SCL

Based on Stepan Company's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

What does Stepan Company do?

Stepan Company manufactures specialty and intermediate chemicals sold to other manufacturers. Its three segments — Surfactants, Polymers, and Specialty Products — supply ingredients for cleaning products, rigid insulation foam, coatings, adhesives, and food-grade applications. The company does not sell finished consumer goods directly.

Does SCL pay dividends?

Yes, Stepan Company pays a regular dividend. The company has maintained a dividend program consistent with its profile as a mature industrial chemicals business. For current yield and payment schedule details, check Stepan's investor relations page, as these figures are updated each quarter.

When does SCL report earnings?

Stepan Company reports financial results on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed companies. Exact dates for upcoming earnings releases are published on the company's investor relations page at stepan.com ahead of each reporting period.

Is SCL a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates SCL as Below Average, driven by Weak Quality and Moat pillar ratings. Valuation is rated Good, which may interest value-oriented investors, but the limited competitive moat and below-average returns profile warrant careful consideration. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.

Is SCL overvalued?

Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, SCL is rated Good — meaning the shares appear reasonably priced relative to sector peers rather than stretched. However, a fair valuation does not offset the fundamental concerns reflected in the Weak Quality and Moat ratings. View the complete valuation metrics with a Pro account.

How does SCL compare to its competitors?

Stepan's diversified three-segment model distinguishes it from more narrowly focused peers like Oil-Dri, which concentrates on sorbent minerals, and Neo Performance Materials, which targets rare-earth technology markets. Green Plains operates in ethanol rather than specialty chemicals. Each peer faces different demand cycles and margin dynamics.

What is SCL's market cap bracket?

Stepan Company is classified as a small-cap stock. This places it in a tier where liquidity can be more limited than large-cap peers, and the company may receive less institutional analyst coverage — factors worth considering alongside the UQS quality assessment.

Who founded Stepan Company?

Stepan Company's founding history and leadership lineage are widely documented in public records and the company's official corporate history available at stepan.com. The company was incorporated in 1992 in its current form and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois.

Is SCL a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, the UQS Score rates SCL Below Average, primarily because Quality and Moat are both Weak. Long-term compounding typically favors businesses with durable competitive advantages and strong returns — areas where Stepan currently scores below sector norms. Pro members can explore the full multi-pillar trend data.

What is the main competitive advantage of Stepan Company?

Stepan's UQS Moat pillar is rated Weak, suggesting the company does not currently demonstrate a strongly defensible competitive position. Its breadth across surfactants, polymers, and specialty products provides some diversification, but the intermediate chemicals business is largely price-competitive with limited structural barriers to entry.

What sector does SCL belong to?

Stepan Company belongs to the Basic Materials sector, specifically within specialty and intermediate chemicals. This sector is cyclical, with profitability tied to raw material costs, industrial demand, and global economic conditions — all of which influence Stepan's segment performance across its product lines.

Is SCL a growth stock or value stock?

Based on UQS pillar labels, SCL leans toward the value side — Valuation is rated Good while Growth is Neutral. This profile suggests the shares are not priced for aggressive expansion, but the business is not generating the kind of above-average returns typically associated with high-quality value investments either.

Stepan Company currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.

Stepan Company shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.

Stepan Company has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.

Stepan Company trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.

Stepan Company operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for SCL.

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Stepan Company is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Stepan Company's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Stepan Company is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.