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Westlake Corporation (WLK)
NYSE:WLK
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Westlake Corporation (WLK) AI Stock Analysis

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WLK

Westlake Corporation

(NYSE:WLK)

Rating:54Neutral
Price Target:
$89.00
â–²(2.03% Upside)
Westlake Corporation's overall stock score reflects significant financial and operational challenges, with declining revenues and profitability pressures. Technical analysis shows some short-term bullish momentum, but valuation concerns persist due to a negative P/E ratio. The earnings call provided mixed insights, with strong HIP performance but ongoing PEM challenges. The acquisition of ACI/Perplastic Group is a positive strategic move, but the closure of the Pernis facility highlights ongoing difficulties.
Positive Factors
Cost Management
Cost cuts and asset closures should help drive earnings higher.
Demand
HIP saw strong sequential improvement thanks to seasonally better demand across Pipe & Fittings and Building Products.
Earnings
Housing and Infrastructure Products (HIP) beat our forecast handily despite a sharper falloff in revenues, as margins remained elevated.
Negative Factors
Commodity Operations
WLK will essentially exit all commodity-centric operations in Europe.
Downtime and Volumes
The shortfall to our estimates is primarily elevated downtime and lower volumes in the commodity footprint.
Revenue Guidance
WLK's revenue guidance for 2025 was reduced due to a broader slowdown in residential construction.

Westlake Corporation (WLK) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Westlake Corporation Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWestlake Corporation (WLK) is a global manufacturer and supplier of petrochemicals, polymers, and building products. The company operates through two primary segments: Olefins and Vinyls. Its core product offerings include polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC resins, and various chemical intermediates that serve a wide range of end markets, including packaging, construction, automotive, and consumer goods.
How the Company Makes MoneyWestlake Corporation generates revenue through the production and sale of its diverse chemical and polymer products. The company's key revenue streams include the sale of polyethylene and PVC, which are fundamental to a variety of applications in different industries. Additionally, Westlake benefits from its vertically integrated business model, which enhances cost efficiencies and allows for better control over its supply chain. Strategic partnerships with other manufacturers and distributors also contribute to its revenue, enabling Westlake to expand its market reach and optimize its distribution channels. The company's ability to adapt to market demand and fluctuations in raw material costs further influences its profitability.

Westlake Corporation Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 05, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: 15.14%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 30, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong performance in the HIP segment and aggressive cost reduction plans. However, challenges in the PEM segment, including planned and unplanned outages, led to a net loss and the closure of the Pernis facility. While there are positive strategic moves, significant hurdles remain.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
HIP Segment Performance
HIP delivered solid EBITDA of $275 million on sales of $1.2 billion, representing a strong 24% EBITDA margin. Sales rose 16% from the first quarter of 2025, driven by a 14% increase in sales volumes due to pipe and fittings and seasonal demand.
Cost Reduction Achievements
The company achieved over $75 million in cost reductions in the first half of 2025, with a target of $150 million to $175 million for the full year. An additional $200 million in cost reductions is planned by 2026.
Infrastructure Act Benefits
Increased demand for municipal water applications, driven by spending from the 2021 Infrastructure Act, provided a solid foundation for pipe and fittings sales.
Negative Updates
PEM Segment Challenges
PEM segment faced $110 million impact from planned and unplanned outages and global oversupply in some chemical chains, creating pressure on sales price and EBITDA margin.
Net Loss in Q2
Westlake reported a net loss of $12 million or $0.09 per share in the second quarter, with a significant decrease in net income compared to the second quarter of 2024 due to higher feedstock costs and lower average sales prices.
Epoxy Facility Closure
The Pernis epoxy site in the Netherlands was closed due to significant losses driven by higher European feedstock and energy costs and low-priced Asian exports.
Planned and Unplanned Outages
The company experienced $110 million in impacts from planned turnarounds and unplanned outages, affecting production levels and sales volumes.
Company Guidance
During the fiscal year 2025 second-quarter earnings call, Westlake Corporation provided guidance on various financial metrics and strategic initiatives. The company reported EBITDA of $340 million on net sales of $3 billion, with the Housing and Infrastructure Products (HIP) segment contributing $275 million in EBITDA and a strong 24% EBITDA margin on sales of $1.2 billion. Despite a challenging environment with elevated interest rates, the HIP segment benefited from increased demand for municipal water applications, supported by the 2021 Infrastructure Act. For the Performance and Essential Materials (PEM) segment, EBITDA was pressured by lower production levels due to planned and unplanned outages, impacting EBITDA by approximately $110 million. To address this, Westlake outlined a three-pronged profitability improvement strategy for PEM, targeting cost reductions of $150 million to $175 million for 2025 and an additional $200 million by 2026. They also announced the closure of the epoxy site in Pernis, Netherlands, to improve profitability. The guidance for 2025 HIP revenue was adjusted to $4.2 billion to $4.4 billion, with an EBITDA margin between 20% and 22%. Additionally, total capital expenditures for the year were projected to be around $900 million, with a cash interest expense of approximately $160 million.

