IFFSpecialty chemicals: flavors, fragrances and biosciences
International Flavors & Fragrances
Not investment advice. Kevin may own this stock. How we value stocks
By Kevin Amado
Updated
- Price
- $80.38
- Analysts view
- Bullish
- Discount category
- Below intrinsic value
- Pick status
- Top pick
- Next earnings
- Earnings Feb 10 · · estimated
- Market cap
- $20B
- Shares of Oct 30, 2026
- Yield at current rate
- 2.0%
- Current annual rate, at the price of Nov 13, 2026
- Dividend yield
- 2.0%
- Last 12 months, at the price of Nov 13, 2026
- P/E (trailing)
- 113.2
- Price of Nov 13, 2026
- EPS (trailing)
- $0.71
- 12 months to Sep 30, 2026
- 52-week range
- $62.06 – $95.27
- To Nov 12, 2026
- Beta
- 0.88
- Vs S&P 500, 5 years monthly, to Oct 30, 2026
- Average volume
- 2.0M
- 3 months, to Nov 12, 2026
Check the numbers:ExchangeGoogle FinanceYahoo FinanceSEC filings
In short
- Thesis
- The market doubts that IFF can grow its flavor, fragrance and biosciences businesses after the sale of Food Ingredients, and a closed sale with steady growth and lower debt through 2027 can lift its value.
- Gap
- Can close. The sale of Food Ingredients, expected to close by the end of Q2 2027, and the Q4 2026 report, expected in February 2027, show whether IFF can lower its debt and grow its remaining business.
Company guidance: 2026 sales $7.5 to $7.6 billion; adjusted operating EBITDA $1.55 to $1.60 billion (continuing operations) (, Q3 2026 results release (8-K))
Price history
About
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) is based in New York. It makes flavors, fragrances, fragrance ingredients, enzymes, cultures and probiotics for food, beverage, home, personal care and health products. Its continuing operations have three segments: Taste, Health & Biosciences and Scent. It is selling its Food Ingredients business, which it reports as discontinued operations.
Net sales of the continuing operations were $1,942 million in Q3 2026 and $5,802 million for nine months. The common stock trades on the NYSE in US dollars. IFF files 10-K and 10-Q reports.
Thesis
The price of IFF depends on whether the company can grow its remaining businesses and lower its debt after it sells Food Ingredients. In Q3 2026 comparable currency neutral sales grew 5% and adjusted operating EBITDA grew 6%, with growth in Taste and Scent and only 1% sales growth in Health & Biosciences. IFF expects Q4 profitability to be softer, mainly in Health & Biosciences, because of higher costs and reinvestment.
For the price to hold or rise, four things must be true. The sale of Food Ingredients to CVC Capital Partners must close by the end of Q2 2027 with net cash proceeds of about $3.8 billion. IFF must use the cash to repay debt and repurchase shares as planned.
Taste and Scent must keep their growth, and Health & Biosciences must improve. The fragrance competition investigations in Europe and other countries must not lead to large fines. The Q4 2026 report, expected in February 2027, with its 2027 guidance, is the next test.
Checkpoints
- Feb 10, 2027 · est.PendingQ4 2026 results and 2027 outlook2026 sales are in the guided range of $7.5 billion to $7.6 billion and adjusted operating EBITDA is in the range of $1.55 billion to $1.60 billion, and this passes; a result below either range fails.
- Q2 2027 · est.PendingSale of Food Ingredients closesThe sale closes by the end of Q2 2027 with net cash proceeds of about $3.8 billion, and this passes; a delay past June 2027 or lower proceeds fails.
Recent events
- November 3, 2026IFF reported Q3 2026 results. Net sales of the continuing operations rose 4% to $1,942 million and adjusted operating EBITDA was $403 million. The reported loss per share was $0.50, because of a loss of $236 million on assets held for sale and a goodwill impairment of $23 million for the Botanicals and Food Enhancements business, which IFF agreed to sell in July 2026. IFF raised the low end of its 2026 guidance to sales of $7.5 billion to $7.6 billion and adjusted operating EBITDA of $1.55 billion to $1.60 billion.
- November 2, 2026The board approved one-time incentive awards for some executives that are paid only if the sale of Food Ingredients closes. The award of the chief executive, Erik Fyrwald, is restricted stock units with a value of $700,000 that vest after three years.
- August 4, 2026IFF announced a share repurchase authorization of $2.5 billion, including an accelerated share repurchase of $500 million. IFF received about 4.8 million shares in Q3 and about 1 million more at the final settlement on November 3, 2026. It expects to use the rest of the authorization after the sale of Food Ingredients closes.
Show 3 older eventsHide older events
- June 23, 2026IFF signed a $1.0 billion delayed draw term loan to repay its €800 million of 1.800% senior notes due September 25, 2026. The loan matures on December 31, 2027 and must be repaid from the proceeds of the sale of Food Ingredients.
- May 29, 2026IFF announced an agreement to sell its Food Ingredients business to affiliates of CVC Capital Partners in a transaction that values the business at about $4.3 billion. IFF expects net cash proceeds of about $3.8 billion and a minority equity interest of about 9.9%, valued at about $200 million.
- February 5, 2026The Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice confirmed that it closed its investigation of the fragrance business of IFF. Investigations by the European Commission, the UK Competition and Markets Authority and other regulators continue.
Latest news and filings
- Last earnings
- November 3, 2026 (8-K on sec.gov)
- Next earnings
- Expected about February 10, 2027. The company has not confirmed the date.
