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Westlake Chemical (WLK) Misses Q3 Earnings & Sales Estimates
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Westlake Chemical (WLK - Free Report) is a vertically integrated international producer and supplier of petrochemicals, polymers and fabricated products. The company's range of products includes ethylene, polyethylene, styrene, vinyl intermediates, PVC, PVC Pipe, PVC windows, fence and decking components.
The Houston, TX, based company is focusing on its expansion plans, to lower costs, by adding 250 million pounds of capacity at the Lake Charles site and 100 million pounds at Calvert City. The company also recently completed the acquisition of Axiall Corp. The transaction is expected to deliver annual cost synergies of roughly $100 million.
Let’s have a quick look at the company’s third-quarter 2016 release.
Estimate Trend & Surprise History
Investors should note that the earnings estimate for Westlake Chemical for the third quarter has seen a downtrend over the last month. The company has beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in 2 of the trailing 4 quarters while meeting once and missing once, with an average positive surprise of 5.59%.
Westlake Chemical’s adjusted earnings came in at 86 cents per share in the quarter, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 90 cents. Reported earnings of 51 cents per share fell 63% year over year.
Revenues
Westlake Chemical reported revenues of $1,279 million, up around 7.7% year over year. However, it narrowly missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,289 million.
Key Developments to Note
Sales in the quarter benefited from the contribution of Axiall as well as higher selling price across key products, partly offset by lower volumes. Income from operations at the Olefins segment decreased from the prior year quarter due to lower sales prices and production as well as the lost sales. Moreover, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs along with other costs related to the turnaround and expansion of the Lake Charles Petro 1 ethylene unit and other planned turnarounds during the quarter negatively impacted income.
Income from operations at the Vinyls segment also decreased year over year. The fall was due to lost sales and lower production rates and higher costs. The costs included unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs along with costs related to the unplanned outage at the Calvert City facility and other planned turnarounds at European facilities. Moreover, the impact of selling higher cost Axiall inventory recorded at fair value also affected income.
Zacks Rank
Currently, Westlake Chemical has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), but that could change following its earnings report which was just released.
Market Reaction
Westlake Chemical’s shares fell around 2.6% in the pre-market trading. It would be interesting to see how the market reacts to the results during the trading session today.
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Westlake Chemical (WLK) Misses Q3 Earnings & Sales Estimates
Westlake Chemical (WLK - Free Report) is a vertically integrated international producer and supplier of petrochemicals, polymers and fabricated products. The company's range of products includes ethylene, polyethylene, styrene, vinyl intermediates, PVC, PVC Pipe, PVC windows, fence and decking components.
The Houston, TX, based company is focusing on its expansion plans, to lower costs, by adding 250 million pounds of capacity at the Lake Charles site and 100 million pounds at Calvert City. The company also recently completed the acquisition of Axiall Corp. The transaction is expected to deliver annual cost synergies of roughly $100 million.
Let’s have a quick look at the company’s third-quarter 2016 release.
Estimate Trend & Surprise History
Investors should note that the earnings estimate for Westlake Chemical for the third quarter has seen a downtrend over the last month. The company has beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in 2 of the trailing 4 quarters while meeting once and missing once, with an average positive surprise of 5.59%.
WESTLAKE CHEM Price and EPS Surprise
WESTLAKE CHEM Price and EPS Surprise | WESTLAKE CHEM Quote
Earnings
Westlake Chemical’s adjusted earnings came in at 86 cents per share in the quarter, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 90 cents. Reported earnings of 51 cents per share fell 63% year over year.
Revenues
Westlake Chemical reported revenues of $1,279 million, up around 7.7% year over year. However, it narrowly missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,289 million.
Key Developments to Note
Sales in the quarter benefited from the contribution of Axiall as well as higher selling price across key products, partly offset by lower volumes. Income from operations at the Olefins segment decreased from the prior year quarter due to lower sales prices and production as well as the lost sales. Moreover, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs along with other costs related to the turnaround and expansion of the Lake Charles Petro 1 ethylene unit and other planned turnarounds during the quarter negatively impacted income.
Income from operations at the Vinyls segment also decreased year over year. The fall was due to lost sales and lower production rates and higher costs. The costs included unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs along with costs related to the unplanned outage at the Calvert City facility and other planned turnarounds at European facilities. Moreover, the impact of selling higher cost Axiall inventory recorded at fair value also affected income.
Zacks Rank
Currently, Westlake Chemical has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), but that could change following its earnings report which was just released.
Market Reaction
Westlake Chemical’s shares fell around 2.6% in the pre-market trading. It would be interesting to see how the market reacts to the results during the trading session today.
Confidential from Zacks
Beyond this Tale of the Tape, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>>