International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF)

In the past six months, IFF's stock has experienced fluctuations influenced by earnings reports and strategic divestitures. IFF reported better-than-expected Q2 revenue, but its shares tumbled due to a year-over-year decline in top-line and adjusted EBITDA. IFF announced its Q3 2025 earnings, reporting $1.05 earnings per share (EPS), topping the consensus estimate of $1.02. The company's revenue was $2.69 billion, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.65 billion. The divestiture of key business segments is projected to lead to a significant revenue decline. As of January 2026, analysts have a consensus "Buy" rating for IFF, with UBS Group raising IFF's price target to $71.00 on January 12, 2026.

IFF's demand is influenced by consumer preferences and industry trends across its diverse segments. Demand is increasingly shaped by health, wellness, and sustainability concerns, leading to a demand for healthier, clean-label, or plant-based options. Consumers are also seeking immersive, emotionally grounding, and personalized experiences. IFF's CFO indicated that Q2 2025 was expected to be the strongest quarter due to seasonality and the timing of the Pharma Solutions divestiture. Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, IFF has seen sustained demand for its fragrance and wellness solutions.

International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. (IFF) is a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, operating within the specialty chemicals sector. The company develops and produces products across various categories including taste, texture, scent, nutrition, enzymes, cultures, soy proteins, and probiotics, which it markets globally. IFF's business model is innovation-driven, partnering with global and local consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to create customized sensory and functional solutions. IFF's major products and solutions are categorized into four segments: Nourish, Health & Biosciences, Scent, and Pharma Solutions. The Nourish segment includes natural-based ingredients and flavor compounds. The Health & Biosciences segment encompasses health, cultures and food enzymes, home and personal care, animal nutrition, and grain processing products. The Scent segment focuses on creating fragrance compounds and fragrance ingredients. The Pharma Solutions segment produces cellulosics and seaweed-based pharmaceutical excipients.

IFF has a substantial global presence, with its headquarters in New York City, United States. The company has creative, sales, and manufacturing facilities in approximately 65 countries, with over 110 manufacturing facilities and more than 100 research centers worldwide. Its global team of around 22,400 employees serves customers in over 100 countries. Approximately 70% of IFF's revenue is generated outside North America. The company has a significant presence across Greater Asia, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, Latin America, and North America. A new global business center is planned to open in Mexico City in 2026 to serve the Mexican and Latin American markets.

IFF emphasizes its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and scientific expertise, which positively contributes to its brand reputation. The company focuses on developing sustainable, science-based products that meet emerging consumer trends and market demands. IFF's sustainability efforts include initiatives like green chemistry, renewable energy, and zero waste to landfill facilities. In June 2025, IFF released its "Look Ahead 2025" trend forecast, emphasizing "Regenerative Resilience" and the demand for earth-forward flavor profiles. In November 2025, IFF installed a nature-based hydrogen production facility in Spain and a smart dosing robot in Singapore, showcasing its investment in advanced, sustainable technologies.

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. has a significant institutional ownership. As of September 30, 2025, 793 institutional holders held a total of 244,759,470 shares. Major institutional owners include Dodge & Cox, Vanguard Group Inc., Freemont Capital Pte Ltd, BlackRock, Inc., State Street Corp, and Invesco Ltd. Winder Investment Pte Ltd is noted as the largest individual shareholder, owning 45.41 million shares, representing 17.73% of the company.