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Westlake Chemical (WLK) Q1 Earnings and Sales Beat Estimates
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Westlake Chemical Corporation (WLK - Free Report) posted profits of $242 million or $1.87 per share in the first quarter of 2021, up from a profit of $145 million or $1.13 per share in the year-ago quarter. Earnings per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.56.
Sales rose around 22% year over year to $2,357 million. The figure also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,998.2 million.
The company benefited from increased sales prices and margins for most of its key products including polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, and strong demand in downstream building products business in the quarter. These were partly offset by lost production and sales volumes, higher maintenance expense and increased ethane and ethylene feedstock and natural gas fuel costs associated with the winter storm.
Westlake Chemical Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Sales in the Vinyls segment went up around 21% year over year to $1,820 million in the reported quarter. Operating income in the segment was $200 million, up nearly three-fold year over year. The results were driven by higher sales prices and margins for PVC resin, and increased earnings in the downstream building products business.
The Olefins segment generated sales of $537 million, up roughly 26% year over year. Operating income in the segment was $180 million, up nearly three-fold year over year. The upside was mainly due to higher sales prices and margins for all products, driven by strong global demand.
Financial Position
Westlake Chemical ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1,393 million, down 9% year over year. Long-term debt was $3,547 million, down around 20% year over year.
Cash flow from operations was $265 million for the quarter, a roughly four-fold year-over-year increase.
Outlook
Moving ahead, Westlake Chemical sees continued strong global demand in polyethylene, PVC and downstream building products on strong markets for the downstream uses of its products including residential construction, packaging and healthcare. The company remains focused on operating its facilities safely and efficiently. It is also making disciplined investments, launching new products, lowering costs and leveraging its current products and footprint globally.
Price Performance
Shares of Westlake Chemical have rallied 129% in a year compared with the industry’s 120.8% rise.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Westlake Chemical currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Better-ranked stocks worth considering in the basic materials space include Nucor Corporation (NUE - Free Report) , Dow Inc. (DOW - Free Report) and Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (IMPUY - Free Report) .
Nucor has a projected earnings growth rate of 228.4% for the current year. The company’s shares have rallied around 120% in a year. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Dow has a projected earnings growth rate of 261.5% for the current year. The company’s shares have shot up around 98% in a year. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
Impala Platinum has an expected earnings growth rate of 197.6% for the current fiscal. The company’s shares have surged around 229% in the past year. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #1.
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Westlake Chemical (WLK) Q1 Earnings and Sales Beat Estimates
Westlake Chemical Corporation (WLK - Free Report) posted profits of $242 million or $1.87 per share in the first quarter of 2021, up from a profit of $145 million or $1.13 per share in the year-ago quarter. Earnings per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.56.
Sales rose around 22% year over year to $2,357 million. The figure also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,998.2 million.
The company benefited from increased sales prices and margins for most of its key products including polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, and strong demand in downstream building products business in the quarter. These were partly offset by lost production and sales volumes, higher maintenance expense and increased ethane and ethylene feedstock and natural gas fuel costs associated with the winter storm.
Westlake Chemical Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Westlake Chemical Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Westlake Chemical Corporation Quote
Segment Highlights
Sales in the Vinyls segment went up around 21% year over year to $1,820 million in the reported quarter. Operating income in the segment was $200 million, up nearly three-fold year over year. The results were driven by higher sales prices and margins for PVC resin, and increased earnings in the downstream building products business.
The Olefins segment generated sales of $537 million, up roughly 26% year over year. Operating income in the segment was $180 million, up nearly three-fold year over year. The upside was mainly due to higher sales prices and margins for all products, driven by strong global demand.
Financial Position
Westlake Chemical ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1,393 million, down 9% year over year. Long-term debt was $3,547 million, down around 20% year over year.
Cash flow from operations was $265 million for the quarter, a roughly four-fold year-over-year increase.
Outlook
Moving ahead, Westlake Chemical sees continued strong global demand in polyethylene, PVC and downstream building products on strong markets for the downstream uses of its products including residential construction, packaging and healthcare. The company remains focused on operating its facilities safely and efficiently. It is also making disciplined investments, launching new products, lowering costs and leveraging its current products and footprint globally.
Price Performance
Shares of Westlake Chemical have rallied 129% in a year compared with the industry’s 120.8% rise.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Westlake Chemical currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Better-ranked stocks worth considering in the basic materials space include Nucor Corporation (NUE - Free Report) , Dow Inc. (DOW - Free Report) and Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (IMPUY - Free Report) .
Nucor has a projected earnings growth rate of 228.4% for the current year. The company’s shares have rallied around 120% in a year. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Dow has a projected earnings growth rate of 261.5% for the current year. The company’s shares have shot up around 98% in a year. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
Impala Platinum has an expected earnings growth rate of 197.6% for the current fiscal. The company’s shares have surged around 229% in the past year. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #1.
Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America
A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. It’s bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made.
The only question is “Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest?”
Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today it’s free. Discover 7 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale.
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