Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) Rating Increased to Buy at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Friday morning.

Sensient Technologies Trading Up 0.9 %

NYSE:SXT opened at $73.23 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $72.70 and a 200-day moving average of $75.28. Sensient Technologies has a 1 year low of $66.15 and a 1 year high of $82.99. The stock has a market cap of $3.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.91 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 3.55.

Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 14th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.01. Sensient Technologies had a return on equity of 11.93% and a net margin of 8.01%. The business had revenue of $376.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $375.10 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.51 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Sensient Technologies will post 3.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Sensient Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 4th were paid a dividend of $0.41 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.24%. Sensient Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 55.78%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC bought a new position in Sensient Technologies during the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings in shares of Sensient Technologies by 18,766.7% during the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 566 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 563 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of Sensient Technologies during the fourth quarter valued at $50,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Sensient Technologies during the fourth quarter valued at $65,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Sensient Technologies by 49.4% during the fourth quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 920 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.86% of the company’s stock.

About Sensient Technologies

Sensient Technologies Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets colors, flavors, and other specialty ingredients in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa. The company offers flavor-delivery systems, and compounded and blended products; ingredient products, such as essential oils, natural and synthetic flavors, and natural extracts; and chili powder, paprika, and chili pepper, as well as dehydrated vegetables comprising parsley, celery, and spinach to the food, beverage, and personal care industries.