Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2025

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

6. Debt

At December 31, 2025 and 2024, debt was comprised of the following:

(In thousands)	Maturity Dates	December 31, 2025		December 31, 2024
Senior unsecured notes
3.95% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $56 and     $99 for 2025 and 2024, respectively)	2026-2027	$	28,515	$	42,759
3.86% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $0 and     $15 for 2025 and 2024, respectively)	2025		—		14,270
2.30% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $55 and     $77 for 2025 and 2024, respectively)	2026-2028		29,945		39,923
2.37% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $60 and     $83 for 2025 and 2024, respectively)	2026-2028		29,940		39,917
2.73% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $52 and     $70 for 2025 and 2024, respectively)	2026-2031		85,662		99,930
2.83% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $52 and     $60 for 2025 and 2024, respectively)	2026-2032		74,948		74,940
6.17% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $0 and     $0 for 2025 and 2024, respectively)	2029-2033		75,000		—
Revolving credit facility and term loan borrowing	2026-2027		302,700		313,700
Total debt		$	626,710	$	625,439
Less current maturities			285,735		292,807
Long-term debt		$	340,975	$	332,632

The Company’s long-term debt financing is comprised of certain senior unsecured notes issued to insurance companies in private placement transactions pursuant to note purchase agreements (the Note Purchase Agreements), totaling $324,010,000 as of December 31, 2025. These notes are denominated in U.S. dollars and have fixed interest rates ranging from 2.30 percent to 6.17 percent. The notes had original maturities of seven to 12 years with mandatory principal payments beginning four, five and six years after issuance. The Company will be required to make principal payments on the currently outstanding notes from 2026 to 2033.

On May 21, 2025, pursuant to a note purchase and private shelf agreement dated as of June 10, 2021, Stepan issued and sold $37,500,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 6.17 percent Senior Notes, Series 2025-A, due May 21, 2033 (the Series 2025-A Notes). On May 21, 2025, pursuant to a note purchase and master note agreement dated as of June 10, 2021, Stepan issued and sold $37,500,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 6.17 percent Senior Notes, Series 2025-B, due May 21, 2033 (together with the Series 2025-A Notes, the Notes). The Notes will bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.17 percent with interest to be paid semi-annually. Principal amortization for the Notes is contractually scheduled with equal annual payments beginning on May 21, 2029 and on each May 21 thereafter to and including May 21, 2032, with the final outstanding principal balance due at maturity on May 21, 2033.

On August 27, 2024, the Company entered into amendments to two of its note purchase agreements to increase the available facility amounts and extend the end date of the issuance period to August 27, 2027. The Company’s credit agreement (the Credit Agreement) with a syndicate of banks provides for credit facilities in an initial aggregate principal amount of $450,000,000, consisting of (a) a $350,000,000 multi-currency revolving credit facility and (b) a $100,000,000 delayed draw term loan credit facility, each of which matures on June 24, 2027. The Company's credit agreement with Credit Industriel et Commercial NY (the CIC Credit Agreement) provides for a credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $8,700,000. The facility is for the sole purpose of the issuance of standby letters of credit. The Company maintains import and export letters of credit, and standby letters of credit under its workers’ compensation insurance agreements and for other purposes, as needed from time to time, which are issued under the Credit Agreement and under the CIC Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $4,102,000 and $302,700,000 of outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement, inclusive of an $83,750,000 delayed-draw term loan ($16,250,000 of the term loan principal has been permanently repaid as scheduled). There was $126,948,000 available under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had an outstanding letter of credit of $8,694,000 under the CIC Credit Agreement.

Loans under the Credit Agreement may be incurred, at the discretion of the Company, with terms to maturity of one month, three months or six months. The Company may choose from two interest rate options: (1) Adjusted Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) applicable to USD loans and relevant benchmark rates applicable to EUR, GBP and CAD loans plus spreads ranging from 1.125 percent to 1.750 percent, depending on the Company’s net leverage ratio, or (2) the prime rate plus 0.125 percent to 0.750 percent, depending on the Company’s net leverage ratio. The Credit Agreement requires the Company to pay a commitment fee ranging from

0.125 percent to 0.250 percent per annum, which also depends on the Company’s net leverage ratio. The Credit Agreement requires the maintenance of certain financial ratios and compliance with certain other covenants that are similar to the Company’s existing debt agreements, including net worth, interest coverage, leverage financial covenants and limitations on restricted payments, indebtedness and liens.

The Company’s foreign subsidiaries had no debt outstanding at December 31, 2025.

The Company’s material debt agreements contain provisions which, among other covenants, require maintenance of certain financial ratios and place limitations on additional debt, investments and payment of dividends. Based on the loan agreement provisions that place limitations on dividend payments, unrestricted retained earnings (i.e., retained earnings available for dividend distribution) were $263,923,000 and $251,953,000 at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Debt at December 31, 2025, matures as follows: $285,735,000 in 2026; $135,535,000 in 2027; $45,000,000 in 2028; $40,000,000 in 2029; $40,000,000 in 2030 and $80,715,000 after 2030. Debt maturing in 2026 includes $66,786,000 of scheduled repayments under long-term debt agreements. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries routinely have short-term working capital loans. These short-term loan agreements could be supplemented, if necessary, by the Company’s $350,000,000 revolving credit facility entered into on June 24, 2022.

Net interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, comprised the following:

(In thousands)	2025			2024			2023
Interest expense	$	30,773		$	33,030		$	29,361
Interest income		(4,114	)		(5,283	)		(3,843	)
		26,659			27,747			25,518
Capitalized interest		(4,544	)		(13,565	)		(13,415	)
Interest expense, net	$	22,115		$	14,182		$	12,103