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Celanese Corp (CE)
NYSE:CE

Celanese (CE) AI Stock Analysis

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CE

Celanese

(NYSE:CE)

Rating:56Neutral
Price Target:
$55.00
▼(-3.29%Downside)
Celanese's overall stock score reflects significant financial challenges, with a negative P/E ratio and declining revenue posing major concerns. However, technical indicators suggest some short-term momentum, and the earnings call indicates proactive measures to improve performance, providing a cautiously optimistic outlook.
Positive Factors
Analyst Rating Upgrade
The rating on CE has been raised from Underperform to Market Perform, indicating improved confidence in the company's performance.
Debt Management
Recent refinancing actions have paid down most of Celanese's 2025 debt as well as a portion of its 2026 and 2027 maturities, providing ample liquidity entering 2026.
Financial Outlook
The target price for CE has been increased to $55, suggesting a more optimistic outlook for the company's stock.
Negative Factors
Debt Concerns
CE has struggled due to significant debt and macroeconomic uncertainty, affecting its financial performance.
Financial Risks
CE faces risks due to macro and end-market uncertainty, compounded by significant debt.
Operational Challenges
CE has struggled since the acquisition of the M&M business, leading to a focus on 'cash at all cost' mode at the expense of earnings and equity holders.

Celanese (CE) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Celanese Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCelanese Corporation is a global technology and specialty materials company that engineers and manufactures a wide range of products essential to everyday living. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Celanese operates in two main sectors: the Acetyl Chain and Materials Solutions. The company offers a variety of chemical-based products including acetyl intermediates, emulsions, and engineered polymers, which are used in industries such as automotive, consumer products, industrial applications, and textiles.
How the Company Makes MoneyCelanese makes money primarily through the production and sale of acetyl products and engineered materials. The Acetyl Chain segment, which includes acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer, and other acetyl derivatives, generates revenue by serving as a key supplier to various industries like paints, coatings, adhesives, and pharmaceuticals. The Materials Solutions segment provides high-performance engineering polymers and thermoplastics used in automotive, electronics, and medical applications. The company leverages its global manufacturing footprint and research and development capabilities to innovate and meet customer demands. Additionally, strategic partnerships and long-term contracts with major industrial players contribute significantly to Celanese's earnings, providing a stable revenue stream.

Celanese Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 05, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 27.03%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 30, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Celanese's earnings call highlighted significant cost reduction efforts and expected tailwinds in the second half of the year. However, challenges in the nylon segment, limited seasonal demand pickup, and tariff impacts present notable headwinds. The overall sentiment is balanced with positive steps being taken to address challenges, but uncertainty in demand remains a concern.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Cost Reduction Actions
Celanese outlined additional cost reduction actions totaling about $40 million, with the full run rate of original $80 million and another $20 million, contributing to a total of $60 million in savings.
Tailwinds in Second Half
Several tailwinds are expected in the second half, including $30 million from reduced turnarounds, a $50 million benefit from tow dividends and tow volume, and approximately $100 million just from these elements.
Free Cash Flow Target
Celanese targets $700 million to $800 million in free cash flow for 2025, with working capital expected to be a source of cash, reduced CapEx, and lower cash taxes contributing to this goal.
Improvement in Automotive Sector
Automotive volumes were down 5% against a global industry down 10%, indicating Celanese outperformed the market largely due to stronger performance in the U.S. and Europe.
Negative Updates
Nylon 66 Challenges
Nylon 66 has been a significant drag on operating profit since 2021, with reduced demand and increased capacity creating overcapacity issues, leading to significant margin erosion.
Limited Seasonal Pickup in Acetyl Chain
The acetyl chain did not see the normal seasonal pickup, particularly in areas like paints and coatings, indicating continued softness in demand.
Impact of Tariffs
Tariffs have a $30 million impact on a direct basis, affecting the Engineered Materials segment, with about 9% of China sales impacted.
Engineered Materials Volume Decline
Engineered Materials volumes were down 4% year-over-year, indicating a challenging demand environment.
Company Guidance
During the Celanese First Quarter 2025 Earnings Call, guidance for the second half of the year indicated several financial tailwinds, including a $30 million benefit from cost improvements, offset by a $30 million tariff impact. Additionally, the company expects $40 million in cost reductions from outlined actions, alongside the full realization of $100 million in previous initiatives, contributing an additional $60 million. The tow dividend and volume are anticipated to add approximately $50 million. Overall, these factors are projected to contribute nearly $100 million in the second half. However, the company noted uncertainty surrounding demand, which remains a key variable in their financial outlook.

