SCL
Stepan Company (SCL) Business Model Analysis (2026)
Overall Score
Revenue Quality
Revenue base remains asset-heavy and low-margin, with gross margin at 11.8% and operating margin at 3.3%.
Asset turnover is solid at 1.02x, supporting acceptable revenue generation from the asset base.
Profitability
Profitability remains weak, with net margin at -0.1% and return on equity at -0.2%.
Operating profitability is modest, as operating return on assets is 3.4% and return on invested capital is 4.1%.
Cash Generation
Operating cash flow is positive at 0.20x of revenue, but free cash flow remains negative at -2.3% FCF yield.
Capital intensity is elevated, with capex exceeding operating cash flow and free cash flow per share at -1.48.
Balance Sheet Strength
Liquidity is adequate but not strong, with a current ratio of 1.15x and cash ratio of 0.13x.
Leverage is meaningful, with net debt to EBITDA at 3.7x and debt to equity at 0.58x.
Business Efficiency
Working capital efficiency is decent, with a cash conversion cycle of 74 days and working capital turnover of 15.5x.
Inventory and receivables management are reasonable, with inventory turnover at 6.6x and receivables turnover at 4.9x.
Sources
- Company filings (10-K, 10-Q, investor presentations)
- Financial and market data providers
- Public news and industry information
🔒 Go Beyond This Framework
This is one of 10 institutional-grade frameworks Invetso runs on Stepan Company. Unlock the complete analysis — SWOT, Economic Moat, Porter’s Five Forces, Management, PESTLE and the Invetso Quality Score.

