Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) Sees Strong Trading Volume

Sensient Technologies Co. (NYSE:SXT) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 167,147 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 4% from the previous session’s volume of 160,862 shares.The stock last traded at $64.20 and had previously closed at $62.01.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Sensient Technologies in a report on Thursday, August 17th. They set a “hold” rating for the company.

Sensient Technologies Price Performance

The stock has a 50 day moving average of $64.22 and a two-hundred day moving average of $70.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 1.71 and a current ratio of 4.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.69 and a beta of 0.87.

Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 21st. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.88 by ($0.07). Sensient Technologies had a net margin of 9.14% and a return on equity of 12.98%. The company had revenue of $374.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $382.62 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.92 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis.

Sensient Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 7th were given a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 4th. Sensient Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 52.06%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, major shareholder Winder Investment Pte Ltd sold 6,304,914 shares of Sensient Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.13, for a total transaction of $448,468,532.82. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.35% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Sensient Technologies

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of SXT. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky boosted its stake in Sensient Technologies by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 7,659 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $545,000 after buying an additional 691 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its stake in Sensient Technologies by 32.3% in the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 35,330 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $2,513,000 after buying an additional 8,617 shares in the last quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department acquired a new stake in Sensient Technologies in the 2nd quarter valued at $681,000. Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its stake in Sensient Technologies by 12.9% in the 2nd quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 160,978 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $11,450,000 after buying an additional 18,434 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in Sensient Technologies in the 2nd quarter valued at $646,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.66% 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 the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Flavors & Extracts Group, Color Group, and Asia Pacific Group. The Flavors & Extracts Group segment 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.