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Westlake Corporation (WLK)
NYSE:WLK
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Westlake Corporation (WLK) AI Stock Analysis

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WLK

Westlake Corporation

(NYSE:WLK)

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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:52Neutral
Price Target:
$86.00
▲(10.75% Upside)
Westlake Corporation's overall stock score reflects significant financial and operational challenges, with declining revenues and profitability pressures being the most impactful factors. While there are positive strategic initiatives and some technical momentum, the negative valuation and earnings call challenges weigh heavily on the score.
Positive Factors
HIP Segment Performance
The strong performance in the HIP segment, with a 24% EBITDA margin, indicates robust demand and operational efficiency, supporting long-term profitability.
Cost Reduction Initiatives
Effective cost reduction initiatives enhance profitability and competitiveness, providing a buffer against market volatility and supporting future growth.
Infrastructure Act Benefits
The Infrastructure Act boosts demand for Westlake's products, particularly in municipal water applications, ensuring sustained revenue growth in the HIP segment.
Negative Factors
PEM Segment Challenges
Operational disruptions in the PEM segment, due to outages, strain production and financial performance, potentially affecting long-term stability.
Net Loss in Q2
A net loss in Q2 reflects ongoing profitability challenges, highlighting the need for strategic adjustments to improve financial health.
Epoxy Facility Closure
Closing the Pernis facility indicates structural challenges in the epoxy market, impacting Westlake's capacity and market presence in Europe.

Westlake Corporation (WLK) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Westlake Corporation Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWestlake Corporation manufactures and supplies petrochemicals, polymers, and building products worldwide. It operates through two segments, Performance and Essential Materials; and Housing and Infrastructure Products. The Performance and Essential Materials segment manufactures and markets polyethylene, styrene monomer, ethylene co-products, PVC, VCM, ethylene dichloride chlor-alkali, and chlorinated derivative products. The Housing and Infrastructure Products segment manufactures and sells residential PVC siding; PVC trim and moldings; roofing applications; decorative stone; windows; PVC decking; PVC films for various inflatables, wallcovering, tape, and roofing applications; polymer composite roof tiles; PVC pipe and fittings; PVC compounds; and various consumer and commercial products such as landscape edging; industrial, home and office matting; marine dock edging; and masonry joint controls. The company offers its products to a range of customers, including chemical processors, plastics fabricators, small construction contractors, municipalities, and supply warehouses for use in various consumer and industrial markets, including residential construction, flexible and rigid packaging, automotive products, healthcare products, water treatment, and coatings, as well as other durable and non-durable goods. The company was formerly known as Westlake Chemical Corporation and changed its name to Westlake Corporation in February 2022. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Westlake Corporation is a subsidiary of TTWF LP.
How the Company Makes MoneyWestlake Corporation generates revenue through the production and sale of its diverse chemical and polymer products. The company's key revenue streams include the sale of polyethylene and PVC, which are fundamental to a variety of applications in different industries. Additionally, Westlake benefits from its vertically integrated business model, which enhances cost efficiencies and allows for better control over its supply chain. Strategic partnerships with other manufacturers and distributors also contribute to its revenue, enabling Westlake to expand its market reach and optimize its distribution channels. The company's ability to adapt to market demand and fluctuations in raw material costs further influences its profitability.

Westlake Corporation Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 05, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Oct 30, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong performance in the HIP segment and aggressive cost reduction plans. However, challenges in the PEM segment, including planned and unplanned outages, led to a net loss and the closure of the Pernis facility. While there are positive strategic moves, significant hurdles remain.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
HIP Segment Performance
HIP delivered solid EBITDA of $275 million on sales of $1.2 billion, representing a strong 24% EBITDA margin. Sales rose 16% from the first quarter of 2025, driven by a 14% increase in sales volumes due to pipe and fittings and seasonal demand.
Cost Reduction Achievements
The company achieved over $75 million in cost reductions in the first half of 2025, with a target of $150 million to $175 million for the full year. An additional $200 million in cost reductions is planned by 2026.
Infrastructure Act Benefits
Increased demand for municipal water applications, driven by spending from the 2021 Infrastructure Act, provided a solid foundation for pipe and fittings sales.
Negative Updates
PEM Segment Challenges
PEM segment faced $110 million impact from planned and unplanned outages and global oversupply in some chemical chains, creating pressure on sales price and EBITDA margin.
Net Loss in Q2
Westlake reported a net loss of $12 million or $0.09 per share in the second quarter, with a significant decrease in net income compared to the second quarter of 2024 due to higher feedstock costs and lower average sales prices.
Epoxy Facility Closure
The Pernis epoxy site in the Netherlands was closed due to significant losses driven by higher European feedstock and energy costs and low-priced Asian exports.
Planned and Unplanned Outages
The company experienced $110 million in impacts from planned turnarounds and unplanned outages, affecting production levels and sales volumes.
Company Guidance
During the fiscal year 2025 second-quarter earnings call, Westlake Corporation provided guidance on various financial metrics and strategic initiatives. The company reported EBITDA of $340 million on net sales of $3 billion, with the Housing and Infrastructure Products (HIP) segment contributing $275 million in EBITDA and a strong 24% EBITDA margin on sales of $1.2 billion. Despite a challenging environment with elevated interest rates, the HIP segment benefited from increased demand for municipal water applications, supported by the 2021 Infrastructure Act. For the Performance and Essential Materials (PEM) segment, EBITDA was pressured by lower production levels due to planned and unplanned outages, impacting EBITDA by approximately $110 million. To address this, Westlake outlined a three-pronged profitability improvement strategy for PEM, targeting cost reductions of $150 million to $175 million for 2025 and an additional $200 million by 2026. They also announced the closure of the epoxy site in Pernis, Netherlands, to improve profitability. The guidance for 2025 HIP revenue was adjusted to $4.2 billion to $4.4 billion, with an EBITDA margin between 20% and 22%. Additionally, total capital expenditures for the year were projected to be around $900 million, with a cash interest expense of approximately $160 million.

