FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Symrise shares surged to a two-month high on Wednesday following better-than-expected sales figures. By late afternoon, the stock climbed 3.5 percent to 76 euros, outperforming a slightly weaker Dax index and continuing the bottoming process underway since December 2025. The year-to-date gain currently stands at just over 10 percent.
Last year, the flavors and fragrances manufacturer soured investor sentiment by lowering its sales outlook twice due to waning consumer demand. Between early June and the multi-year low reached in mid-December 2025, the stock had plummeted by 40 percent.
Experts are now praising Symrise's first-quarter sales performance once again. Revenues exceeded both the average analyst estimate and the company's own guidance. Excluding acquisitions, divestments, and currency effects, the decline was less severe than feared, noted Marcus Dunford-Castro of Jefferies.
Alex Sloane of Barclays highlighted volume trends in light of this surprise: the Taste, Nutrition & Health (TNH) segment showed strength, and the pet food division is normalizing. The core Scent & Care segment remained weighed down by a double-digit decline in UV filters and weakness in the Aroma Molecules division.
Following the lead of its Swiss rival Givaudan on April 14, Symrise has now also delivered a positive surprise on the top line, commented Goldman Sachs analyst Georgina Fraser. While investors remain cautious regarding Symrise's ability to drive the growth momentum required to meet its reaffirmed full-year sales and margin targets, new pricing agreements and easier year-on-year comparisons should provide support./ck/jsl/he
