<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-18-036642.txt : 20181218
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-18-036642.hdr.sgml : 20181218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20181218173735
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-18-036642
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20181214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20181218
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20181218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Behrens Scott R.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001616912

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04462
		FILM NUMBER:		181241513

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		22 WEST FRONTAGE ROAD
		CITY:			NORTHFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60093

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEPAN CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000094049
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SOAP, DETERGENT, CLEANING PREPARATIONS, PERFUMES, COSMETICS [2840]
		IRS NUMBER:				361823834
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EDENS & WINNETKA ROAD
		CITY:			NORTHFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60093
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8474467500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EDENS & WINNETKA ROAD
		CITY:			NORTHFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60093

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	STEPAN CHEMICAL CO /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19840108
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-12-14</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000094049</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEPAN CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SCL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001616912</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Behrens Scott R.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>22 W. FRONTAGE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTHFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60093</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>VP/GM Surfactants</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33.068</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>77.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10250.119</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3510.559</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Esop II Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Share Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28.583</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>77.25</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>28.583</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8860.681</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects acquisition of deferred share units under the Performance Award Deferred Compensation Plan (&quot;Plan&quot;) pursuant to a dividend equivalent feature of the Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects ESOP II acquisitions that have occurred since the Reporting Person's last ownership report covering ESOP II holdings.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Share Units are acquired under the Management Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2015) (&quot;MIP&quot;), a nonqualified deferred compensation plan which allows MIP participants to elect to defer all or a portion of their deferred compensation into accounts pursuant to MIP provisions.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Share Units convert on a one-for-one basis into Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Reflects acquisition of Share Units pursuant to a dividend equivalent feature of the MIP, generally payable at end of employment, unless otherwise elected.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Price reported is the price of Common Stock on the date the dividend equivalents are payable pursuant to a dividend equivalent feature of the MIP.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stephanie J. Pacitti, Attorney-in-fact for Scott R. Behrens</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-12-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>doc1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY (PUBLIC): POA - 12-12-18
<TEXT>
POWER OF ATTORNEY

	KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Brian William Bichkoff and Stephanie
Jane Pacitti, signing singly, as the undersigned?s true and lawful
authorized representatives and attorneys-in-fact to:

(1)	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
undersigned?s capacity as an executive officer of Stepan Company
(?the Company?), Forms 3, 4 and 5, and any and all amendments thereto,
in accordance with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the ?1934 Act?), and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder;

(2)	do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete the execution
of any such form or schedule and the timely filing of such form or
schedule with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and
any stock exchange or stock market or other authority; and

(3)	take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with
the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorneys-in-fact, may be of
benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the
undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such
attorneys-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of
Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions
as such attorneys-in-fact may approve in such attorneys-in-fact?s discretion.

	The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full
power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever
requisite, necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the
rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as
the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power of
substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorneys-in-fact, or such attorneys-in-fact?s substitute or substitutes,
shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney
and the rights and powers herein granted.  The undersigned acknowledges that
the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request
of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming any of the
undersigned?s responsibilities to comply with Section 16 or any other provision
of the 1934 Act.

	This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned?s holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney
to be executed as of this 12th day of December, 2018.


/s/ Scott R. Behrens
Scott R. Behrens
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
