International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. research snapshot
IFF AI stock analysis reads International Flavors & Fragrances as a specialty taste, scent, and health and biosciences company that is improving operations, cutting debt, and reshaping its portfolio as of the August 2, 2026 data cutoff, with the stock closing near $79.22 on July 31, 2026 at a market capitalization near $20.23 billion. Q1 2026, reported May 6, delivered 3% sales growth, adjusted operating EBITDA of $568 million up 8%, and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 20.7%, the highest since the second quarter of 2022, while net debt to credit-adjusted EBITDA stayed near 2.5x. Management reaffirmed full-year 2026 guidance of $10.5 billion to $10.8 billion sales and $2.05 billion to $2.15 billion adjusted operating EBITDA, but warned that second-quarter EBITDA will come in below the $568 million first-quarter print because of the Middle East conflict, energy and logistics inflation, and Fine Fragrance softness in that region. Two portfolio actions support the thesis: the agreement to sell the Food Ingredients business to CVC Capital Partners in a transaction reported near $4.3 billion, and the July 20 agreement to sell botanical extracts, vitamins, minerals, and food enhancement activities to SuanNutra. Offsetting this are a valuation of about 24.5x trailing earnings and 17.9x forward earnings, a still-large goodwill and intangible base near $14 billion, commodity Fragrance Ingredients price competition, short interest near 5.89% of shares, and Q2 2026 results scheduled for August 4, 2026, right after this cutoff. The analysis supports a scenario framework, not a certain price prediction, and is for information only.
Current price
$79.22
Market cap
$20.23 billion
AI score
64 / 100
Rating
Turnaround with deleveraging and divestiture momentum, premium valuation
Trend status
Constructive uptrend above the 20, 50, 100, and 200-day moving averages
Data cutoff (updated monthly)
August 4, 2026
Informational use only. This page is not investment advice.
| Dimension | Conclusion | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Business quality | IFF sells flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, cultures, enzymes, probiotics, and bioscience solutions that go into everyday food, beverage, personal care, home care, and animal nutrition products, with TTM revenue near $10.79 billion. | High |
| Moat | The moat comes from formulation know-how, sensory and ingredient libraries, regulatory and safety trust, customer co-development, global manufacturing, and switching friction in validated recipes, and it is stronger in high-touch innovation than in commodity Fragrance Ingredients. | Medium-high |
| Management | Erik Fyrwald and CFO Michael DeVeau are simplifying the portfolio, selling Food Ingredients to CVC, cutting debt to about 2.5x net debt to credit-adjusted EBITDA, and tying compensation to free cash flow conversion, with Q1 2026 free cash flow up $144 million year over year. | Medium-high |
| Financial trend | Q1 2026 sales rose 3% to about $2.74 billion with adjusted operating EBITDA of $568 million up 8%, the adjusted EBITDA margin reached 20.7%, free cash flow was $92 million up from negative a year ago, and net debt to credit-adjusted EBITDA held near 2.5x. | High |
| Valuation | At about 24.55x trailing earnings, 17.90x forward earnings, 1.87x sales, 1.43x book value, 50.56x trailing free cash flow, and 14.80x EV/EBITDA, the market is pricing in a successful recovery and full deleveraging. | Medium |
| Technical trend | IFF closed near $79.22 on July 31, 2026, above its 20-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages, with 14-day RSI near 55 and 14-day ADX near 12 showing a positive but not strongly trending move. | Medium |
| Risk level | Key risks are the Middle East conflict and Fine Fragrance softness, energy and logistics inflation that pricing has not fully offset, commodity Fragrance Ingredients price competition, a large goodwill and intangible base near $14 billion, and short interest near 5.89% of shares outstanding. | Medium-high |
| AI confidence | High for descriptive facts and cross-checked math that matched across StockAnalysis.com, the Q1 2026 earnings release and call transcript, and the divestiture announcements. Lower for forward return estimates because second-quarter results, the Food Ingredients close, and Middle East demand are uncertain. | High data confidence |
| Investment certainty | Medium-low to medium certainty. The page gives a research framework and scenario ranges, not a buy or sell instruction. | Medium |
IFF AI stock forecast
The IFF AI stock forecast uses scenario math around the July 31, 2026 close of $79.22 and the consensus 2026 adjusted EPS estimate of $4.49. The three-scenario framework produced a bearish area near $67, a base area near $95 to $100, and a bullish area near $135 to $145 before dividends, using adjusted EPS growth of 2% to 10% and exit multiples of 14x to 24x over three years. These are scenarios, not price commitments.
