For the quarter ended December 2023, Westlake Chemical (WLK - Free Report) reported revenue of $2.83 billion, down 14.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.72, compared to $1.79 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.85 billion, representing a surprise of -0.99%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -11.11%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.81.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Westlake performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net external sales- Performance and Essential Materials: $1.88 billion compared to the $1.87 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of -20.4% year over year.
- Net external sales- Housing and Infrastructure Products: $946 million compared to the $934.91 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +0.9% year over year.
- Net external sales- Performance and Essential Materials - Performance materials: $1.11 billion versus $1.04 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -13.9% change.
- Net external sales- Performance and Essential Materials - Essential materials: $773 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $831.33 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -28.1%.
- Net external sales- Housing and Infrastructure Products - Housing products: $795 million compared to the $796.18 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.9% year over year.
- Net external sales- Housing and Infrastructure Products - Infrastructure products: $151 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $178.18 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -16.1%.
- EBITDA- Housing and Infrastructure Products: $173 million versus $141.88 million estimated by four analysts on average.
- EBITDA- Performance and Essential Materials: -$424 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $293.28 million.
View all Key Company Metrics for Westlake here>>>Shares of Westlake have returned +3.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Westlake Chemical (WLK - Free Report) reported revenue of $2.83 billion, down 14.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.72, compared to $1.79 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.85 billion, representing a surprise of -0.99%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -11.11%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.81.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Westlake performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net external sales- Performance and Essential Materials: $1.88 billion compared to the $1.87 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of -20.4% year over year.
- Net external sales- Housing and Infrastructure Products: $946 million compared to the $934.91 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +0.9% year over year.
- Net external sales- Performance and Essential Materials - Performance materials: $1.11 billion versus $1.04 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -13.9% change.
- Net external sales- Performance and Essential Materials - Essential materials: $773 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $831.33 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -28.1%.
- Net external sales- Housing and Infrastructure Products - Housing products: $795 million compared to the $796.18 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.9% year over year.
- Net external sales- Housing and Infrastructure Products - Infrastructure products: $151 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $178.18 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -16.1%.
- EBITDA- Housing and Infrastructure Products: $173 million versus $141.88 million estimated by four analysts on average.
- EBITDA- Performance and Essential Materials: -$424 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $293.28 million.
View all Key Company Metrics for Westlake here>>>Shares of Westlake have returned +3.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Just Released: Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2024
Hurry – you can still get in early on our 10 top tickers for 2024. Hand-picked by Zacks Director of Research, Sheraz Mian, this portfolio has been stunningly and consistently successful. From inception in 2012 through November, 2023, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks gained +974.1%, nearly TRIPLING the S&P 500’s +340.1%. Sheraz has combed through 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank and handpicked the best 10 to buy and hold in 2024. You can still be among the first to see these just-released stocks with enormous potential.
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