SCLBasic Materials · Specialty ChemicalsThe 1 Wall Street analysts covering Stepan Co. hold a median 12-month price target of $85 — +34.9% from the last close. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 85 of 100 as at 2 Oct 2026 — inside the top quartile. Here, the model and the Street point the same way.
Consensus tells you what everyone already believes. The model scores Stepan Co. on its factor families — the same systematic rank behind the Ticker Nerd portfolio.
Percentile across ~4,600 US stocks on Ticker Nerd’s systematic factor model. Higher is better. How the model is built and tested
Issuance (87): The share count has been shrinking and the company is not leaning on new borrowing.
Growth (45): Sales and profits are flat, shrinking, or growing more slowly than they were.
Size (40): Larger than most of the companies we track — more scrutinised, less often mispriced.
Built and run by Aslam Ghouse, an ex-Goldman Sachs quant trader with fourteen years in markets.
The bullish and bearish analyst opinions on SCL, reported as data — targets and ratings, the market's view beside the model's.
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The green dot is the last close — the median target sits +34.9% from it.
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jan 2026 | Seaport Global | Upgrade | Buy | $75 |
| 19 Oct 2023 | CL King | Upgrade | Buy | — |
| 11 Jan 2021 | Seaport Global | Downgrade | Neutral | — |
| 18 June 2020 | Stifel | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 25 Mar 2020 | Stifel | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 24 Mar 2020 | Stifel | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 11 Dec 2018 | Stifel | Initiates | Buy | — |
| 11 Dec 2018 | Stifel Nicolaus | Initiates | Buy | — |
| 24 Aug 2016 | Seaport Global | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 4 June 2015 | Seaport Global | Initiates | Accumulate | — |
| 14 Oct 2014 | Guggenheim | Initiates | Buy | — |
| 17 Sept 2014 | Keybanc | Initiates | Buy | — |
| 17 Sept 2014 | KeyBanc | Initiates | Buy | — |
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Computed off the Friday close and sent before the US open.
Market Radar reports the week’s largest rank changes across roughly 4,600 US stocks, the factor behind each one, and where the market went. SCL appears on the weeks it earns a place.
Both lines are total return — dividends reinvested — so the comparison is honest on both sides.
Over the twelve months to 2 Oct 2026, Stepan Co. returned +33.1% against +16.2% for the S&P 500, dividends included.
Download this chart as an image — free to reuse; link this page as the source.
Data provided by Twelve Data
Not the forecast itself — the direction analysts are revising it. Revision direction is one of the model's factor families.
A margin means little on its own. Each bar marks where the figure sits across the whole US universe we score.
Cheaper than 29% of US stocks
Cheaper than 79% of US stocks
Cheaper than 67% of US stocks
Cheaper than 39% of US stocks
Higher than 62% of US stocks
Higher than 84% of US stocks
Higher than 14% of US stocks
Higher than 57% of US stocks
Higher than 30% of US stocks
Higher than 44% of US stocks
Higher than 59% of US stocks
Higher than 53% of US dividend payers
Bars mark the percentile across the ~4,600 US stocks Ticker Nerd covers, among those reporting the figure.
The headline figures, each with its date. Every row carries its own link — cite it straight from here.
Stepan Co. has a market value of $1.4B and an enterprise value of $2.0B.
Revenue in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $2.4B. The latest quarter grew 15.0% year on year.
Net income over the same four quarters: −$2.7M, a −0.1% net margin.
Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months: $−0.12.
Free cash flow in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $36.6M, after $118.5M of capital spending.
Stepan Co. spent $35.6M on dividends in the twelve months to 30 June 2026.
Trailing P/E: 25.4×; forward P/E: 16.7× — the forward figure prices analyst consensus estimates, not reported earnings.
Forward dividend yield: 2.57%, paying out 76% of earnings.
Stepan Co. employs 2,328 people — $1.0M of revenue per employee.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The nearest names by industry and size, scored by the same model — like for like.
Look up any of the roughly 4,600 stocks we score.
The rank is the raw material. Whether the rules would actually own Stepan Co. — and when they’d sell — is the membership. See the Ticker Nerd 20 →
Zacks Investment Research added Stepan Co. (SCL) and ACIU to its Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) momentum stocks list on September 30, 2026.
