Stepan Co
Stepan Company manufactures and markets specialty chemicals, primarily surfactants and polymers, for industrial and consumer applications.
Business. Stepan Company manufactures and markets specialty chemicals, primarily surfactants and polymers, for industrial and consumer applications.
At a glance
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- Company
- EarningsQ3 2026 earnings (expected)2026-10-28 · estimated
- Macro
- Rate decisionBank of England rate decision (press conf.)2026-08-06 · GB
- Rate decisionReserve Bank of Australia rate decision (press conf.)2026-08-12 · AU
- Rate decisionNorges Bank rate decision (press conf.)2026-08-20 · NO
- Rate decisionSveriges Riksbank rate decision (press conf.)2026-09-03 · SE
- Rate decisionBank of Canada rate decision (press conf.)2026-09-09 · CA
- Rate decisionEuropean Central Bank rate decision (press conf.)2026-09-10 · EU
- Macro & political
- ElectionSE Swedish Election2026-09-14 · SE
- ElectionUS U.S. Midterms2026-11-03 · US
- ElectionFR French Legislative2027-06-01 · FR
Pre-earnings brief
Signals & dispatch
Composite-score breakdown
Synthesis
Stepan Company manufactures and markets specialty chemicals, primarily surfactants and polymers, for industrial and consumer applications.
Stepan Company maintains a conservative capital structure with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.26. Total debt stands at $651.7 million, comprising $328.4 million in long-term debt and $323.3 million in short-term obligations, against total equity of $1.19 billion. The company holds $140.8 million in cash and equivalents, resulting in a negative net cash position. Operating cash flow for Q1 2026 was $16.9 million, while free cash flow was negative $14.0 million due to $30.9 million in capital expenditures.
Profitability metrics indicate operational pressure, with a return on equity of 3.93% and return on assets of 2.01%. The company reported a net loss of $41.4 million on revenue of $604.5 million, driven by an operating loss of $49.6 million. Gross profit was $64.9 million, yielding a gross margin of approximately 10.7%. The valuation snapshot shows a P/E ratio of 25.09 and an EV/EBITDA of 8.25, reflecting the market's pricing of current earnings volatility.
Revenue generation is diversified across segments including Surfactants, Polymers, and Specialty Products, with geographic exposure spanning North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The filing observations reference specific reporting units such as the European Polymers Reporting Unit and Colombia Reporting Unit, indicating a global operational footprint. Competition is based on product performance, price, technical assistance, and capacity availability.
Growth trajectory analysis is limited by the absence of historical period data in the input. The Q1 2026 revenue of $604.5 million serves as the baseline for current performance assessment. Without prior period comparisons, year-over-year growth rates cannot be calculated from the provided data.
Risk factors include medium liquidity risk and unknown dilution risk due to missing basic and diluted share count assessments. Key flags highlight negative net cash and the inability to assess dilution risk. The company faces operational risks including raw material cost volatility, supply disruptions, and compliance with environmental and safety regulations.
Recent events include a significant stock price movement on July 29, 2026, with a 15.07% single-day gain to $66.75 on volume 4.33 times the 20-day average. Filing observations note $62.4 million in restructuring costs during Q1 2026, including asset impairment charges at the Fieldsboro, New Jersey ($43.0 million), Elwood, Illinois ($14.3 million), and Stalybridge, U.K. ($5.1 million) sites. Analyst consensus shows a mean price target of $75.00 with a mean recommendation of 2.00 (Buy).
- Q1 2026 net loss of $41.4 million driven by $62.4 million in restructuring and impairment charges.
- Conservative balance sheet with 0.55 debt-to-equity ratio but negative free cash flow of $14.0 million.
- Significant stock price appreciation of 15.07% on July 29, 2026, with volume 4.33x average.
- Analyst consensus targets $75.00, implying upside from the $51.40 market price in the valuation snapshot.
- Operational risks include raw material volatility and global supply chain disruptions.
- Dilution risk remains unassessed due to missing share count data in the risk assessment.
Bull / Bear case
Generated · model-assistedIn focus — financials by report
Revenue $604.5M; Operating income -$49.6M.
- ▍Revenue $604.5M
- ▍Operating income -$49.6M
- ▍Net margin -6.8%
Revenue $1.78B; Operating income $68.0M.
- ▍Revenue $1.78B
- ▍Operating income $68.0M
- ▍Net margin 2.4%
Revenue $1.19B; Operating income $46.3M.
- ▍Revenue $1.19B
- ▍Operating income $46.3M
- ▍Net margin 2.6%
Revenue $2.33B; Operating income $78.5M.
- ▍Revenue $2.33B
- ▍Operating income $78.5M
- ▍Net margin 2.0%
Revenue $2.18B; Operating income $70.5M.
- ▍Revenue $2.18B
- ▍Operating income $70.5M
- ▍Net margin 2.3%
Revenue $2.18B; Operating income $70.5M.
