Merger savings will boost profits

Article Excerpt

INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES INC. $148 is a buy. The company (New York symbol IFF; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 254.5 million; Market cap: $37.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.1; Dividend yield: 2.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; 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). The new firm expects its sales in 2021 will rise 8% to $11.55 billion, up from its earlier forecast of 7%. However, rising costs for ingredients will likely cut its gross margin to 21.5% in 2021, down from IFF’s earlier prediction of 22.5%. Even so, savings from the merger should lift its gross margin to 26% in 2023. IFF is a buy. buy…