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Wacker Chemie AG (DE:WCH)
XETRA:WCH

Wacker Chemie AG (WCH) AI Stock Analysis

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DE:WCH

Wacker Chemie AG

(XETRA:WCH)

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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:52Neutral
Price Target:
€71.00
▲(1.50% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/15/26
The score is primarily held back by weak financial performance (loss-making year, margin pressure, and higher leverage), partially offset by a constructive price trend above key moving averages. Valuation is mixed due to a supportive dividend but loss-driven negative P/E, while the latest earnings call added modest caution from lowered guidance alongside improving cash flow actions and planned cost reductions.
Positive Factors
Semiconductor polysilicon demand & capacity
Sustained semiconductor polysilicon demand and an on‑schedule etching line strengthen Wacker's exposure to higher‑spec, less cyclical electronic polysilicon. Expanded capacity and improved process capability support higher margins per unit, longer customer qualification cycles, and durable revenue from semiconductor supply chains.
Resilient operating cash generation
Operating cash flow resilience despite a net loss shows underlying cash conversion strength from working capital and operations. This provides a stable base to fund capex, execute restructuring, and manage cyclicality, reducing reliance on external financing during a multi‑quarter recovery.
Solid liquidity & equity buffer
Meaningful equity and near‑term liquidity give Wacker a financial buffer through the down‑cycle, enabling investment in strategic projects and execution of cost programs without immediate balance‑sheet stress. This preserves flexibility to support customers and maintain capacity utilization.
Negative Factors
Sharp profitability deterioration
A swing to a large net loss reflects material margin compression and weak pricing power across segments. Sustained negative profitability erodes retained earnings, constrains reinvestment, and raises the bar for multi‑period recovery, making future earnings dependent on structural demand improvement or sustained cost reductions.
Rising leverage and weaker equity base
Higher debt and a shrinking equity base reduce financial flexibility and increase interest and refinancing risk if the downcycle continues. Elevated leverage limits capacity for opportunistic investment and heightens sensitivity to further earnings volatility or cash‑flow shocks.
Soft demand in core segments & tougher guidance
Structural softness in Silicones and Polymers, coupled with downward guidance and intense low‑cost competition, suggests prolonged volume and pricing pressure. Currency headwinds amplify margin erosion, meaning utilization and product‑mix improvements will be required to restore historic profitability levels.

Wacker Chemie AG (WCH) vs. iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG)

Wacker Chemie AG Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWacker Chemie AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides chemical products worldwide. It operates through four divisions: Wacker Silicones, Wacker Polymers, Wacker Biosolutions, and Wacker Polysilicon. The Wacker Silicones division offers silanes, siloxanes, silicone fluids, silicone emulsions, silicone elastomers, silicone resins, and pyrogenic silicas for use in construction, electronics, automotive, health, and renewable energy industries. The Wacker Polymers division provides binders and polymeric additives, such as dispersible polymer powder and vinyl acetate-ethylene dispersions, which are used in construction, paper, adhesive, paint, coating, and basic chemical industries. The Wacker Biosolutions division offers customized biotech and catalog products for fine chemicals, such as pharmaceutical proteins, vaccines, cyclodextrins, cysteine, polyvinyl acetate solid resins, and acetylacetone for pharmaceutical actives, food additives, and agrochemicals. The Wacker Polysilicon division produces hyperpure polysilicon for use in semiconductor and solar sectors. The company was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany. Wacker Chemie AG is a subsidiary of Dr. Alexander Wacker Familiengesellschaft mbH.
How the Company Makes MoneyWacker Chemie AG primarily makes money by manufacturing chemical and materials products and selling them to industrial customers under business-to-business supply contracts, with revenue recognized mainly from product sales (and, in some areas, services). Key revenue streams include: (1) Silicones: sale of silicone fluids, elastomers, resins, emulsions, and specialty silicone formulations used in applications such as sealants, adhesives, coatings, lubricants, personal care, medical, automotive, and electronics. Earnings in this segment are driven by volumes, product mix (higher-margin specialties vs. standard grades), and pricing that reflects raw-material and energy cost conditions. (2) Polymers: sale of polymeric binders (notably dispersions and redispersible polymer powders) used in construction materials (e.g., tile adhesives, mortars, insulation systems), paints/coatings, paper, and adhesives. Demand in construction and renovation cycles, capacity utilization, and selling prices relative to feedstock and energy costs are major drivers. (3) Polysilicon: sale of high-purity polysilicon to the semiconductor industry and to solar/photovoltaic supply chains. This business is typically more cyclical and sensitive to industry supply-demand balance, customer qualification requirements, long-term or multi-period supply arrangements, and product specifications (e.g., electronic-grade vs. solar-grade). (4) Biosolutions/Biotechnology: revenue from biotechnological products and services, including contract manufacturing for biopharmaceutical customers and sales of specialty biochemicals/biotech-derived ingredients. This stream can include manufacturing services (e.g., contract development/manufacturing) in addition to product sales, with earnings influenced by capacity utilization, project/customer mix, and regulatory/quality requirements. Across segments, Wacker’s profitability is materially affected by input costs (especially energy and key raw materials), plant utilization, and pricing power; it also benefits from application development and technical service that supports customer adoption and long-term relationships. Specific partnership details not publicly available here are null.

