Argus raised the firm’s price target on IFF (IFF) to $80 from $70 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm has a favorable view of the company’s innovative products and global reach, as well as their broad-based product applications across different markets, and while the company’s growth trajectory has been flattened by geopolitical developments and high raw material costs, Argus expects earnings to turnaround in the next few quarters, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Claim 50% Off ...

International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF) is one of the best Materials stocks to invest in according to Hedge Funds. Lauren Lieberman from Barclays reaffirmed her bullish view on International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF). She assigned a Buy rating on January 16 and also raised her target price estimate from $75 to $78. At the prevailing level, it now leads to a double-digit upside potential of over 10%. Best Beauty Stocks To Buy Now Sorbis/Shutterstock.com Lieberman attributed recent interest i ...

Core Viewpoint - International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) is facing challenges with a projected decline in earnings per share (EPS) for fiscal Q4 2025, despite having exceeded earnings expectations in the past four quarters [2][6]. Financial Performance - IFF is expected to report an EPS of $0.84 for fiscal Q4 2025, a 13.4% decline from $0.97 in the same quarter last year [2]. - For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast an EPS of $4.28, slightly down from $4.31 in fiscal 2024, but anticipate a growth of 6.1% year-over-year to $4.54 in fiscal 2026 [3]. Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, IFF's shares have decreased by 15.9%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's return of 16.7% and the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF's gains of 12.5% [4]. - The stock's decline is attributed to concerns over slow turnaround progress and operational challenges, including lower demand and high raw material costs [5]. Revenue Insights - In Q3 2025, IFF reported revenue of approximately $2.7 billion, reflecting an 8% decrease from the prior-year quarter [6]. Analyst Sentiment - The consensus view among analysts is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Out of 20 analysts, 12 recommend a "Strong Buy," 2 suggest a "Moderate Buy," and 6 advise a "Hold" [7]. - The average analyst price target for IFF is $81.02, indicating an upside potential of 14.4% [7].

Always on the hunt for undervalued, promising stocks with a focus on risk and reward. Limited risks and decent to high upside by knowing what one's owning. I strongly believe that the best investment ideas are often the simplest. If contrarian, the better.Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not ...

Key Takeaways IFF is optimizing its portfolio, exiting Pharma and other non-core assets to focus on flavors and fragrances. IFF is boosting investment in high-return segments while targeting efficiency gains and acquisition synergies.IFF faces near-term headwinds from low Food Ingredients volumes, FX risks and divestiture impacts in 2025.International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) is focused on gaining share in emerging markets. Its disciplined approach to capital allocation will drive growth in the comin ...

Company Overview - International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) is a New York-based global ingredients and specialty-solutions company with a market cap of $16.7 billion, focusing on enhancing taste, smell, texture, and nutrition in everyday products [1] - IFF is classified as a "large-cap stock," indicating its significant size and influence within the specialty chemicals industry, supported by a broad customer base and a global R&D network [2] Stock Performance - IFF's shares have declined 27.9% from its 52-week high of $90.64, reached on December 9, 2024, and have decreased 1.2% over the past three months, outperforming the State Street Materials Select Sector ETF (XLB), which dropped 3.9% in the same period [3] - Over the past 52 weeks, IFF's stock has fallen 26.5%, underperforming XLB's 5.3% loss, and on a year-to-date (YTD) basis, shares are down 22.7%, compared to XLB's 3.4% return [4] Financial Performance - IFF reported better-than-expected Q3 results on November 4, with net sales declining 7.9% year-over-year to $2.7 billion, but exceeding analyst expectations by 2.3% [5] - The company's adjusted EPS rose nearly 1% from the prior-year quarter to $1.05, surpassing consensus estimates by 2.9%, driven by productivity and cost-efficiency initiatives that expanded margins despite lower sales [5] Competitive Position - IFF has underperformed compared to its rival Ecolab Inc. (ECL), which gained 3.4% over the past 52 weeks and 10% on a YTD basis [6] - Analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook for IFF, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from 20 analysts and a mean price target of $80.61, indicating a 22.8% premium to its current price levels [6]

