[SCHEDULE 13G] STEPAN CO Passive Investment Disclosure (>5%)

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Vanguard Portfolio Management reports beneficial ownership of 1,372,514 shares of Stepan Co common stock, representing 6.04% of the class as reported in a Schedule 13G. The filing shows sole voting power 13,661 and sole dispositive power 1,372,514, with the position tied to Vanguard-managed funds and accounts.

Insights

Institutional Ownership Analyst

Vanguard holds a sizeable passive stake in Stepan Co, reported via Schedule 13G.

Vanguard Portfolio Management reports beneficial ownership of 1,372,514 shares, equal to 6.04% of Stepan Co. The filing identifies dispositive power exercised across Vanguard funds and managed accounts, consistent with passive investment reporting.

Because this is a Schedule 13G disclosure, it signals passive investment rather than active control; subsequent filings could change classification if voting intent shifts. Future Schedule 13D or Form 4 entries would indicate a different engagement level.

Corporate Governance Specialist

Voting versus dispositive power is concentrated in different tallies; Vanguard reports limited sole voting power.

The filing shows sole voting power: 13,661 and sole dispositive power: 1,372,514, indicating Vanguard largely controls sale/transfer decisions while voting control is limited for many shares. This pattern aligns with pooled fund structures.

Stake size at 6.04% crosses the 5% disclosure threshold; governance impact depends on whether Vanguard exercises voting influence across affiliated entities.

Key Figures

Shares beneficially owned: 1,372,514 shares Percent of class: 6.04% Sole voting power: 13,661 shares +2 more

5 metrics

Shares beneficially owned 1,372,514 shares Amount reported in Item 4(a)

Percent of class 6.04% Percent of class reported in Item 4(b)

Sole voting power 13,661 shares Item 4(c)(i) sole power to vote

Sole dispositive power 1,372,514 shares Item 4(c)(iii) sole power to dispose

Reporting form Schedule 13G Form type indicated in metadata and excerpt

Key Terms

beneficially owned, sole dispositive power, Investment Company Act of 1940, Schedule 13G

4 terms

beneficially owned regulatory

"reflects the securities beneficially owned, or deemed to be beneficially owned"

Beneficially owned describes securities or assets where a person has the economic rights and control—such as the right to receive dividends and to direct voting—even if legal title is held in another name. Think of it like having the keys and using a car that’s registered to someone else: you get the benefits and make decisions. Investors care because beneficial ownership reveals who truly controls value and voting power, affecting corporate decisions and takeover dynamics.

sole dispositive power regulatory

"Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 1372514"

Sole dispositive power is the exclusive legal authority to decide what happens to a security — for example, whether to sell, transfer, or retain shares — without needing anyone else’s permission. Investors care because it signals who truly controls the economic outcome of an investment: like holding the only key to a safe, the holder can realize gains or losses and may trigger regulatory reporting, insider rules, or influence over corporate ownership.

Investment Company Act of 1940 regulatory

"investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940"

A U.S. federal law that sets the rulebook for pooled investment vehicles such as mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and similar money managers, requiring them to register with regulators, disclose holdings and fees, limit conflicts of interest, and follow governance standards. It matters to investors because these protections and transparency rules act like a referee and scoreboard, helping people compare funds, trust that managers follow fair practices, and spot hidden costs or risks.

Schedule 13G regulatory

"form_type: SCHEDULE 13G"

A Schedule 13G is a formal document that investors file with the government when they acquire a large ownership stake in a company, usually for investment purposes rather than control. It helps keep the public informed about who owns significant parts of a company's shares, which can influence how the company is managed and how investors make decisions. Filing this schedule is important for transparency and understanding the ownership landscape of publicly traded companies.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Stepan Co

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

858586100

(CUSIP Number)

03/31/2026

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

Rule 13d-1(b)

Rule 13d-1(c)

Rule 13d-1(d)

schemaVersion:

SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP Number(s): 858586100

1

Names of Reporting Persons

Vanguard Portfolio Management

2

Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions)

(a)
(b)

3

Sec Use Only

4

Citizenship or Place of Organization

PENNSYLVANIA

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With:

5	Sole Voting Power 13,661.00
6	Shared Voting Power 0.00
7	Sole Dispositive Power 1,372,514.00
8	Shared Dispositive Power 0.00

9

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

1,372,514.00

10

Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions)

11

Percent of class represented by amount in row (9)

6.04 %

12

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IA

Comment for Type of Reporting Person: In accordance with SEC Release No. 34-39538 (January 12, 1998), this Schedule 13G reflects the securities beneficially owned, or deemed to be beneficially owned, by Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC and the following affiliates of Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC or business divisions of such affiliates: Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company and Vanguard Global Advisers, LLC. This Schedule 13G includes securities held by Vanguard funds, or sleeves thereof, over which Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC exercises dispositive power, in addition to securities held by clients over which the affiliates or business divisions of such affiliates indicated above exercise dispositive and/or voting power. This Schedule 13G does not include securities, if any, beneficially owned by other subsidiaries or affiliates of Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC, or business divisions of such subsidiaries whose ownership of securities is disaggregated from that of the reporting business unit in accordance with such release.

SCHEDULE 13G

Item 1.
(a)	Name of issuer: Stepan Co
(b)	Address of issuer's principal executive offices: 1101 Skokie Blvd, Suite 500, Northbrook, IL, 60062
Item 2.
(a)	Name of person filing: Vanguard Portfolio Management
(b)	Address or principal business office or, if none, residence: 100 Vanguard Blvd,, Malvern, PA, 19355
(c)	Citizenship: PA
(d)	Title of class of securities: Common Stock
(e)	CUSIP Number(s): 858586100
Item 3.	If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
(a)	Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o);
(b)	Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
(c)	Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
(d)	Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8);
(e)	An investment adviser in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f)	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g)	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h)	A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i)	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
(j)	A non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:
(k)	Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
Item 4.	Ownership
(a)	Amount beneficially owned: 1372514
(b)	Percent of class: 6.04 %
(c)	Number of shares as to which the person has:
	(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 13661
	(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0
	(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 1372514
	(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0
Item 5.	Ownership of 5 Percent or Less of a Class.
	Not Applicable
Item 6.	Ownership of more than 5 Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
	If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this item and, if such interest relates to more than 5 percent of the class, such person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required. Vanguard Portfolio Management, including investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other managed accounts, have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the securities reported herein.No one other person's interest in the securities reported herein is more than 5%.
Item 7.	Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.
	Not Applicable
Item 8.	Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
	Not Applicable
Item 9.	Notice of Dissolution of Group.
	Not Applicable

Item 10.

Certifications:

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under § 240.14a-11.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Vanguard Portfolio Management

Signature:	Ashley Grim
Name/Title:	Head of Global Fund Administration
Date:	04/29/2026

FAQ

How many Stepan Co (SCL) shares does Vanguard report owning?

Vanguard Portfolio Management reports owning 1,372,514 shares of Stepan Co common stock. This amount is reported as 6.04% of the class and appears in the Schedule 13G beneficial-ownership filing.

What voting and dispositive powers does Vanguard report for SCL?

The filing reports sole voting power of 13,661 shares and sole dispositive power of 1,372,514 shares. It also reports no shared voting or dispositive powers in the provided excerpt.

What does Schedule 13G filing by Vanguard indicate about its intent?

A Schedule 13G filing typically indicates a passive investor position rather than an activist intent. The excerpt attributes ownership to Vanguard-managed funds and accounts, consistent with passive investment reporting.

As of what date is the Stepan ownership reported in the filing?

The ownership appears tied to the reporting period ending 03/31/2026. The signature on the Schedule 13G is dated 04/29/2026, reflecting the filing execution date provided in the excerpt.