$130 to $150
More likely if the Food Ingredients sale closes on schedule and proceeds cut net debt toward 2x, Taste and Health & Biosciences keep gaining volume, Scent recovers from the Middle East pullback, inflation is fully recovered through pricing, and the market re-rates IFF to a low-20s earnings multiple.
$92 to $105
More likely if IFF delivers the reaffirmed $10.5 billion to $10.8 billion sales and $2.05 billion to $2.15 billion adjusted operating EBITDA guidance, keeps leverage near 2.5x, and the market holds the stock near an 18x to 20x forward multiple consistent with the consensus target near $91.54.
$62 to $72
More likely if the Middle East conflict keeps Fine Fragrance weak, energy and raw material inflation outruns pricing, commodity Fragrance Ingredients competition deepens, the Food Ingredients sale stalls or leaves stranded costs, or investors reprice IFF as a slower-growing specialty chemical company.
IFF AI technical analysis
IFF AI technical analysis is constructive as of the August 2, 2026 data cutoff. The stock closed near $79.22 on July 31, 2026, above its 20-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages, with 14-day RSI near 55 and 14-day ADX near 12 confirming an uptrend that is not yet strongly trending. A 52-week high of $84.45 remains overhead as the next resistance test.
| Level | Value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Current price | $79.22 | StockAnalysis.com real-time quote at the July 31, 2026 close; market cap math uses 255.30 million shares outstanding. |
| Near support | $76.50 to $77.75 | Barchart placed the 20-day moving average near $77.75 and the 50-day near $76.80 as of July 31, 2026, forming the first pullback zone. |
| Deeper support | $72 to $74.50 | The 100-day moving average was near $74.53 and the 200-day near $72.04, giving room for a normal pullback after the recent run. |
| Near resistance | $82 to $84.45 | The immediate upside is the 52-week high of $84.45 reached on February 17, 2026, with the July 7 close near $81.83 as an intermediate marker. |
| 50-day moving average | $76.80 | Barchart reported the 50-day moving average near $76.80 as of July 31, 2026, below the current price. |
| 200-day moving average | $72.04 | Barchart reported the 200-day trend line near $72.04, well below price and confirming the longer-term uptrend. |
| 100-day moving average | $74.53 | Barchart reported the 100-day moving average near $74.53 on July 31, 2026, between the 50-day and 200-day lines. |
| Momentum | RSI near 55, ADX near 12 | 14-day RSI was near 55.32, neutral rather than overbought, and 14-day ADX near 12.01 on Barchart showed an uptrend that is not yet strongly trending. |
| Volume | About 1.8 million average shares | Barchart listed 20-day average volume near 1.82 million shares and StockAnalysis near 1.80 million on July 31, 2026, useful for checking breakout quality. |
| Volatility | Moderate to elevated | Barchart reported 14-day historical volatility near 32%, so position sizing should account for larger swings around earnings, the Middle East situation, and divestiture news. |
| Invalidation | Close below $76.50 | A decisive close below the 50-day moving average near $76.80 would weaken the short-term uptrend; a close below the 200-day near $72.04 would turn the medium-term trend bearish. |
IFF AI trading strategy
The IFF AI trading strategy is a rules-based research framework for trading and watching the turnaround and divestiture story. It is not personal advice and should be paired with fresh chart data, the August 4 Q2 2026 report, filings, position sizing, and a defined invalidation level.
Watch for IFF to hold above the 50-day moving average near $77 and to build volume on a move toward the $84.45 high, with the 200-day trend line near $72 still rising and Q2 2026 results supporting the reaffirmed guidance.
A daily close below the 50-day moving average or a failed attempt at the 52-week high should trigger a stop and review, because second-quarter EBITDA is expected to fall below the first quarter.
