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Westlake Chemical (WLK) Earnings & Sales Lag Estimates in Q4
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Westlake Chemical Corporation (WLK - Free Report) recorded a profit of $123 million or 95 cents per share for fourth-quarter 2018, down around 85% from $802 million or $6.15 earned a year ago. The bottom line in the year-ago quarter includes tax benefits of $591 million from reduced U.S. corporate tax rate under the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
The results in the reported quarter were also unfavorably impacted by reduced sales prices for polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) resin, increased ethane feedstock costs and higher fuel costs resulting from an increase in natural gas prices.
Barring one-time items, earnings came in at $1.02 per share for the reported quarter, falling well short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.72.
Revenues edged down 0.8% year over year to $1,995 million, also missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,154.1 million.
Westlake Chemical Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
For 2018, profits were $996 million or $7.62 per share, down roughly 24% from $1,304 million or $10.00 recorded in 2017. Results in 2017 were boosted by tax benefits.
Net sales for the year went up 7% year over year to $8,635 million as higher sales prices and volumes for caustic soda and increased sales volumes for PVC resin and polyethylene more than offset reduced polyethylene sales prices and lower styrene sales volumes.
Segment Highlights
Sales at the Olefins segment fell 5% year over year to $493 million in the quarter. Operating income at the segment fell roughly 46% year over year to $90 million, hurt by reduced polyethylene sales prices resulting from lower oil prices and higher ethane feedstock and energy costs, partly masked by higher polyethylene sales volumes.
The Vinyls segment recorded sales of $1,502 million, up 0.6% year over year. Operating income at the segment was $125 million, down around 42% year over year. The decline is primarily attributable to reduced PVC resin margins as a result of lower sales prices and increased feedstock and power costs.
Financial Position
Westlake Chemical ended 2018 with cash and cash equivalents of $753 million, down around 51% year over year. Long-term debt was $2,668 million at the end of the year, down around 15% year over year.
Cash flow from operations was $254 million in the quarter and $1,409 million for 2018.
Outlook
The company noted that it witnessed strong demand for all of its key products across domestic and export markets in 2018 and is benefiting from its investment initiatives. Westlake Chemical expects its investments to contribute to its EBITDA in 2019.
Westlake Chemical, last month, completed the acquisition of the global compounding solutions business, NAKAN. The buyout will enable Westlake Chemical to expand its product portfolio and global footprint that the company expects to leverage with its existing operations and drive shareholders value.
Price Performance
Shares of Westlake Chemical have lost 27.9% in a year’s time, underperforming the 25% fall of its industry.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Westlake Chemical currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
A few better-ranked stocks worth considering in the basic materials space include Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. , Israel Chemicals Ltd. (ICL - Free Report) and The Mosaic Company (MOS - Free Report) .
Kirkland Lake Gold has an expected earnings growth rate of 20.9% for the current year and carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Its shares have surged 141% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Israel Chemicals has an expected earnings growth rate of 10.8% for the current year and carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The company’s shares have rallied 32% over the past year.
Mosaic has an expected earnings growth rate of 23.4% for the current year and carries a Zacks Rank #2. Its shares have gained 21% in the past year.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?
Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%.
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Westlake Chemical (WLK) Earnings & Sales Lag Estimates in Q4
Westlake Chemical Corporation (WLK - Free Report) recorded a profit of $123 million or 95 cents per share for fourth-quarter 2018, down around 85% from $802 million or $6.15 earned a year ago. The bottom line in the year-ago quarter includes tax benefits of $591 million from reduced U.S. corporate tax rate under the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
The results in the reported quarter were also unfavorably impacted by reduced sales prices for polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) resin, increased ethane feedstock costs and higher fuel costs resulting from an increase in natural gas prices.
Barring one-time items, earnings came in at $1.02 per share for the reported quarter, falling well short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.72.
Revenues edged down 0.8% year over year to $1,995 million, also missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,154.1 million.
Westlake Chemical Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Westlake Chemical Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Westlake Chemical Corporation Quote
FY18 Results
For 2018, profits were $996 million or $7.62 per share, down roughly 24% from $1,304 million or $10.00 recorded in 2017. Results in 2017 were boosted by tax benefits.
Net sales for the year went up 7% year over year to $8,635 million as higher sales prices and volumes for caustic soda and increased sales volumes for PVC resin and polyethylene more than offset reduced polyethylene sales prices and lower styrene sales volumes.
Segment Highlights
Sales at the Olefins segment fell 5% year over year to $493 million in the quarter. Operating income at the segment fell roughly 46% year over year to $90 million, hurt by reduced polyethylene sales prices resulting from lower oil prices and higher ethane feedstock and energy costs, partly masked by higher polyethylene sales volumes.
The Vinyls segment recorded sales of $1,502 million, up 0.6% year over year. Operating income at the segment was $125 million, down around 42% year over year. The decline is primarily attributable to reduced PVC resin margins as a result of lower sales prices and increased feedstock and power costs.
Financial Position
Westlake Chemical ended 2018 with cash and cash equivalents of $753 million, down around 51% year over year. Long-term debt was $2,668 million at the end of the year, down around 15% year over year.
Cash flow from operations was $254 million in the quarter and $1,409 million for 2018.
Outlook
The company noted that it witnessed strong demand for all of its key products across domestic and export markets in 2018 and is benefiting from its investment initiatives. Westlake Chemical expects its investments to contribute to its EBITDA in 2019.
Westlake Chemical, last month, completed the acquisition of the global compounding solutions business, NAKAN. The buyout will enable Westlake Chemical to expand its product portfolio and global footprint that the company expects to leverage with its existing operations and drive shareholders value.
Price Performance
Shares of Westlake Chemical have lost 27.9% in a year’s time, underperforming the 25% fall of its industry.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Westlake Chemical currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
A few better-ranked stocks worth considering in the basic materials space include Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. , Israel Chemicals Ltd. (ICL - Free Report) and The Mosaic Company (MOS - Free Report) .
Kirkland Lake Gold has an expected earnings growth rate of 20.9% for the current year and carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Its shares have surged 141% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Israel Chemicals has an expected earnings growth rate of 10.8% for the current year and carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The company’s shares have rallied 32% over the past year.
Mosaic has an expected earnings growth rate of 23.4% for the current year and carries a Zacks Rank #2. Its shares have gained 21% in the past year.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?
Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%.
See Latest Stocks Today >>