Stepan Company (SCL)

NYSEMaterialsChemicals - SpecialtySnapshot 2026-10-23

$63.91-0.64%

Close 2026-10-23 · 1-day change

Investment OutlookAs of Oct 24, 2026

What could strengthen or challenge Stepan Company’s outlook?

The long-term thesis, the evidence coming in, and the environment around it. Thesis dated Jul 8, 2026.

Higher potential upsideImproving expectations

Next-FY EPS estimate change · 30 days

Comparable estimates unavailable

+10% or more+5%0%−5%−10% or less

A matching fiscal period and sufficient coverage are required.

Higher risk of downsideWeakening expectations

One observable signal. This measures changing earnings expectations, not the probability of a gain or loss.

How this is measured

The calculation requires same-period, same-provider snapshots, positive EPS, at least five analysts and a baseline within three days of the requested lookback.

Measure / period	Management expectations	Analyst expectations
Quarter ending 2026-12-30
Revenue	—	608.75M
EPS	—	0.34
Annual ending 2026-12-31
Revenue	—	2.53B
EPS	—	2.69
Annual ending 2027-12-31
Revenue	—	2.68B
EPS	—	3.69

Management figures unavailable.

What the Thesis Depends On

Three published thesis conditions, with dated milestones shown separately.

Key Factor	Why It Matters	Current Status	Break Condition	Latest Evidence
Deliver full year adjusted EBITDA growth	Management aims to grow adjusted EBITDA this year.	Intact	Adjusted EBITDA does not grow in FY26	Direct metric needs a verified mapping The published measure or accounting basis is not supported by an exact source binding. Source date unavailableLast status assessment Oct 24, 2026Compare required operating outcomes Compare scope, accounting basis and period before treating this evidence as progress against an annual requirement. Management context Stated as a priority in 3 of last 3 quarters. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA grew from $108.9 million in first half 2025 to $124.1 million in first half 2026 (+14%). Q2 2026 adjusted EBITDA was $74.4 million, up 45% year-over-year. Management's trajectory is delivering growth as committed. Delivery assessment Oct 24, 2026
Improve operating income through efficiency	A supporting condition in Stepan Company's published investment case. The stated target is operating income improves over next 4 quarters.	Intact	Operating income does not improve over next year	Direct metric needs a verified mapping The published measure or accounting basis is not supported by an exact source binding. Source date unavailableLast status assessment Oct 24, 2026Compare required operating outcomes Compare scope, accounting basis and period before treating this evidence as progress against an annual requirement.
Grow revenue above 9% annually	A primary condition in Stepan Company's published investment case. The stated target is >=9% YoY revenue growth.	Improving	YoY revenue growth falls below 9% next year	Revenue growth: 15.04% FY2026-Q2; GAAP. Published target: >=9% YoY revenue growth. Target period is not explicitly aligned with this observation. Source published Aug 5, 202615.036431 percent · calculatedSource reportLast status assessment Oct 24, 2026 Measurement source consolidated · GAAP FY2026-Q2 · Period ending Jun 30, 2026 Source: company_financial_results. Reference: a243283a-3278-4db8-bc3c-ea6254f006a1. Source status: eligible. Compare required operating outcomes Compare scope, accounting basis and period before treating this evidence as progress against an annual requirement.

Stored thesis · Jul 8, 2026. Latest Evidence uses source-matched measurements where available, alongside the last thesis-monitor assessment. Source periods and assessment dates are shown separately. A new measurement does not automatically change the published status or verify an older target.

Incoming Evidence

Compare these dated observations with the operating requirements above

Expectations trend

Same fiscal period

FY2027 · fiscal year ending 2027-12-31 · fmp

FY2027 EPS: comparable history unavailable.

FY2027 revenue: comparable history unavailable.

Exact estimates & source dates

One fiscal period and provider throughout. At least five contributors are required for each plotted metric; missing coverage stays a gap. Axes show the observed range. Counts measure coverage, not revisions.