If IFF pulls back toward the $72 to $77 support cluster without new legal, earnings, or divestiture damage, compare the price reaction with Q2 2026 results, Middle East demand, raw material pricing, and Food Ingredients sale progress before acting.
Do not average down without a maximum loss rule because leverage, a large goodwill base, and commodity ingredient price pressure can turn a support zone into a value trap.
Track segment volume growth, adjusted operating EBITDA margin, free cash flow conversion, Food Ingredients and SuanNutra divestiture milestones, net debt to credit-adjusted EBITDA, raw material and energy costs, pricing progress, and Fine Fragrance demand.
Reduce confidence if the stock rises mainly on divestiture headlines without matching free cash flow improvement, debt reduction, and margin expansion evidence.
Investment research summary
IFF is paid because consumer brands need trusted taste, scent, texture, health, bioscience, and formulation inputs that make everyday products repeatable, differentiated, safe, and acceptable to regulators and end customers.
The moat comes from sensory science, formulation libraries, customer co-development, regulatory approvals, global manufacturing, and switching costs embedded in validated recipes. It is stronger in Taste and high-touch innovation than in commodity-like Fragrance Ingredients.
The thesis fails if the Middle East conflict keeps Fine Fragrance weak, energy and raw material inflation outruns pricing, commodity Fragrance Ingredients competition deepens, the Food Ingredients sale leaves stranded costs and weaker scale, or the goodwill base requires more charges.
Management is simplifying the portfolio, selling Food Ingredients to CVC, buying back dilution, tying pay to free cash flow conversion, and prioritizing debt reduction. The key test is whether the divestiture proceeds arrive on time and convert into lower leverage and higher cash returns.
Taste, scent, health, and biosciences sit inside durable consumer demand for flavor, fragrance, wellness, clean-label, and functional ingredients. Growth is steady rather than explosive, and competition from Givaudan, Firmenich, Symrise, Kerry, and in-house customer teams keeps pricing power contested.
At about 24.5x trailing earnings, 17.9x forward earnings, and 1.87x sales, IFF is priced for a successful recovery rather than distress. Margin of safety depends on debt reduction, better free cash flow, the Food Ingredients close, and proof that the post-divestiture company can grow with higher margins.
Source-backed data
Every metric below includes a source and last verification date.
| Metric | Value | Source | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFF price | $79.22 at the July 31, 2026 close | StockAnalysis.com real-time quote | July 31, 2026 |
| Market capitalization | $20.23 billion, verified as $79.22 x 255.30 million shares with 0.03% deviation | financial_rigor.py market cap verification | August 2, 2026 |
| Q1 2026 results | Sales of about $2.74 billion up 3%, adjusted operating EBITDA of $568 million up 8%, adjusted EBITDA margin of 20.7%, and free cash flow of $92 million up $144 million year over year | IFF Q1 2026 earnings release and call | May 6, 2026 |
| Q1 2026 segment sales | Taste $656 million up 2%, Food Ingredients $839 million up 3%, Health & Biosciences $595 million up 5%, Scent $651 million up 1% | IFF Q1 2026 earnings call | May 6, 2026 |
| Q1 2026 segment adjusted EBITDA | Taste $153 million up 18%, Food Ingredients $114 million up 12%, Health & Biosciences $153 million up 7%, Scent $148 million down 2% | IFF Q1 2026 earnings call | May 6, 2026 |
| 2026 guidance | Sales of $10.5 billion to $10.8 billion representing 1% to 4% growth, adjusted operating EBITDA of $2.05 billion to $2.15 billion representing 3% to 8% growth | IFF Q1 2026 earnings call guidance reaffirmed | May 6, 2026 |
| Cash and gross debt | Cash and equivalents of $562 million and gross debt of $5.85 billion at March 31, 2026, down more than $3 billion year over year | IFF Q1 2026 earnings call | May 6, 2026 |
