How Is International Flavors & Fragrances' Stock Performance Compared to Other Material Stocks?

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]