FY2027 estimate observations · fmp
Snapshot	EPS	Revenue	EPS / revenue analysts
2026-07-24	Unavailable	Unavailable	2 / 2
2026-07-25	Unavailable	Unavailable	2 / 2
2026-07-26	Unavailable	Unavailable	2 / 2
2026-07-27	Unavailable	Unavailable	2 / 2
2026-07-28	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-07-29	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-07-30	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-07-31	Unavailable	Unavailable	2 / 2
2026-08-01	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-02	Unavailable	Unavailable	2 / 2
2026-08-03	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-04	Unavailable	Unavailable	2 / 2
2026-08-05	Unavailable	Unavailable	2 / 2
2026-08-06	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-08	Unavailable	Unavailable	2 / 2
2026-08-09	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-10	Unavailable	Unavailable	2 / 2
2026-08-12	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-13	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-14	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-15	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-16	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-17	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-18	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-19	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-20	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-21	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-22	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-23	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-24	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-25	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-26	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-27	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-28	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-29	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-30	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-08-31	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-01	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-02	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-03	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-04	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-05	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-06	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-07	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-08	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-09	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-10	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-11	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-12	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-13	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-14	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-15	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-16	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-17	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-18	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-19	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-20	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-21	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-22	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-23	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-24	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-25	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-26	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-27	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-28	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-29	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-09-30	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-01	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-02	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-03	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-04	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-05	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-06	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-07	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-08	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-09	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-10	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-11	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-12	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-13	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-14	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-15	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-16	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-17	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-18	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-19	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-20	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-21	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-22	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-23	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2
2026-10-24	Unavailable	Unavailable	1 / 2

Revenue and EPS estimates track expectations. They are not delivered results or like-for-like proof of a required annual path.

Compare required revenue and earnings

Analyst view

Monthly observations

Buy / Strong BuyHoldSell / Strong Sell

Exact monthly counts

Monthly rating snapshots · fmp. Missing snapshots are not zero.
Date	Buy*	Hold	Sell*
2026-05-01	1	0	0
2026-06-01	1	0	0
2026-07-01	1	0	0
2026-08-01	1	0	0
2026-09-01	1	0	0
2026-10-01	1	0	0

*Buy includes Strong Buy; Sell includes Strong Sell. Monthly counts describe the analyst mix, not the firms behind each recent action.

Latest: 1 Buy / Strong Buy · 0 Hold · 0 Sell / Strong Sell

0 upgrades0 downgrades0 maintains

Recent actions · Sep 25–Oct 24 · 0 recorded

Price-target changes

30 days

Individual price-target observations are unavailable.

0 raises · 0 cuts · 0 unchanged · 0 without a comparable prior

How this is measured

Sep 25, 2026–Oct 24, 2026. Each firm's latest positive target is paired only with its immediately prior positive target from the same provider, at most 180 days earlier. Unmatched observations have one dot; conflicting observations are not compared.

Outlook in Brief

The evidence, the remaining questions, and what comes next

What's improving

No recovery evidence is reported in the available driver assessments.

Still unresolved / key risks

Deliver full year adjusted EBITDA growthDirect metric needs a verified mapping
Improve operating income through efficiencyDirect metric needs a verified mapping
Grow revenue above 9% annuallyRevenue growth: 15.04%

Next proof point

Oct 28, 2026

Look for updated results and guidance against the published targets, plus direct evidence for unresolved drivers.

Review earnings

Bottom line

3 of 3 published conditions remain under pressure or need verification. The next results need to address those conditions.

The dated weekly assessment and its assumptions are available in Read detailed Outlook.

Historical risk context

Observed price history; separate from operating scenarios

Price sensitivity

0.7%Typical daily move · historical

Downside history

-32.8%Maximum drawdown · trailing year

Read detailed Outlook Company context, assumptions & risks

Stepan Company outlook in detail

The weekly editorial context below is a separate assessment from the dated monitor evidence above. Recovery observations do not automatically change the published thesis. Unverified outside influences are hypotheses, not measured driver evidence.

Updated Oct 24, 2026

What kind of bet this is

This is an execution-dependent industrial business, not yet a proven durable compounder, because the evidence still describes it as loss-making and management as volatile. The long-term thesis is on watch: recent execution is encouraging, but confidence has eased from high to medium and performance remains below its industry cohort.

What's priced into Stepan Company

SCL is expensive versus peers, with a valuation premium of 1.87 and a sizable expectations gap. The evidence points to expectations of a re-rating, but does not specify which operating assumptions the market has already priced in; the valuation is flagged as unjustified, though overall fragility is low.

What the fundamentals likely do

Near term, management is on track with its stated priorities: first-half adjusted EBITDA rose 14%, while second-quarter adjusted EBITDA rose 45% year over year. Strategic segment sales and adjusted EBITDA also grew, alongside restructuring actions aimed at savings, though those actions carry substantial charges; recent earnings surprises have been erratic and trending down, and a guidance cut would be a meaningful risk.

What Stepan Company hinges on

Over the next few quarters, the thesis depends on management sustaining adjusted EBITDA growth, completing Project Catalyst, and continuing growth in Surfactants and Polymers. Sector signals also matter: continued strength from LIN, SHW, and ECL could support the Materials backdrop, while weaker results or guidance from those companies could remove that tailwind.