Spinoff Spotlight: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

Article Excerpt

INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES INC. $137 is a buy. The company (New York symbol IFF; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 254.6 million; Market cap: $34.9 billion; Dividend yield: 2.3%; Takeover Target Rating; Medium; www.iff.com) makes compounds that improve the taste of food and the smell of consumer products. On February 1, 2021, IFF merged with the nutrition and biosciences business of DuPont (New York symbol DD). DuPont shareholders now own 55.4% of the combined company, with IFF shareholders holding the rest. In the three months ended December 31, 2021, IFF’s sales rose 9.3%, to $3.03 billion from $2.77 billion a year earlier. Earning before one-time times improved 24.8%, to $141 million from $113 million. Due to extra shares outstanding after the merger, per-share earnings fell 44.4%, to $0.55 from $0.99. The merger let IFF cut $60 million from its annual costs. It aims to raise that savings to $300 million yearly before the fourth year. Meantime, IFF has agreed to add a new director to its board as part…