Wacker Chemie AG Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 30, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 29, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Negative
The earnings call highlighted ongoing challenges such as decreased sales and EBITDA, negative net income, and a challenging market environment, particularly in Europe. Despite these issues, there are strategic efforts to improve cash flow and reduce costs, with strong performance in the semiconductor polysilicon segment. However, the overall sentiment is affected by the revised downward guidance and persistent market pressures.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Improved Net Cash Flow
Despite lower EBITDA, net cash flow improved to EUR 19 million, supported by targeted actions to reduce working capital.
Strong Performance in Semiconductor Polysilicon
Continued strong demand for semiconductor polysilicon, with volumes significantly higher year-over-year, supported by the new etching line which is on schedule.
Cost Reduction Initiatives
Launched a comprehensive project aimed at significant cost savings, targeting fixed production costs and asset optimization.
Strong Liquidity and Shareholder Equity
Shareholder equity stands at EUR 4.42 billion with a strong liquidity position of about EUR 781 million.
Negative Updates
Decreased Sales and EBITDA
Sales in Q3 were EUR 1.34 billion, down 6% year-over-year. EBITDA declined to EUR 112 million from EUR 145 million a year ago, primarily due to lower pricing, foreign exchange, and volume mix.
Polysilicon Segment Challenges
Polysilicon sales in Q3 were 6% lower year-over-year and 10% lower than the preceding quarter, with ongoing weak demand in solar-grade polysilicon.
Negative Net Income
Net income was negative EUR 82 million, equating to a loss of EUR 1.73 per share, driven by lower EBITDA and higher depreciation.
Challenging Market Environment
The chemical industry is under pressure, especially in Europe, with weak demand and high competitive pressure from China. The stronger euro creates additional headwinds.
Revised Downward Guidance
Full-year sales guidance revised to the lower end of EUR 5.5 billion to EUR 5.9 billion range, with EBITDA expected in the lower half of the EUR 500 million to EUR 700 million range.
Soft Demand in Key Segments
Low demand in key segments such as Silicones and Polymers, with decreases in sales and EBITDA year-over-year.
Company Guidance
During the Wacker Chemie AG Q3 2025 conference call, the company provided updated guidance amid challenging market conditions. The company reported Q3 sales of EUR 1.34 billion and an EBITDA of EUR 112 million, with a combined EBITDA from its four operating segments totaling EUR 159 million. This represented an 18% decline compared to the previous year and a 13% sequential decrease. Despite a lower EBITDA, net cash flow improved to EUR 19 million, supported by efforts to reduce working capital. The company revised its full-year sales forecast to the lower end of the EUR 5.5 billion to EUR 5.9 billion range and anticipates EBITDA in the lower half of the EUR 500 million to EUR 700 million range. Net cash flow is expected to be negative but significantly better than the prior year. Wacker Chemie plans to implement cost-saving measures targeting fixed production costs in early 2026 to enhance competitiveness and profitability amidst ongoing macroeconomic and competitive pressures.