European Companies - BASF Group reported Q3 2025 sales of €15.23 billion (approximately $17.7 billion), down 3.2% year-on-year from €15.739 billion. Operating profit (EBIT) increased by 11.4% to €278 million, while net profit fell by 40% to €172 million [1] - LyondellBasell's Q3 2025 sales and other revenues were $7.727 billion, down from $8.604 billion year-on-year. The company reported a net loss of $890 million compared to a net profit of $573 million in the same period last year [2] - INEOS Group Holdings reported Q3 2025 revenue of €3.418 billion (approximately $3.97 billion), down from €4.273 billion year-on-year. Operating profit decreased to €113 million from €339 million, with a net loss of €56.5 million compared to a profit of €283 million last year [3] - Evonik Group's Q3 2025 sales were €3.391 billion (approximately $3.94 billion), down from €3.832 billion year-on-year. Adjusted EBITDA fell to €448 million from €577 million, with a net loss of €106 million compared to a net profit of €223 million [4] - Covestro reported Q3 2025 sales of €3.171 billion (approximately $3.68 billion), down 12% from €3.603 billion. EBITDA decreased by 15.7% to €242 million, with a net loss of €47 million compared to a net profit of €33 million last year [5] - DSM-Firmenich's Q3 2025 sales were €3.07 billion (approximately $3.57 billion), down 5% from €3.244 billion. Adjusted EBITDA remained stable at €540 million [6] - Sika reported Q3 2025 sales of CHF 3.078 billion (approximately $3.4 billion), down 3.8% from CHF 3.915 billion. EBITDA decreased to CHF 1.645 billion from CHF 1.702 billion, with net profit falling to CHF 871 million from CHF 923 million [8] - Henkel's Q3 2025 sales fell by 6.3% to €5.147 billion, with the adhesives technology division reporting sales of approximately $3.145 billion, down 3.3% year-on-year [9] - Arkema's Q3 2025 sales were €2.187 billion (approximately $2.54 billion), down 8.6% from €2.394 billion. EBITDA fell by 23.8% to €310 million, with adjusted net profit down 53.6% to €78 million [10] - Syensqo reported Q3 2025 sales of €1.517 billion (approximately $1.76 billion), down 7.1% from €1.633 billion. EBITDA decreased by 12.8% to €326 million, with net profit down 31.8% to €110 million [11] - LANXESS reported Q3 2025 sales of €1.338 billion (approximately $1.55 billion), down 16.3% from €1.598 billion. EBITDA fell by 35.6% to €105 million, with a net loss of €77 million compared to a profit of €1 million last year [12] - Solvay's Q3 2025 sales were €1.044 billion (approximately $1.21 billion), down 9.7% from €1.156 billion. EBITDA decreased by 10.3% to €232 million, with net profit down 15% to €88 million [13] - Clariant reported Q3 2025 sales of CHF 906 million (approximately $1.03 billion), down 9% from CHF 991 million. EBITDA increased by 14% to CHF 159 million [14] Asian Companies - Rongsheng Petrochemical reported Q3 2025 revenue of ¥79.185 billion (approximately $11.2 billion), down 5.67% year-on-year. Net profit attributable to shareholders was ¥286 million, up 1427.94% [15] - SABIC's Q3 2025 revenue was SAR 34.333 billion (approximately $9.147 billion), down from SAR 36.88 billion year-on-year. Operating profit decreased to SAR 1.663 billion from SAR 2.477 billion, with net profit falling to SAR 1.135 billion from SAR 1.763 billion [16] - Hengli Petrochemical reported Q3 2025 revenue of ¥53.496 billion (approximately $7.67 billion), down 17.98% year-on-year. Net profit attributable to shareholders was ¥1.972 billion, up 81.47% [17] - Wanhua Chemical reported Q3 2025 revenue of ¥53.324 billion (approximately $7.54 billion), up 5.52% year-on-year. Net profit attributable to shareholders was ¥3.035 billion, up 3.96% [18] - Mitsubishi Chemical Group reported H1 2025 revenue of ¥1,799.124 billion (approximately $11.5 billion), down 10.5% year-on-year. Operating profit decreased by 19.6% to ¥86.489 billion, with net profit attributable to shareholders up 169% to ¥110.132 billion [19] - Taiwan Chemical announced Q3 2025 revenue of NT$69.576 billion (approximately $2.22 billion), down from NT$86.899 billion. The company reported a net profit of NT$1.78 billion, compared to a net loss of NT$1.918 billion last year [20] - Nanya Plastics reported Q3 2025 revenue of NT$64.2 billion (approximately $2.04 billion), down from NT$66.4 billion. Operating profit increased to NT$1.04 billion from NT$990 million, with net profit rising to NT$4 billion from NT$490 million [21] - Formosa Plastics reported Q3 2025 revenue of NT$41.718 billion (approximately $1.33 billion), down from NT$50.492 billion. The company reported a net loss of NT$2.685 billion, compared to a loss of NT$3.092 billion last year [22] - Asahi Kasei Corporation reported H1 2025 revenue of ¥1,486.368 billion (approximately $9.54 billion), down slightly from ¥1,490.334 billion. Operating profit increased to ¥108.915 billion from ¥107.454 billion, while net profit decreased to ¥60.248 billion from ¥66.266 billion [23] - Dongfang Shenghong reported Q3 2025 revenue of ¥31.245 billion (approximately $4.5 billion), down 11.91% year-on-year. The company reported a net loss of ¥260 million [24] - Shin-Etsu Chemical reported H1 2025 revenue of ¥1,284.522 billion (approximately $8.24 billion), up 1.4% year-on-year. Operating profit decreased by 17.7% to ¥333.935 billion, with net profit down 12.3% to ¥257.844 billion [25] - Toray reported H1 2025 revenue of ¥1,234.31 billion (approximately $7.92 billion), down 4.6% year-on-year. Operating profit decreased by 19.1% to ¥642.99 billion, with net profit down 33.5% to ¥369.35 billion [26] - Hengyi Petrochemical reported Q3 2025 revenue of ¥27.925 billion (approximately $3.95 billion), down 7.07% year-on-year. Net profit attributable to shareholders was ¥4.4079 million, up 102.21% [27] - LG Chem reported Q3 2025 sales of ₩111.962 trillion (approximately $76.24 billion), down 11.3% from ₩126.2 trillion. Operating profit increased by 38.9% to ₩6.797 trillion, while net profit fell to ₩4.470 trillion from ₩10.13 trillion [28] American Companies - Dow reported Q3 2025 net sales of $9.973 billion, down from $10.879 billion year-on-year. Net profit attributable to common shareholders was $62 million, down from $214 million [36] - Ecolab reported Q3 2025 net sales of $4.165 billion, up from $3.999 billion year-on-year. Operating profit decreased by 27% to $760 million, with net profit down 21% to $585 million [37] - DuPont reported Q3 2025 net sales of $3.072 billion, up from $2.862 billion year-on-year. The company reported a net loss of $123 million, compared to a profit of $455 million last year [39] - Westlake Corporation reported Q3 2025 net sales of $2.838 billion, down from $3.117 billion. The company reported an operating loss of $766 million, compared to a profit of $180 million last year [40] - IFF reported Q3 2025 net sales of $2.694 billion, down from $2.925 billion year-on-year. Operating profit decreased by 9% to $226 million, with net profit down to $40 million from $58 million [41] - Celanese reported Q3 2025 net sales of $2.419 billion, down from $2.648 billion. The company reported an operating loss of $1.275 billion, compared to a profit of $245 million last year [42] - Eastman Chemical Company reported Q3 2025 sales of $2.202 billion, down from $2.464 billion. Net profit attributable to the company was $47 million, down from $180 million [43] - Huntsman Corporation reported Q3 2025 revenue of $1.46 billion, down from $1.54 billion. The company reported a net loss of $25 million, compared to a loss of $33 million last year [44] Industrial Gases - Linde plc reported Q3 2025 sales of $8.615 billion, up from $8.356 billion year-on-year. Operating profit increased to $2.367 billion from $2.086 billion, with net profit rising to $1.929 billion from $1.55 billion [45] - Air Liquide reported Q3 2025 revenue of €6.599 billion (approximately $7.66 billion), down from €6.762 billion year-on-year [46] - Air Products & Chemicals reported Q4 2025 sales of $3.167 billion, down from $3.188 billion. The company reported an operating profit of $16.8 million, down from $242.4 million last year, with a net profit of $4.9 million compared to $195 million [47] Crop Science - Syngenta Group reported Q3 2025 revenue of $6.4 billion, down 6% year-on-year. EBITDA increased by 28% to $900 million [48] - Bayer Group reported Q3 2025 sales of €9.66 billion, down from €9.968 billion. EBIT loss was €543 million, compared to a loss of €382.2 million last year, with a net loss of €963 million compared to a loss of €4.183 billion last year [49] - Corteva, Inc. reported Q3 2025 net sales of $2.618 billion, up from $2.326 billion year-on-year. The company reported a net loss of $320 million, compared to a loss of $524 million last year [50] Fertilizers - Nutrien reported Q3 2025 sales of $6.007 billion, up from $5.348 billion year-on-year. Net profit increased to $469 million from $25 million [51] - Yara International ASA reported Q3 2025 revenue of $4.108 billion, up from $3.654 billion. Operating profit increased to $470 million from $309 million, with net profit rising to $320 million from $286 million [52] - The Mosaic Company reported Q3 2025 net sales of $3.452 billion, up from $2.811 billion. Operating profit increased to $340 million from $115 million, with net profit rising to $411 million from $122 million [53] - CF Industries reported Q3 2025 net sales of $1.659 billion, up from $1.37 billion. Net profit attributable to common shareholders was $353 million, compared to $276 million last year [54] Coatings - PPG Industries reported Q3 2025 net sales of $4.082 billion, up from $4.032 billion year-on-year, with net profit remaining stable at $444 million [55] - AkzoNobel reported Q3 2025 revenue of €2.547 billion (approximately $2.96 billion), down from €2.668 billion. The company reported an operating loss of €29 million, compared to a profit of €259 million last year, with a net loss of €194 million compared to a profit of €163 million last year [56] - Nippon Paint Holdings reported YTD revenue of ¥1,318.378 billion (approximately $8.467 billion), up 7.8% year-on-year. Operating profit increased by 36.4% to ¥190.579 billion, with net profit rising by 38.6% to ¥134.336 billion [57] - Sherwin-Williams reported Q3 2025 net sales of $6.358 billion, up from $6.163 billion. Net profit increased to $833 million from $806 million, with the paint retail group reporting sales of $3.837 billion, up 5.1% [58] - Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. reported Q3 2025 net sales of $1.288 billion, down from $1.32 billion. Operating profit increased to $204 million from $193 million, with net profit rising to $110 million from $101 million [59] - Three Trees reported YTD revenue of ¥9.392 billion (approximately $1.33 billion), up 2.69% year-on-year. Net profit attributable to shareholders was ¥744 million, up 81.22% [60]