| Leverage | Net debt to credit-adjusted EBITDA of 2.5x at the end of Q1 2026 | IFF Q1 2026 earnings call | May 6, 2026 |
| FY2025 results | Revenue of $10.89 billion down 5.17%, GAAP net loss of $361 million, adjusted operating EBITDA of $2.086 billion, and free cash flow of $256 million | StockAnalysis.com financials and IFF FY2025 results | August 1, 2026 |
| Food Ingredients sale | Agreement to sell the Food Ingredients business to CVC Capital Partners in a transaction reported near $4.3 billion, with IFF planning to prioritize debt reduction | IFF announcement and press reports | May 29, 2026 |
| SuanNutra divestiture | Agreement to sell botanical extracts, vitamins and minerals, and food enhancement activities to SuanNutra, a Carbyne Equity Partners portfolio company | IFF announcement | July 20, 2026 |
| Total debt and net debt | Total debt of $6,341 million and net debt of $5,779 million as of March 31, 2026 on a standardized balance sheet, versus gross debt of $5.85 billion as reported by the company | StockAnalysis.com balance sheet and IFF Q1 2026 results | August 1, 2026 |
| Goodwill and intangibles | Goodwill of $8,220 million and other intangibles of $5,867 million as of March 31, 2026 | StockAnalysis.com balance sheet | August 1, 2026 |
| TTM income statement | TTM revenue of $10.79 billion, net income of $826 million, operating income of $907 million, and EBITDA of $1.77 billion | StockAnalysis.com statistics | August 2, 2026 |
| TTM cash flow | Operating cash flow of $980 million, capital expenditures of $580 million, and free cash flow of $400 million over the TTM | StockAnalysis.com statistics and cash flow statement | August 2, 2026 |
| Valuation check | 24.55x trailing GAAP EPS, 17.90x forward PE, 1.87x sales, 1.43x book value, 50.56x free cash flow, 14.80x EV/EBITDA, and 2.02% dividend yield | financial_rigor.py valuation verification and StockAnalysis | August 2, 2026 |
| Segment revenue mix, TTM | Taste $2.51 billion, Food Ingredients $3.32 billion, Health & Biosciences $2.34 billion, Scent $2.52 billion | StockAnalysis.com financials segment breakdown | August 1, 2026 |
| Analyst consensus | Buy with an average target of $91.54 across 20 analysts, low $71 and high $105, median $91 | StockAnalysis.com forecast and analyst ratings | July 23, 2026 |
| Analyst rating mix, July 2026 | 11 Strong Buy, 5 Buy, 4 Hold, 0 Sell, 0 Strong Sell out of 20 | StockAnalysis.com forecast recommendation trends | July 23, 2026 |
| Recent analyst target updates | Oppenheimer maintains $90, BofA raised to $98 from $92, Morgan Stanley raised to $95 from $93, Argus raised to $85 from $80, UBS $81 to $84, Benchmark initiated at $100, Citi lowered to $88 from $96 | StockAnalysis.com forecast and TipRanks | July 23, 2026 |
| Short interest | 15.03 million shares short, 5.89% of shares outstanding, 7.32 days to cover | StockAnalysis.com statistics short selling | August 2, 2026 |
| 2026 and 2027 consensus estimates | FY2026 revenue estimate $10.74 billion with adjusted EPS $4.49, FY2027 revenue estimate $11.05 billion with adjusted EPS $4.80 | StockAnalysis.com forecast financial forecast | July 23, 2026 |
| Technical snapshot | 20-day SMA near $77.75, 50-day SMA near $76.80, 100-day SMA near $74.53, 200-day SMA near $72.04, 14-day RSI near 55.32, 14-day ADX near 12.01 | Barchart and StockAnalysis.com technical snapshots | July 31, 2026 |
| Dividend | Annual dividend of $1.60 per share, quarterly $0.40, yield of 2.02%, next ex-dividend date September 18, 2026 | StockAnalysis.com dividends | July 28, 2026 |
This IFF AI stock analysis is an informational research tool, not investment advice, a recommendation, or a promise of future return. Forecast ranges are scenarios based on available filings, quote snapshots, earnings call transcripts, and third-party data as of the stated cutoff date. They may be wrong, incomplete, or outdated after the August 4, 2026 second-quarter report, new legal or macro developments, market moves, or the Food Ingredients sale outcome.
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