International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF) received an upgrade from Wall Street Zen, moving from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating, as detailed in a recent research report. This shift reflects a growing confidence in the company’s stock, which has seen mixed evaluations from various investment firms in recent months.
Recent Analyst Ratings and Price Targets
Other brokerages have also provided updates on International Flavors & Fragrances. On September 29, BNP Paribas lowered its target price from $92.00 to $91.00. Following this, on October 14, Bank of America reduced its price objective from $84.00 to $80.00, while maintaining a “buy” rating. Meanwhile, Wolfe Research upgraded the company from an “underperform” rating to “peer perform” on September 8. In contrast, Argus decreased its target from $85.00 to $70.00, also retaining a “buy” rating. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d-)” rating in a report dated December 29.
Overall, twelve analysts have issued a “buy” rating for the stock, while four recommend holding and two suggest selling. According to MarketBeat, the consensus rating for International Flavors & Fragrances is currently “Moderate Buy” with a consensus price target set at $85.02.
Stock Performance and Financial Overview
On Friday, shares of IFF opened at $67.97. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $65.79 and a 200-day moving average of $67.29. Over the past year, the stock has fluctuated between a low of $59.14 and a high of $88.09. The company holds a market capitalization of $17.41 billion and reports a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33.
In its most recent earnings report released on November 4, International Flavors & Fragrances reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.05, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.02 by $0.03. Despite this positive performance, the company experienced a negative net margin of 3.72% and a return on equity of 8.03%. Revenue for the quarter reached $2.69 billion, slightly above analyst expectations of $2.65 billion, though it marked a 7.9% decline compared to the previous year.
Analysts predict that International Flavors & Fragrances will achieve an EPS of $4.32 for the current fiscal year, indicating cautious optimism regarding its future performance.
Institutional Interest in International Flavors & Fragrances
Recent trading activity shows significant interest from institutional investors and hedge funds. For example, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in the company by 32.2% during the second quarter, now holding 111,431 shares valued at approximately $8.37 million after acquiring an additional 27,166 shares. Similarly, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA raised its holdings by 23.0%, owning 131,645 shares worth around $9.68 million.
Other notable transactions include Clarkston Capital Partners LLC, which acquired a new position valued at about $11.94 million, and Exchange Traded Concepts LLC, which expanded its position by an impressive 1,831.2%, now holding 16,338 shares worth approximately $1.20 million.
Currently, institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 96.02% of the company’s stock, indicating strong institutional confidence in International Flavors & Fragrances.
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. is recognized globally for its expertise in creating flavors, fragrances, cosmetic actives, and nutritional lipids. The company serves diverse markets, including food and beverage, personal care, household goods, and pharmaceuticals. Its extensive research and development network spans North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, where multidisciplinary teams innovate in aroma chemistry, sensory science, and biotechnology.
