cost reductions and workforce productivity improvements aim to positively impact net margins.Analysis Article • Aug 30
Some Investors May Be Worried About Stepan's (NYSE:SCL) Returns On Capital
If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven...Analysis Article • Aug 17
Stepan (NYSE:SCL) Takes On Some Risk With Its Use Of Debt
Some say volatility, rather than debt, is the best way to think about risk as an investor, but Warren Buffett famously...Revenue & Expenses Breakdown
Revenue & Expenses Breakdown
How Stepan makes and spends money. Based on latest reported earnings, on an LTM basis.
Earnings and Revenue History
| Date | Revenue | Earnings | G+A Expenses | R&D Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 26 | 2,343 | -14 | 143 | 60 |
| 31 Dec 25 | 2,332 | 47 | 142 | 59 |
| 30 Sep 25 | 2,304 | 45 | 142 | 57 |
| 30 Jun 25 | 2,260 | 58 | 145 | 57 |
| 31 Mar 25 | 2,222 | 56 | 142 | 56 |
| 31 Dec 24 | 2,180 | 50 | 145 | 56 |
| 30 Sep 24 | 2,187 | 46 | 153 | 57 |
| 30 Jun 24 | 2,202 | 35 | 147 | 58 |
| 31 Mar 24 | 2,226 | 38 | 144 | 58 |
| 31 Dec 23 | 2,326 | 40 | 146 | 59 |
| 30 Sep 23 | 2,421 | 52 | 142 | 60 |
| 30 Jun 23 | 2,578 | 79 | 157 | 63 |
| 31 Mar 23 | 2,749 | 118 | 159 | 65 |
| 31 Dec 22 | 2,773 | 147 | 151 | 67 |
| 30 Sep 22 | 2,756 | 153 | 155 | 67 |
| 30 Jun 22 | 2,640 | 151 | 144 | 66 |
| 31 Mar 22 | 2,484 | 142 | 148 | 64 |
| 31 Dec 21 | 2,346 | 138 | 159 | 63 |
| 30 Sep 21 | 2,231 | 151 | 163 | 62 |
| 30 Jun 21 | 2,092 | 147 | 168 | 61 |
| 31 Mar 21 | 1,958 | 140 | 168 | 59 |
| 31 Dec 20 | 1,870 | 127 | 154 | 58 |
| 30 Sep 20 | 1,820 | 118 | 146 | 56 |
| 30 Jun 20 | 1,807 | 111 | 142 | 56 |
| 31 Mar 20 | 1,820 | 106 | 139 | 55 |
| 31 Dec 19 | 1,859 | 103 | 155 | 55 |
| 30 Sep 19 | 1,880 | 105 | 141 | 53 |
| 30 Jun 19 | 1,937 | 101 | 146 | 54 |
| 31 Mar 19 | 1,984 | 104 | 139 | 54 |
| 31 Dec 18 | 1,994 | 111 | 134 | 54 |
| 30 Sep 18 | 2,001 | 97 | 143 | 55 |
| 30 Jun 18 | 1,981 | 97 | 134 | 53 |
| 31 Mar 18 | 1,956 | 92 | 140 | 54 |
| 31 Dec 17 | 1,925 | 101 | 136 | 54 |
| 30 Sep 17 | 1,872 | 90 | 139 | 54 |
| 30 Jun 17 | 1,829 | 90 | 147 | 56 |
| 31 Mar 17 | 1,789 | 90 | 146 | 56 |
| 31 Dec 16 | 1,766 | 86 | 150 | 56 |
| 30 Sep 16 | 1,765 | 91 | 151 | 56 |
| 30 Jun 16 | 1,764 | 94 | 137 | 54 |
| 31 Mar 16 | 1,762 | 83 | 141 | 52 |
| 31 Dec 15 | 1,776 | 76 | 138 | 50 |
| 30 Sep 15 | 1,811 | 69 | 123 | 47 |
| 30 Jun 15 | 1,859 | 58 | 129 | 46 |
Quality Earnings: SCL is currently unprofitable.
Growing Profit Margin: SCL is currently unprofitable.
Free Cash Flow vs Earnings Analysis
Past Earnings Growth Analysis
Earnings Trend: SCL is unprofitable, and losses have increased over the past 5 years at a rate of 34.4% per year.
Accelerating Growth: Unable to compare SCL's earnings growth over the past year to its 5-year average as it is currently unprofitable
Earnings vs Industry: SCL is unprofitable, making it difficult to compare its past year earnings growth to the Chemicals industry (0.1%).
Return on Equity
High ROE: SCL has a negative Return on Equity (-1.19%), as it is currently unprofitable.
Return on Assets
Return on Capital Employed
Discover strong past performing companies
Company Analysis and Financial Data Status
| Data | Last Updated (UTC time) |
|---|---|
| Company Analysis | 2026/06/16 21:24 |
| End of Day Share Price | 2026/06/16 00:00 |
| Earnings | 2026/03/31 |
| Annual Earnings | 2025/12/31 |
Data Sources
The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.
| Package | Data | Timeframe | Example US Source * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Financials | 10 years |
| |
| Analyst Consensus Estimates | +3 years |
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| Market Prices | 30 years |
| |
| Ownership | 10 years |
| |
| Management | 10 years |
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| Key Developments | 10 years |
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* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.
Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.
Analysis Model and Snowflake
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Industry and Sector Metrics
Our industry and section metrics are calculated every 6 hours by Simply Wall St, details of our process are available on Github.
Analyst Sources
Stepan Company is covered by 4 analysts. 2 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.
| Analyst | Institution |
|---|---|
| Michael Harrison | Seaport Research Partners |
| Daniel Rizzo | Sidoti & Company, LLC |
| Vincent Anderson | Stifel, Equities Research |