Westlake Corporation Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Westlake Chemical faces challenges with declining revenues and profit margins impacting overall financial performance. While the balance sheet shows financial stability with moderate leverage, the cash flow statement highlights a reduction in free cash flow, raising potential concerns about future liquidity.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Westlake Chemical's income statement reflects a decline in revenue and net income over the latest periods. The gross profit margin for TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) is around 14.1%, indicating some pressure on profitability. Net profit margin stands at 3.2%, which is lower compared to historical performance. The EBIT margin is 5.2%, and the EBITDA margin is 15.8%, showing moderate operational efficiency despite revenue headwinds.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
The balance sheet indicates a strong equity position with a stable equity ratio of approximately 50.3% in TTM. The debt-to-equity ratio is 0.53, suggesting manageable leverage. Return on Equity (ROE) is at a lower level of 3.7% for TTM, reflecting decreased profitability impacting shareholder returns.
Cash Flow
58
Neutral
Cash flow analysis shows a significant drop in free cash flow in TTM, with a free cash flow growth rate of -72.5%. Operating cash flow remains positive but has decreased compared to prior periods. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is robust at 2.75, suggesting strong cash generation relative to earnings.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue11.76B12.14B12.55B15.79B11.78B7.50B
Gross Profit1.32B1.96B2.22B4.07B3.50B1.02B
EBITDA1.42B2.21B1.96B4.18B3.69B1.25B
Net Income-56.00M602.00M479.00M2.25B2.02B330.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets20.81B20.75B21.04B20.55B18.46B13.84B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments2.28B2.92B3.30B2.23B1.91B1.31B
Total Debt4.65B5.28B5.52B4.88B5.18B3.57B
Total Liabilities10.02B9.71B10.27B10.09B9.93B7.26B
Stockholders Equity10.28B10.53B10.24B9.93B7.96B6.04B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-54.00M306.00M1.30B2.29B1.74B772.00M
Operating Cash Flow966.00M1.31B2.34B3.40B2.39B1.30B
Investing Cash Flow-1.23B-1.00B-1.04B-2.48B-3.21B-509.00M
Financing Cash Flow-701.00M-650.00M-245.00M-587.00M1.44B-216.00M

Westlake Corporation Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price87.23
Price Trends
50DMA
80.48
Positive
100DMA
81.29
Positive
200DMA
97.55
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
1.51
Negative
RSI
57.69
Neutral
STOCH
74.48
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WLK, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 87.23 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 81.70, above the 50-day MA of 80.48, and below the 200-day MA of 97.55, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 1.51 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 57.69 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 74.48 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for WLK.

Westlake Corporation Risk Analysis

Westlake Corporation disclosed 33 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Westlake Corporation reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Westlake Corporation Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$16.13B23.8425.42%1.62%0.51%17.21%
70
Neutral
$3.43B29.045.09%2.83%3.28%1.69%
65
Neutral
$7.86B9.7614.52%4.82%1.60%-3.97%
65
Neutral
$12.83B27.889.29%0.47%-23.20%1226.72%
61
Neutral
$10.28B6.360.75%2.93%3.32%-39.60%
61
Neutral
$18.35B77.101.08%9.50%-14.12%-89.22%
54
Neutral
$11.19B25.36-0.64%2.41%-3.00%-124.79%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WLK
Westlake Corporation
86.18
-56.08
-39.42%
EMN
Eastman Chemical
68.29
-28.76
-29.63%
LYB
LyondellBasell
57.05
-32.99
-36.64%
AVNT
Avient
37.66
-9.61
-20.33%
RPM
RPM International
125.73
14.44
12.98%
SQM
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera SA
46.65
9.08
24.17%

Westlake Corporation Corporate Events

M&A Transactions
Westlake Corporation to Acquire ACI/Perplastic Group
Positive
Aug 26, 2025

On August 26, 2025, Westlake Corporation announced its agreement to acquire the global compounding solutions businesses of the ACI/Perplastic Group, a Portugal-based manufacturer serving the wire and cable sectors. This acquisition is expected to enhance Westlake’s Housing & Infrastructure Products segment by integrating ACI’s specialty materials and technology, thereby expanding Westlake’s product portfolio. ACI, with production facilities in Mexico, Portugal, Romania, and Tunisia, reported net sales of approximately EUR 210 million for the year ending December 31, 2024. The transaction is anticipated to close in early 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Westlake Corporation Reports Q2 2025 Net Loss
Negative
Aug 5, 2025

Westlake Corporation reported a net loss of $142 million for the second quarter of 2025, impacted by $130 million due to the closure of its Pernis facility in the Netherlands and temporary cessation of operations in China. Despite these challenges, the company’s housing and infrastructure products segment showed resilience with a 16% increase in sales, while the performance and essential materials segment faced a decline in sales volume. The company’s EBITDA, excluding identified items, was $340 million, reflecting a decrease from the previous year due to higher planned turnarounds, unplanned outages, and increased costs.

Business Operations and Strategy
Westlake Corporation to Close Pernis Facility in Netherlands
Negative
Jun 17, 2025

Westlake Corporation announced plans to cease operations at its Pernis facility in the Netherlands due to continued business deterioration in Europe. The closure, which follows consultations with local councils and unions, will result in a workforce reduction of approximately 230 employees and incur pre-tax costs of about EUR 190 million. The company will continue to supply customers from its Deer Park, Texas facility.

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: Aug 27, 2025