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Stepan Company (SCL)

Basic Materials | Specialty Chemicals | Northbrook, United States | NYSE
56.80 USD +0.23 (0.407%) ⇧ (July 13, 2026, 4 p.m. EDT)
Short-term:★★⯪☆☆Long-term:★☆☆☆☆Dividends:★★⯪☆☆
Hot Take ↕ | July 11, 2026, 4:48 a.m. EDT

The investment case for Stepan Company is currently fractured by a severe disconnect between its recent price performance and its underlying business reality. While the stock has rallied roughly 26% recently, the multi-year price trajectory tells a starkly different story: the asset has suffered four consecutive years of negative annual returns, culminating in a massive -32% drop last year. This persistent decline suggests the market has thoroughly repriced the company's fundamentals, which are further confirmed by negative earnings per share (-$0.62) and negative return on equity (-1.2%). The balance sheet is also strained, with debt significantly exceeding equity. Despite these red flags, the company maintains a dividend yield of 2.8%, but this payout is precarious given the negative earnings and a high payout ratio relative to cash flow generation. It appears to be a yield being funded by capital erosion rather than robust profitability. On the short end, the recent price bounce has created a temporary technical relief, but the overwhelming options activity—specifically the heavy put open interest—signals that traders are betting on further weakness rather than continuation of the rally. The statistical forecast offers no meaningful directional edge, confirming the noise in the recent price action. Until the multi-year decline reverses and profitability is restored, the risk-reward profile remains skewed against the buyer.
Model Selection — Backtest MAE (log-scale, lower is better)
ModelMAE
MSTL ✓0.031759
AutoETS0.032759
AutoARIMA0.032779
MSTL_1260.037971
AutoTheta0.040782
MSTL_790.043237
MSTL_79_1260.064689

Forecast horizon: 60 days | Selected: MSTL

Forecast Reliability
Score 43%
H-stat 3.73
Ljung-Box p 0.000
Jarque-Bera p 0.322
Excess Kurtosis -0.64
Attribute Value
Sector Basic Materials
Ex Dividend Date 2026-05-31
Last Dividend Date 2026-05-31
Debt to Equity Ratio 59.771
Revenue per Share 102.432
Market Cap 1,290,116,736
Forward P/E 14.51
Beta 0.95
Profit Margins -0.61%
Website https://www.stepan.com

As of July 11, 2026, 4:48 a.m. EDT: Speculators are overwhelmingly positioning for downside protection rather than upside participation. Put open interest dominates across all expirations, with significant concentration at strikes below the current price (40, 45, 50). Call activity is sparse and heavily weighted toward out-of-the-money strikes, indicating a lack of aggressive bullish bets despite the recent price recovery.