Celanese Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Celanese faces financial challenges with declining revenue and profitability pressures. The income statement shows negative margins and revenue growth, while the balance sheet and cash flow indicate some stability through improved debt management and positive cash flow generation.
Income Statement
42
Neutral
The income statement shows a challenging environment for Celanese, with declining revenue and significant losses. Gross profit margin remains positive at 22.33% for TTM, but net profit margin is negative due to substantial net losses. Revenue growth has been negative recently, indicating a downturn in top-line performance. The negative EBIT and EBITDA margins further highlight operational inefficiencies.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
Celanese's balance sheet reflects a mixed performance. The debt-to-equity ratio has improved to 0.13 in the TTM period, suggesting better capital structure management. However, the return on equity is negative due to net losses. The equity ratio stands at 22.35%, indicating a moderate level of equity financing compared to total assets.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis shows stability with a positive operating cash flow to net income ratio, indicating efficient cash generation despite net losses. Free cash flow growth rate has been positive recently, which is a good sign. The ability to generate free cash flow despite adverse income statement figures provides some comfort regarding liquidity.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
10.06B10.28B10.94B9.67B8.54B5.66B
Gross Profit
2.28B2.36B2.60B2.38B2.68B1.29B
EBIT
-668.00M-697.00M1.69B1.38B1.95B664.00M
EBITDA
-11.00M456.00M2.61B2.29B2.72B2.71B
Net Income Common Stockholders
-1.66B-1.52B1.96B1.89B1.89B1.99B
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
951.00M962.00M1.80B1.51B546.00M1.49B
Total Assets
23.20B22.86B26.60B26.27B11.97B10.91B
Total Debt
13.15B12.95B14.10B15.13B4.20B3.97B
Net Debt
12.20B11.99B12.29B13.62B3.67B3.01B
Total Liabilities
17.58B17.25B19.05B20.17B7.44B7.01B
Stockholders Equity
5.19B5.17B7.09B5.64B4.19B3.53B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
502.00M531.00M1.33B1.28B1.29B979.00M
Operating Cash Flow
902.00M966.00M1.90B1.82B1.76B1.34B
Investing Cash Flow
-417.00M-470.00M-134.00M-11.14B-1.12B592.00M
Financing Cash Flow
-1.01B-1.31B-1.46B10.29B-1.04B-1.47B

Celanese Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price56.87
Price Trends
50DMA
48.51
Positive
100DMA
54.75
Positive
200DMA
77.57
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
2.08
Negative
RSI
59.84
Neutral
STOCH
76.73
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CE, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 56.87 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 54.45, above the 50-day MA of 48.51, and below the 200-day MA of 77.57, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 2.08 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 59.84 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 76.73 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CE.

Celanese Risk Analysis

Celanese disclosed 32 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Celanese reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Celanese Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
$784.06M14.9310.22%8.47%-6.76%-3.19%
DODOW
65
Neutral
$21.70B76.731.60%9.13%-2.08%-76.11%
CECE
56
Neutral
$6.49B6.84-26.94%0.21%-5.98%-183.27%
HUHUN
54
Neutral
$2.10B-4.46%8.30%0.02%-43.65%
51
Neutral
$952.36M-8.44%8.32%4.15%57.25%
51
Neutral
$2.04B-1.21-21.10%3.95%2.90%-30.45%
BABAK
46
Neutral
$1.59B-8638.28%0.81%-34.74%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CE
Celanese
56.87
-80.88
-58.72%
BAK
Braskem SA
3.74
-3.14
-45.64%
HUN
Huntsman
11.79
-10.57
-47.27%
TROX
TRONOX
5.79
-12.49
-68.33%
WLKP
Westlake Chemical PRN
22.24
1.79
8.75%
DOW
Dow Inc
30.14
-21.06
-41.13%

Celanese Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Celanese Shareholders Approve Key Governance Amendments
Neutral
May 16, 2025

During the 2025 Annual Meeting, Celanese shareholders voted on several key proposals including the election of thirteen directors, ratification of KPMG LLP as the independent auditor, and approval of executive compensation. Additionally, shareholders approved amendments to the company’s Charter and By-laws, allowing for changes by majority vote, filling of open Board seats at special meetings, and removal of directors by majority vote. These decisions reflect a significant alignment with shareholder interests and could influence the company’s governance structure and operational flexibility.

The most recent analyst rating on (CE) stock is a Hold with a $66.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Celanese stock, see the CE Stock Forecast page.

Financial Disclosures
Celanese to Present Q1 2025 Financial Results
Neutral
May 5, 2025

On May 6, 2025, Celanese Corporation, led by CEO Scott A. Richardson, will present its first quarter 2025 financial results to investors and analysts via a webcast. The presentation will include insights into the company’s financial performance, utilizing both US GAAP and Non-US GAAP financial measures, which are defined and reconciled in accompanying documents available on their website.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.