International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF – Get Free Report) and Ecovyst (NYSE:ECVT – Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends, risk, profitability and institutional ownership.
Profitability
This table compares International Flavors & Fragrances and Ecovyst’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| International Flavors & Fragrances | 7.78% | 7.65% | 4.25% |
| Ecovyst | -7.71% | 11.58% | 4.76% |
Insider & Institutional Ownership
96.0% of International Flavors & Fragrances shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 86.7% of Ecovyst shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.1% of International Flavors & Fragrances shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.8% of Ecovyst shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Risk & Volatility
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of recent recommendations for International Flavors & Fragrances and Ecovyst, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| International Flavors & Fragrances | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 2.71 |
| Ecovyst | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2.50 |
International Flavors & Fragrances currently has a consensus price target of $90.80, suggesting a potential upside of 19.46%. Ecovyst has a consensus price target of $14.20, suggesting a potential upside of 7.57%. Given International Flavors & Fragrances’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe International Flavors & Fragrances is more favorable than Ecovyst.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares International Flavors & Fragrances and Ecovyst”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| International Flavors & Fragrances | $10.89 billion | 1.78 | -$361.00 million | $3.27 | 23.24 |
| Ecovyst | $723.50 million | 2.00 | -$71.13 million | ($0.55) | -24.00 |
Ecovyst has lower revenue, but higher earnings than International Flavors & Fragrances. Ecovyst is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than International Flavors & Fragrances, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Summary
International Flavors & Fragrances beats Ecovyst on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About International Flavors & Fragrances
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. engages in the manufacture and supply of flavors and fragrances used in the food, beverage, personal care, and household products industries. It operates through the following segments: Nourish, Health & Biosciences, Scent and Pharma Solutions. The Nourish segment consists of legacy Taste segment combined with N&B’s Food & Beverage division and the food protection business of N&B’s Health & Biosciences division. The Health & Biosciences business consists of a biotechnology-driven portfolio of enzymes, food cultures, probiotics and specialty ingredients for food, home and personal care, and health and wellness applications. The Scent business creates fragrance compounds, fragrance ingredients and cosmetic ingredients that are integral elements in the world’s finest perfumes and best-known household and personal care products. The Pharma Solutions business produces a vast portfolio including cellulosics and seaweed-based pharma excipients, used to improve the functionality and delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients, including controlled or modified drug release formulations, and enabling. The company was founded in 1833 and is headquartered in New York, NY.
About Ecovyst
Ecovyst Inc. offers specialty catalysts and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Ecoservices and Advanced Materials & Catalysts. The Ecoservices segment provides sulfuric acid recycling services and end-to-end logistics for production of alkylate for refineries; and virgin sulfuric acid for mining, water treatment, and industrial applications. The Advanced Materials & Catalysts segment offers advanced materials and specialty catalyst products and process solutions to producers and licensors of polyethylene and advanced silicas. This segment also supplies specialty zeolites and zeolite-based catalysts to customers for refining of oil primarily hydrocracking catalyst and dewaxing, sustainable fuels, and emission control systems for both on-road and non-road diesel engines. The company was formerly known as PQ Group Holdings Inc. and changed its name to Ecovyst Inc. in August 2021. Ecovyst Inc. was founded in 1831 and is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
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