- 8-KChange of directors or officers and Change to shareholder rights or bylawsFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 10-QQuarterly report for the period ended Sep 30, 2026Filed · iff-20260930
- 8-KEarnings releaseFiled · Press release and exhibits
- 8-KInvestor disclosureFiled · iff-20260804
- 10-QQuarterly report for the period ended Jun 30, 2026Filed · iff-20260630
- 8-KEarnings release and Other company newsFiled · Press release and exhibits
- 8-KNew material agreement and New debt or financial obligationFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 8-KNew material agreement and Other company newsFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 10-QQuarterly report for the period ended Mar 31, 2026Filed · iff-20260331
- 8-KEarnings releaseFiled · Press release and exhibits
Risks
- The sale of Food Ingredients may not close on time. It needs regulatory approvals, and either party can end the agreement if the sale does not close by May 28, 2027. A delay would keep debt higher for longer.
- Debt is high. Total debt was $6,273 million at September 30, 2026, against cash of $272 million. Net debt to credit adjusted EBITDA was 2.75 times.
- Competition investigations of the fragrance industry continue in Europe, the UK, Switzerland, Mexico and other countries. IFF has applied for leniency in a number of jurisdictions, and fines or civil claims could follow.
- Health & Biosciences is weak. Its comparable currency neutral sales grew only 1% in Q3 2026, and IFF expects higher costs and reinvestment to lower its Q4 profit.
- Write-downs and sale losses continue. IFF recorded losses of $263 million on assets held for sale and goodwill impairments of $23 million in the first nine months of 2026.
Balance sheet
- Cash
- $272M
- Debt
- $6.3B
- Net debt
- $6.0B
- Net debt / EBITDA
- 2.8×
- as the company states it
Cash against debt
debt covered by cashnet debt $6.0B
Leverage: net debt / EBITDA
low, under 2×medium, 2× to 4×high, over 4×
When the debt is due
At September 30, 2026, IFF had short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt of $1,538 million and long-term debt of $4,735 million, which is $6,273 million in all. Cash and cash equivalents were $272 million. Net debt to credit adjusted EBITDA, which includes the discontinued operations, was 2.75 times. The $1.0 billion term loan that repaid the euro notes due September 2026 matures on December 31, 2027 and must be repaid from the proceeds of the sale of Food Ingredients. Operating cash flow for nine months, including discontinued operations, was $820 million, and free cash flow was $371 million. IFF pays a quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share. Lease liabilities are not in these figures.
Dividends
- Yield at the current rate
- 2.0% (current annual rate, at today’s price)
- Dividend yield
- 2.0% (last 12 months, at today’s price of $80.38)
- Paid per share
- $1.60 in the last 12 months (4 payments)
- Current annual rate
- $1.60 ($0.40 × 4 a year)
- Latest ex-dividend date
- September 18, 2026, $0.40 per share
Dividends per share by year
| 2016 | $2.40 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $2.66 | |
| 2018 | $2.84 | |
| 2019 | $2.96 | |
| 2020 | $3.04 | |
| 2021 | $3.12 | |
| 2022 | $3.20 | |
| 2023 | $3.24 | |
| 2024 | $1.60 | |
| 2025 | $1.60 |
From 2020 to 2025, the dividend fell by about 12.0% a year. From 2015 to 2025, the dividend fell by about 2.5% a year.
Source: company filings and market data, read on November 12, 2026. The ex-dividend date is the first day a buyer no longer gets the next payment.
Questions about International Flavors & Fragrances
What does International Flavors & Fragrances do?
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) is based in New York. It makes flavors, fragrances, fragrance ingredients, enzymes, cultures and probiotics for food, beverage, home, personal care and health products. Its market cap is $20B at the current price of $80.38.
When does International Flavors & Fragrances report earnings next?
This is an estimate: International Flavors & Fragrances may report on February 10, 2027. It last reported results on November 3, 2026.
Is International Flavors & Fragrances stock below its intrinsic value?
International Flavors & Fragrances stock is below intrinsic value. This is general information, not advice.
What changed recently at International Flavors & Fragrances?
The latest update is from November 3, 2026. IFF reported Q3 2026 results.
What are the main risks for International Flavors & Fragrances?
The sale of Food Ingredients may not close on time. Debt is high. Competition investigations of the fragrance industry continue in Europe, the UK, Switzerland, Mexico and other countries.
How much debt and cash does International Flavors & Fragrances have?
At September 30, 2026, International Flavors & Fragrances had $6.3B of debt and $272M of cash.
Does International Flavors & Fragrances pay a dividend?
Yes. The current annual dividend of International Flavors & Fragrances is $1.60 per share. That is a dividend yield of 2.0% at the current price of $80.38. The latest ex-dividend date was September 18, 2026.
Similar companies
- BABoeingShares: High debt, Regulation and courts, Tariffs and trade
- Intrinsic value
- Below intrinsic value
- Gap
- Slow
- MDLNMedlineShares: Tariffs and trade, Regulation and courts, High debt
- Intrinsic value
- Close to intrinsic value
- Gap
- Can close
- STESTERISShares: High debt, Tariffs and trade, Regulation and courts
- Intrinsic value
- Pricey
- Gap
- Can close
- UNPUnion PacificShares: Regulation and courts, Tariffs and trade, High debt
- Intrinsic value
- Far above intrinsic value
- Gap
- Can close
- TEXTerexShares: Tariffs and trade, High debt
- Intrinsic value
- Well below intrinsic value
- Gap
- Can close
Loading your notes…
Read it all? Star IFF or pass, then go on to the next one.