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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington , D.C. 20549 FORM 10 - K ( MARK ONE ) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 , 2020 OR TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM Commission File Number 1-4462 STEPAN COMPANY ( Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter ) Delaware ( State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization ) 22 West Frontage Road , Northfield , Illinois ( Address of principal executive offices ) Title of Each Class Common Stock , $ 1 par value Registrant's telephone number including area code : 847-446-7500 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( b ) of the Act : Trading Symbol SCL TO Accelerated filer 36-1823834 ( I.R.S. Employer Identification Number ) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( g ) of the Act : None No No 区 Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well - known seasoned issuer , as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Yes Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 ( d ) of the Act Yes Indicate by check mark whether the registrant ( 1 ) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 ( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports ) , and ( 2 ) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days . Yes > No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S - T ( §232.405 of this chapter ) during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files ) . Yes No □ Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered New York Stock Exchange Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer , an accelerated filer , a non - accelerated filer , a smaller reporting company , or an emerging growth company . See definitions of " large accelerated filer " , " accelerated filer " , " smaller reporting company " and " emerging growth company " in Rule 12b - 2 of the Exchange Act . Large accelerated filer Emerging growth company Class Common Stock , $ 1 par value 60093 ( Zip Code ) Non - accelerated filer If an emerging growth company , indicate by check mark if registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13 ( a ) of the Exchange Act . □ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 ( b ) of the Sarbanes - Oxley Act ( 15 U.S.C 7262 ( b ) ) by registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report . Documents Incorporated by Reference Part of Form 10 - K Part III , Items 10-14 * Based on reported ownership by all directors and executive officers at June 30 , 2020 . Smaller reporting company No 区 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company ( as defined in Rule 12b - 2 of the Exchange Act ) Yes ☐ Aggregate market value at June 30 , 2020 , of voting and non - voting common stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant : $ 2,065,082,892 * Number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock as of January 31 , 2021 : Outstanding at January 31 , 2021 22,476,752 Document Incorporated Portions of the Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 27 , 2021 .