---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000950170-23-014241"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SCL"
cik: "0000094049"
company_name: "STEPAN CO"
filed_at: "2023-04-25T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-16T18:08:19.115376+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Stepan Q1 net income falls 64% to $16.1M ($0.70 EPS); sales volume down 14%

## Summary
- Reported EPS $0.70 vs $1.93 prior year; adjusted EPS $0.71 vs $1.76.
- Net sales $651.4M (-4%); volume decline of 14% partially offset by 12% higher pricing/mix.
- Surfactant operating income $27.1M (-50%); Polymer op. income $10.0M (-29%) on volume drops.
- Company expects Q2 volumes to remain depressed, but H2 year-over-year growth from new business and low base.
- Quarterly dividend declared at $0.365/share, payable June 15, unchanged from prior quarter.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000950170-23-014241
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SCL
- cik: 0000094049
- company_name: STEPAN CO
- filed_at: 2023-04-25T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/94049/000095017023014241/0000950170-23-014241-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/94049/000095017023014241/scl-20230425.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-23-014241
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-23-014241.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-23-014241.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  STEPAN CO reported the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 results: revenue $ 651,436, net income $ 16,142, EPS $ 0.70.
  - Period: the first quarter ended March 31, 2023
  - Revenue: $ 651,436
  - Net income: $ 16,142
  - EPS: $ 0.70
  - Result: reported results
  source text: Financial Summary Three Months Ended March 31 ($ in thousands, except per share data) 2023 2022 % Change Net Sales $ 651,436 $ 675,276 (4 )% Operating Income $ 21,057 $ 63,346 (67 )% Net Income $ 16,142 $ 44,809 (64 )% Earnings per Diluted Share $ 0.70 $ 1.93 (64 )%
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/94049/000095017023014241/0000950170-23-014241-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.