A brand new CEO for cosmetics and flavors ingredient firm Worldwide Flavors & Fragrances is a optimistic catalyst — and now is an ideal time for traders to purchase the inventory, in accordance with Jeffries. The agency upgraded IFF shares to purchase from maintain after IFF introduced the CEO change on Thursday , efficient Feb. 6. Jefferies additionally raised its worth goal on the inventory by 53%, to $112 from $73, implying shares might surge 40% from Thursday’s shut. “The CEO change, in our view, finally positions IFF for several years of sustainable structural improvement,” analyst Laurence Alexander wrote in a Friday notice. “The Q4 pre-release suggests operations are on track: the prospect of a fresh strategic vision should help narrow the wide valuation discount with peers.” IFF is subsequent scheduled to report earnings on Feb. 14. Its shares are at present buying and selling 32% decrease than its European rivals and 12% beneath its five-year common, the Jefferies analyst famous. Alexander believes IFF’s elements phase is well-positioned to learn from a restocking cycle that might stretch into 2026. Whereas the corporate struggled with the speedy rise in rates of interest that led to “unusual inventory destocking,” Alexander forecasts “smoother growth” as elements tendencies normalize. “IFF is a global leader in providing ingredients and solutions to the recession-resistant food & beverage, home & personal care and health & wellness markets. Their complementary product portfolios gave the combined company leadership positions (#1 or #2) across the key taste, texture, scent, nutrition, enzymes, cultures, soy proteins and probiotics categories,” the analyst stated. IFF shares briefly jumped 4.5% throughout early buying and selling Friday earlier than giving again just about all of the achieve. — CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed to this report.