8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)   April 10, 2003
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                                 STEPAN COMPANY
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             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                    Delaware
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                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

               1-4462                                  36-1823834
- -----------------------------------------   ------------------------------------
       (Commission File Number)             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

      Edens and Winnetka Road,
        Northfield, Illinois                             60093
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (847) 446-7500
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Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits

        Exhibit Number      Description
        --------------      -----------

            99.1            Press Release of Stepan Company dated April 10, 2003


Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure and Item 12. Disclosure of Results of
        Operations and Financial Condition.

     On April 10, 2003, Stepan Company ("Stepan") issued a press release
providing certain information with respect to its anticipated financial results
for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2003. A copy of the press release is
attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

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                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            STEPAN COMPANY



                                            By: /s/  Kathleen M. Owens
                                                --------------------------------
                                                     Kathleen M. Owens
                                                     Assistant Secretary

Date:         April 10, 2003

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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

     Exhibit Number       Description
     --------------       -----------

          99.1            Press Release of Stepan Company dated April 10, 2003

                                        4

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                   STEPAN EXPECTS LOWER FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

     Stepan Company (NYSE: SCL) today announced that it now expects earnings for
the first quarter of 2003 to be lower than first quarter 2002 net income of
$3,810,000, or $0.39 per diluted share. "Higher utility, freight, raw material
and pension costs coupled with relatively flat surfactant sales volume and
weaker polymer volume will result in disappointing earnings for the quarter,"
said F. Quinn Stepan, Chairman and CEO. "We have announced price increases
effective as of April 1, 2003. However, the war and resulting volatility in
prices for crude oil derivatives and natural gas have created a very challenging
business environment on top of already weak economic conditions."

     Stepan expects to announce first quarter earnings before its shareholder
meeting on April 29, 2003.

     Stepan Company, headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, is a leading
producer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in household, industrial,
personal care, agricultural, food and insulation related products. The common
and the convertible preferred stocks are traded on the New York and Chicago
Stock Exchanges under the symbols SCL and SCLPR.

Information in this press release contains forward looking statements, which are
not historical facts. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially, including without limiting
foreign currency fluctuations, prospects for our foreign operations and certain
global and regional economic conditions and factors detailed in the company's
Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

                   Contact: James E. Hurlbutt, (847) 446-7500.