- ▍Revenue $2.18B
- ▍Operating income $70.5M
- ▍Net margin 2.3%
Revenue $2.33B; Operating income $58.6M.
- ▍Revenue $2.33B
- ▍Operating income $58.6M
- ▍Net margin 1.7%
Revenue $2.33B; Operating income $58.6M.
- ▍Revenue $2.33B
- ▍Operating income $58.6M
- ▍Net margin 1.7%
Valuation FY
Revenue by segment
Business relationships
Supply chain
Peer comparison
Market position
Stress test
Predictor forecast
Options
Short squeeze
Earnings-call key lines
Consensus distribution
sell-side coverageEstimate revisions
consensus EPS · 26-week trendSell-side observations
Themes
ESG
Risk factors
- Net cash is negative after subtracting total debt.
Benchmarks vs cohort
Corporate actions / M&A
FX exposure
Comparable transactions
Derivatives & instruments
Derivative transactions
- VP and GM Surfactants-INT · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsDisposed 90exercise · 2026-05-11
- EVP, Supply Chain · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsDisposed 550exercise · 2026-05-01
- VP and GM Surfactants NA · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsAcquired 2 621grant · 2026-04-13
- VP and GM Surfactants-INT · Stock Appreciation Right → Common StockAcquired 4 030 @ $52,46grant · 2026-04-13
- VP and GM Surfactants-INT · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsAcquired 2 859grant · 2026-04-13
- VP and GM Surfactants-INT · Performance Shares → Common StockAcquired 1 429grant · 2026-04-13
- VP and GM Surfactants NA · Performance Shares → Common StockAcquired 1 310grant · 2026-04-13
- VP and GM Surfactants NA · Stock Appreciation Right → Common StockAcquired 3 694 @ $52,46grant · 2026-04-13
- Director, President & CEO · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsDisposed 857exercise · 2026-03-04
- V.P. and Gen'l. Mgr., Polymers · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsDisposed 429exercise · 2026-03-04
- EVP, Supply Chain · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsDisposed 571exercise · 2026-03-04
- VP & GM Surfactants · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsDisposed 571exercise · 2026-03-04
- VP & GM Surfactants · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsDisposed 1 670exercise · 2026-03-03
- Director, President & CEO · Restricted Stock Units → Common StockDisposed 4 455exercise · 2026-03-03
- EVP, Supply Chain · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsDisposed 1 670exercise · 2026-03-03
- V.P. and Gen'l. Mgr., Polymers · Restricted Stock Units → Common StockDisposed 1 253exercise · 2026-03-03
- Director, President & CEO · Stock Appreciation Right → Common StockAcquired 57 241 @ $17,47grant · 2026-03-02
- VP GC & Secretary · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsAcquired 4 495grant · 2026-03-02
- VP GC & Secretary · Performance Shares → Common StockAcquired 2 247grant · 2026-03-02
- VP GC & Secretary · Stock Appreciation Right → Common StockAcquired 6 440 @ $17,47grant · 2026-03-02
- VP & CHRO · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsAcquired 4 495grant · 2026-03-02
- VP & CHRO · Performance Shares → Common StockAcquired 2 247grant · 2026-03-02
- VP & CHRO · Stock Appreciation Right → Common StockAcquired 6 440 @ $17,47grant · 2026-03-02
- EVP, Supply Chain · Restricted Stock Units → Restricted Stock UnitsAcquired 5 993grant · 2026-03-02
- EVP, Supply Chain · Performance Shares → Common StockAcquired 2 996grant · 2026-03-02
Actions
Ask Handelsavisen
- Market data
- Regulatory filings
- Issuer disclosures
- Public news
- Earnings transcripts
- Consensus estimates
- ESG data
- Reference data
- Cash Conversion Ratiooperating_cash_flow / net_income
- Market Priceinput from market-data provider (delayed close or quote-shim mid)
- Ev To Revenueenterprise_value / revenue
- Net Cashcash_and_equivalents + short_term_investments - short_term_debt - long_term_debt
- Return On Equitynet_income / total_equity
- Market Capmarket_price * shares_outstanding_diluted
- STEPAN CO company facts · 2026-08-01
- STEPAN CO 10-Q 2026-05-06 · 2026-08-01
- STEPAN CO 10-K 2026-02-26 · 2026-08-01
- STEPAN CO 10-Q 2025-11-05 · 2026-08-01
- STEPAN CO 10-Q 2025-08-06 · 2026-08-01
- ha_price_move fired on SCL · 2026-08-01
- Stepan Co Market data — analyst estimates · 2026-08-01
- Stepan Co Market data — ESG · 2026-08-01
Ownership & reference
Top holders
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,02 %$37M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,01 %$56M
- Investment Managers · as of 2024-06-300,01 %$281M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,01 %$12M
- Institutional Investor · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$20M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$23M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$5M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$5M
- Investment Managers · as of 2025-12-310,00 %$122M
