StockNews.com Downgrades Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) to Hold

Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a note issued to investors on Saturday.

Sensient Technologies Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of NYSE:SXT opened at $72.75 on Friday. Sensient Technologies has a 12-month low of $66.15 and a 12-month high of $82.99. The company has a market capitalization of $3.08 billion, a PE ratio of 24.74 and a beta of 0.71. The business has a 50 day moving average of $73.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $75.17. The company has a current ratio of 3.55, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58.

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, topping 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 the consensus estimate of $375.10 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.51 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Sensient Technologies will post 3.1 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sensient Technologies

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of SXT. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in Sensient Technologies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings in shares of Sensient Technologies by 18,766.7% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 566 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 563 shares during the period. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in Sensient Technologies during the fourth quarter worth $50,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in Sensient Technologies during the fourth quarter worth $65,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its position in Sensient Technologies by 49.4% during the fourth quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 920 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $66,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.86% of the company’s stock.

Sensient Technologies Company Profile

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.