Copied from Croda's web site, it gives a quick insight into the niche markets in which this company specialises ...... They also own Uniquema, which is how the latter fits in ......

Croda isnt a household name but household names have made us successful. Within our core speciality chemicals business we focus on personal care, health care, home care and plastics additive markets.

Uniqema (cynic adds - acquisition completed 1/9/06) provides base oleochemicals such as fatty acids, polymerised fatty acids, glycerine and soap to a global market. With years of experience and technical advancements, Uniqema is a global market leader.


Now you have the outline, here are the charts to follow ..... Croda has generally been a steady performer, and none the worse for it ...... the chart today, following the announcement of a sale of a part of the biz, sp has moved upwards with indications that it could be about to break upwards .... and i have backed my mouth with my money

Broker snap: Goldman Sachs says 'buy'
LONDON (ShareCast) - Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS - news) has reiterated a 'buy' recommendation on Croda International, reducing its price target to 3150p from 3340p. This still provides over 45% upside on its current price of approximately 2160p.

Following slightly disappointing third quarter results from the specialty chemicals company, Goldman analysts have lowered their earnings per share (EPS) forecasts for 2012-14 by 4% with nearly half of the reduction being a result of foreign exchange movements.

However, they believe "Croda is exposed to some of the strongest
structural growth themes (e.g consumer care) within the sector".

As a consequence they state: "We would view any weakness as an opportunity to buy a 2020 Vision Leader at a depressed valuation. Croda trades at 8.6 times 2014 estimates of EV/EBITDA [enterprise value/earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation] verses a historical average of 9.5 times, despite stronger returns relative to history."

Goldman Sachs' twelve-month price target moves to 3150p (from 3340p) and is based on 11.5 times 2014 estimates of EV/EBITDA.

Place your bets.

Goldman Sachs Conviction Buy 2,402.50 2,449.00 3,200.00 - Retains

Citigroup Sell 2,402.50 2,449.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 Reiterates

HSBC Neutral 2,402.50 2,449.00 2,750.00 2,800.00 Reiterates

Exane BNP Paribas Neutral 2,402.50 2,449.00 - 2,530.00 Reiterates

Jefferies International Hold 2,402.50 2,449.00 2,600.00 2,600.00 Reiterates

Quite a range after update.

Credit Suisse Outperform 2,505.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 Reiterates

Canaccord Genuity Sell 2,505.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 Reiterates

no doubt i've missed something, but those figures did not look at all bad and even the conservative outlook would not seem to merit the big markdown

Capital Markets Day

Croda International plc will be hosting its annual Capital Markets Day for analysts and investors this afternoon in London.

Management will present on Croda's Consumer Care division covering strategy and future growth opportunities; innovation in new technologies; innovation in Personal Care; and innovation in Health Care. No material new information will be disclosed.

The company will broadcast the meeting in a live audiocast commencing at 3:30 PM on the company's website at www.croda.com.

Seems this sector is struggling a bit atm. Also watching SYNT (ex YULC) which is in a similar market, but the recession still biting as far as they are concerned.

StockMarketWire.com
Croda International - a world leader in speciality chemical ingredients - posts record reported sales and pre-tax profit for the year to the end of December.

It said this reflected underlying sales growth in all four sectors and from all regional geographies.

Sales for the year increased to GBP1,081.7m, representing constant currency growth of 4.2% over 2014 and capping six successive quarters of underlying sales growth. The improvement in adjusted pre-tax profit was even stronger, up 8.8% in constant currency terms. Adjusted pre-tax profit was GBP254.7m (2014: GBP235.4m) and IFRS pre-tax profit was �252.3m (2014: �229.4m).

The full year dividend increased by 5.3% to 69.0p, in addition to a 100p per share special dividend.

Chief executive Steve Foots said: "2015 has been a year of strong progress for Croda. A relentless focus on innovation, improved proximity to our customers and investment in fast growth markets has delivered record reported sales and pre-tax profit, together with a special dividend to shareholders. Looking ahead, whilst we expect market conditions to remain challenging, our strong innovation pipeline and the benefits of our customer-led investment in capacity mean that we are confident of delivering continued progress in 2016."