Core Viewpoint - International Flavors (IFF) reported mixed results in its latest earnings report, with adjusted earnings beating estimates but a decline in net sales year-over-year. The company is facing a downward trend in estimates since the earnings release, raising questions about future performance [2][3][12]. Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings for Q3 2025 were $1.05 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.02 per share, and showing a 1% improvement from the previous year [3]. - Net sales decreased by 7.9% year-over-year to $2.69 billion, although this figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.63 billion [4]. - Gross profit fell 6.6% year-over-year to $983 million, with a gross margin of 36.5%, slightly up from 36% in the prior year [5]. Segment Performance - The Taste segment saw a 2.6% increase in net sales to $635 million, with adjusted operating EBITDA rising 3.2% to $128 million [7]. - The Food Ingredients segment experienced a 1.5% decline in net sales to $830 million, but adjusted operating EBITDA increased by 20.5% to $106 million [7]. - The Health & Bioscience segment's sales were $577 million, up from $568 million a year earlier, with adjusted operating EBITDA growing 0.7% to $150 million [8]. - The Scent segment reported sales of $652 million, a 6.4% increase year-over-year, with adjusted operating EBITDA rising 7.1% to $135 million [8]. Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of Q3 2025 were $621 million, up from $469 million at the end of 2024 [9]. - Long-term debt decreased to $4.74 billion from $7.56 billion as of December 31, 2024 [9]. - Operating activities generated $532 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2025, compared to $681 million in the prior-year period [9]. Guidance and Outlook - The company reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, expecting sales between $10.6 billion and $10.9 billion, and adjusted EBITDA between $2 billion and $2.15 billion [11]. - There has been a downward trend in estimates revisions since the earnings release, with the stock currently holding a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [12][14]. Industry Comparison - IFF is part of the Zacks Chemical - Specialty industry, where Ecolab (ECL) reported a 4.2% year-over-year revenue increase to $4.17 billion in its latest quarter [15].