Wacker Chemie AG Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials reflect a clear down-cycle: revenue declined in 2025 and profitability swung from a 241M profit to an ~800M loss, pressuring margins. Leverage moved higher (debt up, equity down), reducing flexibility. Operating cash flow improved, but free cash flow was roughly breakeven after a deeply negative prior year, highlighting uneven cash generation.
Income Statement
34
Negative
Profitability deteriorated sharply in the latest annual period (2025): revenue slipped to 5.49B from 5.72B in 2024 and the company swung from a 241M profit to an 800M loss, with negative operating profit and a deeply negative net margin. Margins also compressed materially versus 2021–2022, when the company delivered strong profitability and growth. The main strength is the historical ability to generate solid margins in up-cycles (notably 2021–2022), but the current trajectory shows weak pricing/power, lower gross profitability, and elevated earnings volatility.
Balance Sheet
52
Neutral
Leverage remains moderate overall, but it has moved in the wrong direction recently: debt rose to 2.37B in 2025 from 1.95B in 2024 while equity fell to 3.60B from 4.67B, pushing debt-to-equity up to ~0.66. Returns on equity turned sharply negative in 2025, reflecting the large net loss and weakening capital base. The balance sheet still shows meaningful equity funding and sizeable assets, but the recent earnings drawdown and rising leverage reduce flexibility if the down-cycle persists.
Cash Flow
41
Neutral
Operating cash flow held up better than earnings in 2025 at 550M (up from 310M in 2024), indicating some underlying cash generation despite the reported loss. However, free cash flow was approximately breakeven/slightly negative in 2025 (-2.8M) after being materially negative in 2024 (-341M), pointing to ongoing reinvestment and/or working-capital pressures. The key strength is resilient operating cash flow through the downturn, while the main weakness is inconsistent free cash flow generation and limited cash left after investment needs.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue5.49B5.72B6.40B8.21B6.21B
Gross Profit657.30M986.70M1.08B2.16B1.67B
EBITDA396.70M807.40M878.30M1.85B1.46B
Net Income-821.10M241.00M313.60M1.25B806.90M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets8.79B9.41B8.85B9.40B8.13B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.48B1.22B1.39B1.78B1.67B
Total Debt2.37B1.95B1.51B1.34B1.25B
Total Liabilities5.04B4.57B4.27B4.37B5.03B
Stockholders Equity3.60B4.67B4.42B4.86B3.02B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-2.80M-341.20M296.70M564.30M743.10M
Operating Cash Flow550.40M310.40M936.30M1.13B1.06B
Investing Cash Flow-725.20M-435.30M-107.60M-701.40M-639.70M
Financing Cash Flow271.90M145.90M-688.10M-458.50M-153.90M

Wacker Chemie AG Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price69.95
Price Trends
50DMA
74.69
Negative
100DMA
71.20
Negative
200DMA
68.32
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.50
Positive
RSI
43.01
Neutral
STOCH
42.26
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For DE:WCH, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 69.95 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 75.32, below the 50-day MA of 74.69, and above the 200-day MA of 68.32, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.50 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 43.01 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 42.26 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for DE:WCH.

Wacker Chemie AG Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
€1.64B24.6827.29%1.24%1.03%25.48%
62
Neutral
€6.50B23.491.08%8.92%-5.92%-58.33%
61
Neutral
$10.43B7.12-0.05%2.87%2.86%-36.73%
54
Neutral
€7.00B27.056.03%4.30%-3.35%-23.06%
52
Neutral
$3.47B-4.203.75%-10.63%-23.15%
45
Neutral
€12.37B-17.78-10.04%
43
Neutral
€1.01B-5.92-5.77%0.59%-6.82%71.94%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
DE:WCH
Wacker Chemie AG
69.95
-7.84
-10.07%
DE:BNR
Brenntag AG
48.48
-12.52
-20.52%
DE:1COV
Covestro
59.58
1.36
2.34%
DE:EVK
Evonik
13.94
-5.70
-29.02%
DE:LXS
LANXESS
11.65
-18.33
-61.13%
DE:ACT
AlzChem Group AG
160.80
65.16
68.12%
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.Date of analysis: Mar 15, 2026