Dividend Data

Yield Summary
Last Yield 1yr Yield 3yr Avg 5yr Avg
0.75% 3.17% 2.42% 1.96%
Dividend History
Date Dividend Yield %
2026-06-01 0.39500 0.750095
2026-03-02 0.39500 0.782023
2025-11-28 0.39500 0.871388
2025-08-29 0.38500 0.769538
2025-05-30 0.38500 0.709155
2025-03-03 0.38500 0.663793
2024-11-29 0.38500 0.500650
2024-08-30 0.37500 0.483061
2024-05-31 0.37500 0.430194
2024-02-29 0.37500 0.420404
2023-11-29 0.37500 0.452789
2023-08-30 0.36500 0.415434
2023-05-30 0.36500 0.391421
2023-03-02 0.36500 0.348982
2022-11-29 0.36500 0.335725
2022-08-30 0.33500 0.317115
2022-05-27 0.33500 0.299481
2022-03-03 0.33500 0.323203
2021-11-29 0.33500 0.286447
2021-08-30 0.30500 0.262772
2021-05-27 0.30500 0.226665
2021-03-04 0.30500 0.253575
2020-11-27 0.30500 0.256066
2020-08-28 0.27500 0.236031
2020-05-28 0.27500 0.277386
2020-03-04 0.27500 0.298913
2019-11-27 0.27500 0.277302
2019-08-29 0.25000 0.261424
2019-05-30 0.25000 0.292056
2019-03-01 0.25000 0.265055
2018-11-29 0.25000 0.310984
2018-08-30 0.22500 0.253922
2018-05-30 0.22500 0.306707
2018-03-02 0.22500 0.274692
2017-11-29 0.22500 0.268496
2017-08-29 0.20500 0.267554
2017-05-26 0.20500 0.238483
2017-03-01 0.20500 0.258675
2016-11-28 0.20500 0.259461
2016-08-29 0.19000 0.270117
2016-05-26 0.19000 0.323625
2016-03-02 0.19000 0.368288
2015-11-25 0.19000 0.365244
2015-08-27 0.18000 0.401965
2015-05-27 0.18000 0.358923
2015-02-25 0.18000 0.443459
2014-11-25 0.18000 0.424929
2014-08-27 0.17000 0.353725
2014-05-28 0.17000 0.316161
2014-02-26 0.17000 0.283333
2013-11-26 0.17000 0.271479
2013-08-28 0.16000 0.280899
2013-05-29 0.16000 0.291545
2013-02-26 0.16000 0.259909
2012-11-28 0.16000 0.324873
2012-08-29 0.14000 0.287711
2012-05-29 0.14000 0.304116
2012-02-27 0.14000 0.322915
2011-11-28 0.14000 0.372192
2011-08-29 0.13000 0.343597
2011-05-25 0.13000 0.405237
2011-02-24 0.13000 0.371058
2010-11-26 0.13000 0.359911
2010-08-27 0.12000 0.430493
2010-05-26 0.12000 0.342612
2010-02-24 0.12000 0.488301
2009-11-25 0.12000 0.372613
2009-08-27 0.11000 0.425039
2009-05-27 0.11000 0.537634
2009-02-25 0.11000 0.833333
2008-11-25 0.11000 0.579252
2008-08-27 0.10500 0.355993
2008-05-28 0.10500 0.525131
2008-02-27 0.10500 0.603448
2007-11-28 0.10500 0.661834
2007-08-29 0.10250 0.679708
2007-05-29 0.10250 0.676344
2007-02-26 0.10250 0.719046
2006-11-28 0.10250 0.685848
2006-08-29 0.10000 0.680504
2006-05-26 0.10000 0.637349