- Investment Managers · as of 2024-12-310,00 %$6M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$13M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$26M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$12M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$45M
- Funds · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$9M
- Institutional Investor · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$6M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$15M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$4M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$1M
- Institutional Investor · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$0M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$0M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$0M
- Brokerage Firms · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$0M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$0M
- Investment Managers · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$0M
- Institutional Investor · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$0M
- Institutional Investor · as of 2026-03-310,00 %$0M
Insider activity
- VP and GM Surfactants-INT · Common StockOther 90 @ $52,58$5K · 2026-05-11
- VP and GM Surfactants-INT · Common StockOther 50 @ $52,58$3K · 2026-05-11
- Director · Common StockOther 2 566 @ $52,61$135K · 2026-05-08
- Director · Common StockOther 2 566 @ $52,61$135K · 2026-05-08
- Director · Common StockOther 2 566 @ $52,61$135K · 2026-05-08
- Director · Common StockOther 2 566 @ $52,61$135K · 2026-05-08
- Director · Common StockOther 2 566 @ $52,61$135K · 2026-05-08
- Director · Common StockOther 2 566 @ $52,61$135K · 2026-05-08
- Director · Common StockOther 2 566 @ $52,61$135K · 2026-05-08
- EVP, Supply Chain · Common StockOther 550 @ $50,33$28K · 2026-05-01
- EVP, Supply Chain · Common StockOther 162 @ $50,33$8K · 2026-05-01
- V.P. and Gen'l. Mgr., Polymers · Common StockOther 149 @ $49,62$7K · 2026-03-04
- V.P. and Gen'l. Mgr., Polymers · Common StockOther 429 @ $49,62$21K · 2026-03-04
- Director, President & CEO · Common StockOther 857 @ $49,62$43K · 2026-03-04
- Director, President & CEO · Common StockOther 252 @ $49,62$13K · 2026-03-04
- EVP, Supply Chain · Common StockOther 571 @ $49,62$28K · 2026-03-04
- EVP, Supply Chain · Common StockOther 168 @ $49,62$8K · 2026-03-04
- VP & GM Surfactants · Common StockOther 166 @ $49,62$8K · 2026-03-04
- VP & GM Surfactants · Common StockOther 571 @ $49,62$28K · 2026-03-04
- EVP, Supply Chain · Common StockOther 1 670 @ $48,98$82K · 2026-03-03
- EVP, Supply Chain · Common StockOther 490 @ $48,98$24K · 2026-03-03
- VP & GM Surfactants · Common StockOther 570 @ $48,98$28K · 2026-03-03
- VP & GM Surfactants · Common StockOther 1 670 @ $48,98$82K · 2026-03-03
- V.P. and Gen'l. Mgr., Polymers · Common StockOther 434 @ $48,98$21K · 2026-03-03
- V.P. and Gen'l. Mgr., Polymers · Common StockOther 1 253 @ $48,98$61K · 2026-03-03
Short positioning
Geographic breakdown
Intel & risk
Evidence & claims
From filings & derived data- Net income (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): -6.9%Derived (calculated)
- Operating income (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): 11.4%Derived (calculated)
- Long-term debt (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): 0.2%Derived (calculated)
- Shareholders' equity (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): 6.3%Derived (calculated)
- Revenue (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): 7.0%Derived (calculated)
- Gross profit (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): -0.9%Derived (calculated)
- EPS (diluted) (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): -6.8%Derived (calculated)
- EPS (basic) (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): -7.2%Derived (calculated)
- Cost of revenue (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): 8.1%Derived (calculated)
- R&D expense (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): 3.7%Derived (calculated)
- Cash & equivalents (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): 33.1%Derived (calculated)
- Capex (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): -0.2%Derived (calculated)
- Return on assets (FY 2025-12-31): 2.0%Derived (calculated)
- Current ratio (FY 2025-12-31): 1.29xDerived (calculated)
- Operating cash flow (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): -8.7%Derived (calculated)
- Total assets (YoY) (2025-12-31 vs 2024-12-31): 2.3%Derived (calculated)
- Net margin (FY 2025-12-31): 2.0%Derived (calculated)
- Gross margin (FY 2025-12-31): 11.6%Derived (calculated)
- Return on equity (FY 2025-12-31): 3.8%Derived (calculated)
- Cost of revenue (annual): USD 2.06BSEC XBRL filing
- R&D expense (annual): USD 34.8MSEC XBRL filing
- Revenue (annual): USD 2.33BSEC XBRL filing
- EPS (diluted) (annual): USD-PER-SHARES 2SEC XBRL filing
- Net income (annual): USD 46.9MSEC XBRL filing