Why it matters — The listing signals recognition of SCL's strong momentum and strong-buy rating as of that date, which SCL watchers would find relevant to its market standing.
On September 30, 2026, SCL was added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) list, along with MSGM, GTN, HLIO and EMBJ, according to Zacks Investment Research. The addition reflects the stock receiving a top ranking in Zacks' proprietary rating system.
Why it matters — A Zacks Strong Buy rating is a notable analyst signal that could affect how investors view SCL's near-term prospects.
Stepan Company is regaining momentum with strong margin recovery and robust volume and pricing growth across core segments. Its pass-through mechanisms and Project Catalyst cost savings are driving significant EBIT and net income improvements despite volatile feedstock costs, with North American sales in surfactants and polymers for data center construction outpacing global growth and expanding market share.
Why it matters — A Stepan watcher would care because the report highlights concrete earnings and margin improvements from cost savings and stronger North American demand, indicating improving operational performance.
Stepan Co. Chief Financial Officer Ruben Velasquez said during a company presentation that the company is in the early stages of a margin recovery, citing growth in higher-margin product areas, cost reductions, and broader-based volume gains as supporting factors.
Why it matters — The statement signals that management sees improving fundamentals, which could matter for those tracking Stepan's future earnings trajectory.
Seeking Alpha's August 2026 update reports that Dividend Kings are outperforming the S&P 500 year-to-date, with a 14.98% total return versus SPY's 12.89%. It notes that 30 Dividend Kings are beating SPY, 25 appear potentially undervalued with strong return potential, and average dividend growth accelerated to 4.12% with several notable increases announced.
Why it matters — SCL watchers would care because the report highlights strengthening dividend growth and relative outperformance among Dividend Kings, a category with which dividend-focused companies like Stepan are often associated.
The 1 Wall Street analysts covering Stepan Co. have a median 12-month price target of $85, with estimates ranging from $85 to $85. These are third-party analyst estimates, not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Of the 1 analysts covering Stepan Co., 1 rate it a Buy, 0 a Hold and 0 a Sell. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model ranks Stepan Co. 85 out of 100 across roughly 4,600 US stocks as at 2 Oct 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.
As at 2 Oct 2026, Stepan Co. ranks 85 out of 100 on Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model — a percentile across roughly 4,600 US stocks, built from its factor families. Its strongest factor family is Issuance (87 of 100).
No one can know that. What the data says: the median 12-month target from 1 analysts implies +34.9% from the last close, and Ticker Nerd's factor model ranks Stepan Co. 85 out of 100 as at 2 Oct 2026. Analyst targets are third-party estimates and frequently wrong; none of this is personal advice.
No analyst covering Stepan Co. publishes a 2030 price target — Wall Street targets run 12 to 18 months out. Sites quoting a 2030 price for SCL are extrapolating price history, which says nothing about the business. The furthest attributed numbers are the current analyst targets: $85 to $85 over the next 12 months.
Stepan Co. returned +33.1% over the 12 months to 2 Oct 2026, with dividends reinvested. Past performance does not indicate future returns.
Stepan Company is a specialty chemicals manufacturer that produces and sells intermediate and formulated chemical products for industrial and consumer markets. Its core business spans surfactants, polymers, and specialty products, supporting applications in cleaning and disinfection, personal care, agriculture, oilfield operations, construction, insulation, coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, food, flavoring, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals.
The most recent item we track (Zacks Investment Research, 30 Sept 2026): "Best Momentum Stock to Buy for September 30th". Zacks Investment Research added Stepan Co. (SCL) and ACIU to its Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) momentum stocks list on September 30, 2026.
Stepan Company is a specialty chemicals manufacturer that produces and sells intermediate and formulated chemical products for industrial and consumer markets. Its core business spans surfactants, polymers, and specialty products, supporting applications in cleaning and disinfection, personal care, agriculture, oilfield operations, construction, insulation, coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, food, flavoring, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals. The company serves other manufacturers that incorporate these ingredients and materials into finished goods across a broad range of end markets. Stepan Company is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, and operates with an international commercial footprint that supports customers in the United States, Europe, and Latin America.
CEO Mr. Luis E. Rojo · 2,328 employees · United States · https://www.stepan.com