2006-02-24 0.10000 0.727273
2005-11-28 0.10000 0.782779
2005-08-29 0.09750 0.779688
2005-05-26 0.09750 0.937500
2005-02-24 0.09750 0.808793
2004-11-26 0.09750 0.770751
2004-08-27 0.09650 0.835498
2004-05-26 0.09650 0.780744
2004-02-25 0.09650 0.773547
2003-11-25 0.09650 0.768924
2003-08-27 0.09500 0.820734
2003-05-28 0.09500 0.758483
2003-02-26 0.09500 0.782859
2002-11-26 0.09500 0.745390
2002-08-28 0.09150 0.659459
2002-05-29 0.09150 0.678029
2002-02-26 0.09150 0.746939
2001-11-28 0.09150 0.778723
2001-08-29 0.08750 0.752688
2001-05-29 0.08750 0.727651
2001-02-26 0.08750 0.776053
2000-11-28 0.08750 0.851064
2000-08-29 0.08150 0.780838
2000-05-26 0.08150 0.740909
2000-02-25 0.08150 0.815000
1999-11-26 0.08150 0.693617
1999-08-27 0.07500 0.609137
1999-05-26 0.07500 0.616967
1999-02-24 0.07500 0.621762
1998-11-25 0.07500 0.530973
1998-08-26 0.06900 0.501818
1998-05-27 0.06900 0.441600
1998-02-25 0.06900 0.495067
1997-11-25 0.06900 0.506422
1997-08-27 0.06250 0.523560
1997-05-28 0.06250 0.641026
1997-02-26 0.06250 0.625000
1996-11-26 0.06250 0.680272
1996-08-28 0.05900 0.669504
1996-05-29 0.05900 0.601274
1996-02-28 0.05900 0.629333
1995-11-29 0.05900 0.743307
1995-08-30 0.05500 0.666667
1995-05-24 0.05500 0.586667
1995-02-24 0.05500 0.611111
1994-11-25 0.05500 0.733333
1994-08-26 0.05250 0.631579
1994-05-25 0.05250 0.781395
1994-02-23 0.05250 0.669323
1993-11-23 0.05250 0.811594
1993-08-26 0.05000 0.625000
1993-05-24 0.05000 0.583942
1993-02-23 0.05000 0.563380
1992-11-20 0.05000 0.647773
1992-08-24 0.04500 0.498270
1992-05-22 0.04500 0.458599
1992-02-24 0.04500 0.525547
1991-11-22 0.04500 0.709360
1991-08-26 0.04000 0.688172
1991-05-24 0.04000 0.646465
1991-02-25 0.04000 0.544681
1990-11-26 0.04000 0.744186
1990-08-27 0.03500 0.651163
1990-05-24 0.03500 0.700000
1990-02-23 0.03500 0.823529
1989-11-27 0.03500 0.767123
1989-08-28 0.03250 0.662420
1989-05-24 0.03250 0.577778
1989-02-23 0.03250 0.456140
1988-11-25 0.03250 0.550265
1988-08-29 0.02875 0.502732
1988-05-24 0.02875 0.508287
1988-02-24 0.02875 0.571429
1987-11-24 0.02875 0.571429
1987-08-27 0.02500 0.408163
1987-05-21 0.02500 0.506329
1987-02-24 0.02500 0.555556
Additional Data
dividendRate 1.58
dividendYield 2.78
exDividendDate 2026-06-01
trailingAnnualDividendRate 1.56
trailingAnnualDividendYield 0.027576454
lastDividendValue 0.395
lastDividendDate 2026-06-01
dividendDate 2026-06-15

