Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) Downgraded to “Hold” Rating by StockNews.com

StockNews.com lowered shares of Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday morning.

Sensient Technologies Stock Performance

NYSE:SXT opened at $70.28 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 3.55 and a quick ratio of 1.34. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $72.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $75.49. Sensient Technologies has a 1 year low of $64.11 and a 1 year high of $82.99. The company has a market capitalization of $2.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.90 and a beta of 0.77.

Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 14th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 the consensus estimate of $375.10 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.51 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Sensient Technologies will post 3.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Sensient Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be given a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.33%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 4th. Sensient Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 55.78%.

Institutional Trading of Sensient Technologies

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Sensient Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its holdings in shares of Sensient Technologies by 18,766.7% in the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 566 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 563 shares during the period. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of Sensient Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $50,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in shares of Sensient Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $65,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Sensient Technologies by 49.4% in the fourth quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 920 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $66,000 after acquiring an additional 304 shares during the period. 90.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.