Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) Shares Gap Up – What’s Next?

Sensient Technologies Corporation (NYSE:SXT)’s stock price gapped up prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $94.13, but opened at $100.04. Sensient Technologies shares last traded at $96.67, with a volume of 47,739 shares trading hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on SXT shares. Zacks Research raised shares of Sensient Technologies to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Sensient Technologies in a report on Monday, December 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Sensient Technologies presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $110.00.

Sensient Technologies Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.79, a current ratio of 4.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $95.35 and a 200 day moving average price of $100.24. The stock has a market cap of $4.04 billion, a PE ratio of 29.04 and a beta of 0.58.

Sensient Technologies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.41 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 3rd. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Sensient Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 50.15%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Sensient Technologies news, Director Essie Whitelaw sold 3,985 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.02, for a total value of $378,654.70. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 17,128 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,627,502.56. This trade represents a 18.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sensient Technologies

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its stake in Sensient Technologies by 1.3% during the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 8,418 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $829,000 after acquiring an additional 111 shares in the last quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System lifted its stake in Sensient Technologies by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 12,478 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $1,229,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its position in shares of Sensient Technologies by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 9,675 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $909,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in Sensient Technologies by 19.3% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 878 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $82,000 after buying an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Sensient Technologies by 15.9% in the 3rd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,042 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $98,000 after buying an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.86% of the company’s stock.

Sensient Technologies Company Profile

Sensient Technologies Corporation is a global leader in the manufacture and supply of colors, flavors and fragrances for a broad range of end-markets. The company develops and produces ingredients that enhance the appearance, taste and scent of products in the food, beverage, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, personal care and household sectors. Its portfolio includes natural and synthetic colorants, botanical and artificial flavor systems, fragrance compounds and specialty chemical offerings tailored to customer specifications.

Within its flavor and fragrance division, Sensient provides custom formulations for sweet, savory and umami taste profiles along with fragrance blends for personal care and cosmetic applications.