Info Dump

Attribute Value
52 Week Change 0.004065752
Address1 1,101 Skokie Boulevard
Address2 Suite 500
All Time High 139.3
All Time Low 0.640625
Ask 90.88
Ask Size 200
Audit Risk 4
Average Daily Volume10 Day 124,210
Average Daily Volume3 Month 147,827
Average Volume 147,827
Average Volume10Days 124,210
Beta 0.953
Bid 56.03
Bid Size 100
Board Risk 4
Book Value 52.53
City Northbrook
Compensation As Of Epoch Date 1,767,139,200
Compensation Risk 2
Country United States
Crypto Tradeable 0
Currency USD
Current Price 56.8
Current Ratio 1.258
Custom Price Alert Confidence HIGH
Date Short Interest 1,782,777,600
Day High 57.555
Day Low 56.272
Debt To Equity 59.771
Dividend Date 1,781,481,600
Dividend Rate 1.58
Dividend Yield 2.78
Earnings Call Timestamp End 1,785,355,200
Earnings Call Timestamp Start 1,785,355,200
Earnings Timestamp 1,785,328,200
Earnings Timestamp End 1,785,328,200
Earnings Timestamp Start 1,785,328,200
Ebitda 185,876,992
Ebitda Margins 0.07932
Enterprise To Ebitda 10.02
Enterprise To Revenue 0.795
Enterprise Value 1,862,423,808
Eps Current Year 2.535
Eps Forward 3.915
Eps Trailing Twelve Months -0.62
Esg Populated 0
Ex Dividend Date 1,780,272,000
Exchange NYQ
Exchange Data Delayed By 0
Exchange Timezone Name America/New_York
Exchange Timezone Short Name EDT
Fax 847 501 2100
Fifty Day Average 53.11
Fifty Day Average Change 3.6899986
Fifty Day Average Change Percent 0.069478415
Fifty Two Week Change Percent 0.4065752
Fifty Two Week High 68.0
Fifty Two Week High Change -11.200001
Fifty Two Week High Change Percent -0.16470589
Fifty Two Week Low 41.82
Fifty Two Week Low Change 14.98
Fifty Two Week Low Change Percent 0.3582018
Fifty Two Week Range 41.82 - 68.0
Financial Currency USD
First Trade Date Milliseconds 99,153,000,000
Five Year Avg Dividend Yield 1.9
Float Shares 21,431,156
Forward Eps 3.915
Forward P E 14.508302
Free Cashflow 44,433,124
Full Exchange Name NYSE
Full Time Employees 2,328
Gmt Off Set Milliseconds -14,400,000
Governance Epoch Date 1,782,864,000
Gross Margins 0.110640004
Gross Profits 259,276,000
Has Pre Post Market Data 1
Held Percent Insiders 0.05796
Held Percent Institutions 0.87612
Implied Shares Outstanding 22,713,323
Industry Specialty Chemicals
Industry Disp Specialty Chemicals
Industry Key specialty-chemicals
Ir Website http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=118345&p=irol-irhome
Is Earnings Date Estimate 0
Language en-US
Last Dividend Date 1,780,272,000
Last Dividend Value 0.395
Last Fiscal Year End 1,767,139,200
Last Split Date 1,355,702,400
Last Split Factor 2:1
Long Business Summary Stepan Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells specialty and intermediate chemicals to other manufacturers for use in various end products in the United States, France, Poland, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Surfactants, Polymers, and Specialty Products. The Surfactants segment offers surfactants that are used in consumer and industrial cleaning and disinfection products, including detergents for washing clothes, dishes, carpets, and floors and walls, as well as shampoos and body washes; and other applications, such as fabric softeners, germicidal quaternary compounds, disinfectants, lubricating ingredients; emulsifiers for spreading agricultural products; and industrial applications comprising latex systems, plastics, and composites. The Polymers segment provides polyurethane polyols that are used in the manufacture of rigid foam for thermal insulation in the construction industry, as well as a base raw material for coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers (CASE); polyester resins used in coating applications; specialty polyols, such as CASE and powdered polyester resins; and phthalic anhydride that is used in unsaturated polyester resins, alkyd resins, and plasticizers for applications in construction materials, as well as components of automotive, boating, and other consumer products. The Specialty Products segment offers flavors, emulsifiers, and solubilizers for use in food, flavoring, nutritional supplement, and pharmaceutical applications. Stepan Company was founded in 1932 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois.
Long Name Stepan Company
Market us_market
Market Cap 1,290,116,736
Market State PRE
Max Age 86,400
Message Board Id finmb_305102
Most Recent Quarter 1,774,915,200
Net Income To Common -14,222,000
Next Fiscal Year End 1,798,675,200
Non Diluted Market Cap 1,290,116,746
Number Of Analyst Opinions 1
Open 56.83
Operating Cashflow 157,874,000
Operating Margins 0.02622
Overall Risk 2
Payout Ratio 0.7561
Peg Ratio 1.75
Phone 847 446 7500
Pre Market Change 0.030002594
Pre Market Change Percent 0.05282147
Pre Market Price 56.83
Pre Market Time 1,784,032,223
Previous Close 56.57
Price Eps Current Year 22.406311
Price Hint 2
Price To Book 1.0812869
Price To Sales Trailing12 Months 0.55053955
Profit Margins -0.00607
Quick Ratio 0.797
Quote Source Name Delayed Quote
Quote Type EQUITY
Recommendation Key none
Region US
Regular Market Change 0.23
Regular Market Change Percent 0.406575
Regular Market Day High 57.555
Regular Market Day Low 56.272
Regular Market Day Range 56.272 - 57.555
Regular Market Open 56.83
Regular Market Previous Close 56.57
Regular Market Price 56.8
Regular Market Time 1,783,972,803
Regular Market Volume 85,541
Return On Assets 0.0148599995
Return On Equity -0.011879999
Revenue Growth 0.019
Revenue Per Share 102.432
Sand P52 Week Change 0.20365608
Sector Basic Materials
Sector Disp Basic Materials
Sector Key basic-materials
Share Holder Rights Risk 2
Shares Outstanding 22,713,323
Shares Percent Shares Out 0.028299998
Shares Short 642,857
Shares Short Previous Month Date 1,780,012,800
Shares Short Prior Month 454,733
Short Name Stepan Company
Short Percent Of Float 0.040999997
Short Ratio 3.93
Source Interval 15
State IL
Symbol SCL
Target High Price 75.0
Target Low Price 75.0
Target Mean Price 75.0
Target Median Price 75.0
Total Cash 140,775,008
Total Cash Per Share 6.198
Total Debt 713,081,984
Total Revenue 2,343,367,936
Tradeable 0
Trailing Annual Dividend Rate 1.56
Trailing Annual Dividend Yield 0.027576454
Trailing Eps -0.62
Trailing Peg Ratio None
Triggerable 1
Two Hundred Day Average 50.54175
Two Hundred Day Average Change 6.2582474
Two Hundred Day Average Change Percent 0.123823315
Type Disp Equity
Volume 85,541
Website https://www.stepan.com
Zip 60,062