International Flavors & Fragrances (MIL:1IFF) Retained Earnings: €-2,898 Mil (As of Mar. 2026)

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MIL:1IFF International Flavors & Fragrances Inc MIL:1IFF
40 GF Score
Price €68.12
GF Value €65.20
Valuation Fairly Valued
! 9 Warning Signs
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What is International Flavors & Fragrances Retained Earnings?

International Flavors & Fragrances MIL:1IFF 40 Retained Earnings is €-2,898 Mil as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus rates MIL:1IFF with a GF Score™ of 40/100 and a GF Value™ of €65.20 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 9 warning signs investors should review.

Retained earnings is the accumulated portion of net income that is not distributed to shareholders. International Flavors & Fragrances's retained earnings for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was €-2,898 Mil.

International Flavors & Fragrances's quarterly retained earnings declined from Sep. 2025 (€-2,850 Mil) to Dec. 2025 (€-2,918 Mil) but then increased from Dec. 2025 (€-2,918 Mil) to Mar. 2026 (€-2,898 Mil).

International Flavors & Fragrances's annual retained earnings declined from Dec. 2023 (€-2,237 Mil) to Dec. 2024 (€-2,528 Mil) and declined from Dec. 2024 (€-2,528 Mil) to Dec. 2025 (€-2,918 Mil).


International Flavors & Fragrances  (MIL:1IFF) Retained Earnings Explanation

Historically profitable companies sometimes have negative retained earnings. This is because they have cumulatively paid out more to shareholders than they reported in profits.

For example, in 2011, Microsoft had negative retained earnings. This does not mean the company lost more money than it made over the years. It just means it paid out more money than it earned.

If a company has negative retained earnings, investors should check the 10-year financial results. They should not assume that negative retained earnings prove a company has generally lost money in the past.

Of course, many companies with negative retained earnings have indeed lost money in the past.

Retained Earnings: Warren Buffett's Secret.

One of the most important indicators of durable competitive advantage. Net earnings can be paid out as dividends, used to buy back shares or retained for growth.

If the company loses more than it has accumulated, retained earnings is negative.

If a company isn't adding to its retained earnings, it isn't growing its net worth.

Rate of growth of retained earnings is good indicator whether it's benefiting from a competitive advantage.

Microsoft is negative because it chose to buyback stock and pay dividends.

The more earnings retained, the faster it grows and increases growth rate for future earnings.


International Flavors & Fragrances Retained Earnings Historical Data

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The historical data trend for International Flavors & Fragrances's Retained Earnings can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

International Flavors & Fragrances Retained Earnings Chart

International Flavors & Fragrances Annual Data
Trend Dec16 Dec17 Dec18 Dec19 Dec20 Dec21 Dec22 Dec23 Dec24 Dec25
Retained Earnings
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 3,222.29 901.52 -2,236.56 -2,527.89 -2,918.12

International Flavors & Fragrances Quarterly Data
Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23 Mar24 Jun24 Sep24 Dec24 Mar25 Jun25 Sep25 Dec25 Mar26
Retained Earnings Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -3,445.63 -2,787.41 -2,849.94 -2,918.12 -2,897.75
MIL:1IFF
40GF Score
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc MIL:1IFF
Retained Earnings is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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International Flavors & Fragrances Retained Earnings Calculation

Retained Earnings is the accumulated portion of net income that is not distributed to shareholders. Because the net income was not distributed to shareholders, shareholders' equity is increased by the same amount.

Of course, if a company loses, it is called retained losses, or accumulated losses.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Retained Earnings →
What does a Retained Earnings of €-2,898 Mil mean?
International Flavors & Fragrances (MIL:1IFF) has a Retained Earnings of €-2,898 Mil as of Mar. 2026. Retained earnings is the amount of net income not issued to shareholders. View historical data on International Flavors & Fragrances and its competitors.
Is International Flavors & Fragrances' Retained Earnings too high?
International Flavors & Fragrances' current Retained Earnings is €-2,898 Mil. Overall, International Flavors & Fragrances has a GF Score™ of 40/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does International Flavors & Fragrances' Retained Earnings compare to DD and LYB?
International Flavors & Fragrances' Retained Earnings of €-2,898 Mil can be compared against companies in the Chemicals industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Retained Earnings for a Chemicals company?
A good Retained Earnings depends on the Chemicals industry context. However, Retained Earnings should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Retained Earnings mean?
A high Retained Earnings can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Retained earnings is the amount of net income not issued to shareholders. View historical data on International Flavors & Fragrances and its competitors. International Flavors & Fragrances's current Retained Earnings is €-2,898 Mil. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is International Flavors & Fragrances stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, International Flavors & Fragrances (MIL:1IFF) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is €65.20, compared to a current price of €68.12 — trading 4.5% above its estimated fair value. The current Retained Earnings is €-2,898 Mil. International Flavors & Fragrances' overall GF Score™ is 40/100 with 9 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Retained Earnings calculated?
Retained Earnings is calculated from a company's financial statements. For International Flavors & Fragrances (MIL:1IFF), the current Retained Earnings is €-2,898 Mil as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is International Flavors & Fragrances (MIL:1IFF) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, International Flavors & Fragrances stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of €68.12 is trading 4.5% above its estimated GF Value™ of €65.20. GuruFocus considers International Flavors & Fragrances to be Fairly Valued.

Key valuation signals for MIL:1IFF:

  • Retained Earnings: €-2,898 Mil
  • GF Value™: €65.20 vs. price of €68.12 (4.5% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 40/100 with 9 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the MIL:1IFF stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


International Flavors & Fragrances Business Description

Address 521 West 57th Street, New York, NY, USA, 10019-2960
International Flavors & Fragrances is the largest specialty ingredients producer globally. It sells ingredients for the food, beverage, health, household goods, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries. The company makes proprietary formulations and partners with customers to deliver custom solutions. Through its taste and scent segments, which each generate around 25% of profits, IFF is a leading flavor and fragrance producer. The health and biosciences business, which generates 30% of profits, is a global leader in probiotics and enzymes. The remaining profits come from the food ingredients business, which sells texturants, plant-based proteins, and other ingredients, though IFF plans to divest it in a deal expected to close in 2027.
40GF Score

Get the complete analysis for MIL:1IFF

Retained Earnings is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

€68.12
Price
€65.20
GF Value