Principal Financial Group Inc. Sells 5,547 Shares of Sensient Technologies Corporation $SXT

Principal Financial Group Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of Sensient Technologies Corporation (NYSE:SXT) by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 231,662 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock after selling 5,547 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Sensient Technologies were worth $21,741,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in SXT. Bank of Montreal Can increased its holdings in shares of Sensient Technologies by 1.3% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 8,418 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $829,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System grew its stake in Sensient Technologies by 0.9% in 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 buying an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in Sensient Technologies by 19.3% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 878 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $82,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in Sensient Technologies by 15.9% during the third quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,042 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $98,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Evergreen Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Sensient Technologies by 3.4% during the second quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 4,500 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $443,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.86% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Essie Whitelaw sold 3,985 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.02, for a total value of $378,654.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 17,128 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,627,502.56. This represents a 18.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Sensient Technologies Stock Up 1.3%

Shares of SXT opened at $97.43 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $95.32 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $100.08. The company has a market cap of $4.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.80 and a beta of 0.58. Sensient Technologies Corporation has a one year low of $67.61 and a one year high of $121.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 4.59 and a quick ratio of 1.79.

Sensient Technologies Announces Dividend

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 given a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 3rd. Sensient Technologies’s payout ratio is currently 50.15%.

About Sensient Technologies

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.