Wed Sep 11 09:43:04 UTC 2024: ## Institutional Investors Adjust Stakes in International Flavors & Fragrances

**New York, NY** – Candriam S.C.A., a prominent institutional investor, has trimmed its stake in International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF) by 5.5% during the second quarter, according to a recent Form 13F filing. This move comes amidst a flurry of activity from other institutional investors, some increasing their holdings in the specialty chemicals company.

Candriam S.C.A. now owns 21,612 shares of IFF, valued at $2,058,000. Meanwhile, Bayesian Capital Management LP and Clearfield Capital Management LP have recently established new positions in IFF, with investments of $9,316,000 and $28,771,000 respectively. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD has significantly boosted its holdings in IFF, increasing its stake by 19.3%, while Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. and Tower Research Capital LLC TRC have also upped their positions. Overall, hedge funds and institutional investors own 96.02% of the company’s stock.

Analysts are divided on IFF’s future prospects. While JPMorgan Chase & Co., Stifel Nicolaus, and Mizuho have upgraded their ratings and increased their target prices, UBS Group has lowered its price objective. Oppenheimer initiated coverage with an “outperform” rating. MarketBeat.com currently reports a consensus “Hold” rating with a price target of $103.80.

Recent insider transactions have added to the mix. Angela Strzelecki, an insider at IFF, sold 2,588 shares in June for a total of $247,568.08. Company insiders currently own 0.20% of IFF’s stock.

IFF’s most recent earnings report, released on August 6th, revealed a positive quarter, exceeding both revenue and earnings per share estimates. The company reported earnings of $1.16 per share and revenue of $2.89 billion. Despite a slight year-over-year decline in revenue, analysts remain optimistic, forecasting 4.22 EPS for the current year.

IFF will also be paying a quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share on October 9th, reflecting a dividend yield of 1.56%. The company, which operates in the US, Europe, and internationally, manufactures and sells cosmetic active and natural health ingredients for use in various consumer products.

The activity surrounding IFF highlights the diverse opinions surrounding its future performance. Investors will be closely watching for further developments to gauge the company’s trajectory.

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