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Here's Why You Should Retain Huntsman Stock in Your Portfolio
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Huntsman Corporation (HUN - Free Report) is expected to gain from its investment in downstream businesses, differentiated product innovation, strategic acquisitions and cost actions amid headwinds from soft demand in certain markets and pricing pressure.
HUN’s shares have lost 24.8% over a year compared with the Zacks Chemicals Diversified industry’s 5.2% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s find out why HUN stock is worth retaining at the moment.
Downstream Expansion & Cost Synergies Aid HUN Stock
Huntsman remains focused on growing its downstream specialty and formulation businesses and is shifting its MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) business from components to differentiated systems that typically have higher margins and lower volatility.
HUN’s Polyurethanes segment is well positioned for a strong upside in the long term on the back of its focus on ramping up its high-value differentiated downstream portfolio. The substitution of MDI for less effective materials will remain a key driving factor for the MDI business.
The company should also gain from significant synergies of acquisitions. Its strong liquidity and balance sheet leverage give it adequate flexibility to continue to develop and expand its core businesses through acquisitions and internal investments. The acquisitions of CVC Thermoset and Gabriel Performance Products are contributing to EBITDA in the Advanced Materials segment.
HUN remains committed to its cost realignment and synergy objectives. It realized more than $280 million in run rate savings at the end of 2023. Huntsman expects roughly $60 million of in-year cost optimization benefits, excluding inflation, for 2024. In Polyurethanes, HUN has completed a European restructuring program and expects to realize additional cost savings in 2025.
Demand & Pricing Headwinds Ail Huntsman
Huntsman saw challenges from demand softness and significant de-stocking in 2023. Demand conditions in Europe weakened to high levels of natural gas prices. Demand in China was impacted by reduced economic growth partly resulting from lower construction activities.
Although demand conditions improved in 2024, the lingering impacts of weaker demand in certain markets are likely to continue in the near term. The residential construction market remains sluggish in China. Weaker demand in general industrial markets is also expected to continue to impact the Advanced Materials unit. Soft global construction and industrials activities are likely to impact HUN’s performance in the fourth quarter.
Huntsman also faces headwinds from pricing pressure. Reduced selling prices in the Polyurethanes, Performance Products and Advanced Materials segments had a negative impact in the third quarter of 2024. A less favorable supply-demand environment contributed to the fall in MDI prices. Competitive pressures, particularly in Europe and the Americas, is also affecting the Performance Products segment. Weaker prices are likely to continue to impact HUN’s results in the fourth quarter.
Carpenter Technology beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, with the average earnings surprise being 14.1%. CRS’ shares have soared 211% in the past year.
Sylvamo beat the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. In this time frame, it has delivered an earnings surprise of roughly 16.7%, on average. SLVM’s shares have rallied roughly 74% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ICL Group’s current-year earnings has increased by 8.8% in the past 60 days. ICL beat the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters with the average surprise being 18.1%.
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Here's Why You Should Retain Huntsman Stock in Your Portfolio
Huntsman Corporation (HUN - Free Report) is expected to gain from its investment in downstream businesses, differentiated product innovation, strategic acquisitions and cost actions amid headwinds from soft demand in certain markets and pricing pressure.
HUN’s shares have lost 24.8% over a year compared with the Zacks Chemicals Diversified industry’s 5.2% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s find out why HUN stock is worth retaining at the moment.
Downstream Expansion & Cost Synergies Aid HUN Stock
Huntsman remains focused on growing its downstream specialty and formulation businesses and is shifting its MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) business from components to differentiated systems that typically have higher margins and lower volatility.
HUN’s Polyurethanes segment is well positioned for a strong upside in the long term on the back of its focus on ramping up its high-value differentiated downstream portfolio. The substitution of MDI for less effective materials will remain a key driving factor for the MDI business.
The company should also gain from significant synergies of acquisitions. Its strong liquidity and balance sheet leverage give it adequate flexibility to continue to develop and expand its core businesses through acquisitions and internal investments. The acquisitions of CVC Thermoset and Gabriel Performance Products are contributing to EBITDA in the Advanced Materials segment.
HUN remains committed to its cost realignment and synergy objectives. It realized more than $280 million in run rate savings at the end of 2023. Huntsman expects roughly $60 million of in-year cost optimization benefits, excluding inflation, for 2024. In Polyurethanes, HUN has completed a European restructuring program and expects to realize additional cost savings in 2025.
Demand & Pricing Headwinds Ail Huntsman
Huntsman saw challenges from demand softness and significant de-stocking in 2023. Demand conditions in Europe weakened to high levels of natural gas prices. Demand in China was impacted by reduced economic growth partly resulting from lower construction activities.
Although demand conditions improved in 2024, the lingering impacts of weaker demand in certain markets are likely to continue in the near term. The residential construction market remains sluggish in China. Weaker demand in general industrial markets is also expected to continue to impact the Advanced Materials unit. Soft global construction and industrials activities are likely to impact HUN’s performance in the fourth quarter.
Huntsman also faces headwinds from pricing pressure. Reduced selling prices in the Polyurethanes, Performance Products and Advanced Materials segments had a negative impact in the third quarter of 2024. A less favorable supply-demand environment contributed to the fall in MDI prices. Competitive pressures, particularly in Europe and the Americas, is also affecting the Performance Products segment. Weaker prices are likely to continue to impact HUN’s results in the fourth quarter.
Huntsman Corporation Price and Consensus
Huntsman Corporation price-consensus-chart | Huntsman Corporation Quote
HUN’s Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks
HUN currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) , Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM - Free Report) and ICL Group Ltd (ICL - Free Report) . While CRS and SLVM sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), ICL carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Carpenter Technology beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, with the average earnings surprise being 14.1%. CRS’ shares have soared 211% in the past year.
Sylvamo beat the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. In this time frame, it has delivered an earnings surprise of roughly 16.7%, on average. SLVM’s shares have rallied roughly 74% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ICL Group’s current-year earnings has increased by 8.8% in the past 60 days. ICL beat the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters with the average surprise being 18.1%.