Core Insights - IFF has implemented the Colibri robot in its Chin Bee production facility, enhancing its fragrance development process [1] - The Colibri robot is an advanced industrial dosing system that can produce fragrance sample batches on demand in minutes [1] - This innovation aims to expedite the fragrance development journey for customers in Greater Asia, including local, regional, and global clients [1]

Group 1 - The FPA Crescent Fund gained 5.54% in Q3 2025 and 15.32% over the trailing twelve months, with top five performers contributing 6.65% and bottom five detracting 2.58% from the returns [1] - International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF) is a key holding in the fund, with a one-month return of 6.40% but a significant decline of 29.64% over the past 52 weeks, closing at $64.00 per share and a market capitalization of $16.39 billion [2][3] Group 2 - IFF is a major producer of ingredients for various industries, including food and beverage, with its products being essential in many household items [3] - The company has faced challenges due to previous management's poor capital allocation and acquisitions, which led to lower margins and increased leverage [3] - A new CEO is focusing on operational excellence and divesting non-core assets, which is expected to reduce leverage and improve margins [3] - Current free cash flow of approximately $4 is projected to increase to $5-6 in a few years, potentially leading to a higher P/E ratio in line with peers [3] - The stock price, currently at $61, has a potential path to double if the company executes its strategy effectively [3]