Westlake Corporation Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Westlake Corporation faces a challenging financial environment with declining revenues and profitability pressures. The income statement shows a negative net profit margin and declining revenue growth. The balance sheet is stable but with a negative return on equity, and cash flow analysis indicates significant cash generation issues.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Westlake Corporation's income statement shows a challenging period with declining revenue and profitability. The TTM data indicates a negative net profit margin of -0.57%, reflecting a loss, and a decrease in revenue growth rate by -2.11%. The gross profit margin has also decreased to 11.20% from previous years. These factors suggest pressure on the company's pricing power and cost management.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45 in the TTM period, indicating manageable leverage. However, the return on equity has turned negative at -0.53%, which is concerning. The equity ratio remains stable, suggesting a solid asset base, but the negative ROE highlights profitability challenges.
Cash Flow
50
Neutral
Cash flow analysis shows a significant decline in free cash flow growth rate by -164.29% in the TTM period, indicating cash generation issues. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is not calculable due to negative net income, but the free cash flow to net income ratio is positive at 9.39%, suggesting some ability to generate cash despite losses.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue11.76B12.14B12.55B15.79B11.78B7.50B
Gross Profit1.20B1.84B2.10B3.92B3.37B914.00M
EBITDA1.42B2.21B1.96B4.18B3.69B1.25B
Net Income-66.00M602.00M479.00M2.25B2.02B330.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets20.81B20.75B21.04B20.55B18.46B13.84B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments2.28B2.92B3.30B2.23B1.91B1.31B
Total Debt5.62B5.28B5.52B5.38B5.64B3.95B
Total Liabilities10.02B9.71B10.27B10.09B9.93B7.26B
Stockholders Equity10.28B10.53B10.24B9.93B7.96B6.04B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-54.00M306.00M1.30B2.29B1.74B772.00M
Operating Cash Flow966.00M1.31B2.34B3.40B2.39B1.30B
Investing Cash Flow-1.23B-1.00B-1.04B-2.48B-3.21B-509.00M
Financing Cash Flow-701.00M-650.00M-245.00M-587.00M1.44B-216.00M

Westlake Corporation Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price77.65
Price Trends
50DMA
83.51
Negative
100DMA
80.30
Negative
200DMA
92.80
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.58
Positive
RSI
37.88
Neutral
STOCH
4.30
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WLK, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 77.65 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 84.81, below the 50-day MA of 83.51, and below the 200-day MA of 92.80, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -1.58 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 37.88 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 4.30 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for WLK.

Westlake Corporation Risk Analysis

Westlake Corporation disclosed 33 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Westlake Corporation reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Westlake Corporation Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
70
Neutral
$7.20B8.8114.26%5.29%1.60%-3.97%
65
Neutral
$12.28B26.448.92%-23.20%1226.72%
63
Neutral
$8.07B11.7610.94%-2.34%89.86%
55
Neutral
$10.37B-9.45-9.08%1.84%-33.05%-97.63%
55
Neutral
$15.91B64.872.19%10.96%-14.12%-89.22%
52
Neutral
$9.96B25.36-0.64%2.71%-3.00%-124.79%
61
Neutral
$10.43B7.12-0.05%2.87%2.86%-36.73%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WLK
Westlake Corporation
77.65
-69.40
-47.19%
ALB
Albemarle
88.10
-4.60
-4.96%
EMN
Eastman Chemical
62.71
-44.78
-41.66%
LYB
LyondellBasell
49.45
-38.92
-44.04%
SQM
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera SA
44.24
2.56
6.14%
AVTR
Avantor
11.84
-14.03
-54.23%

Westlake Corporation Corporate Events

M&A Transactions
Westlake Corporation to Acquire ACI/Perplastic Group
Positive
Aug 26, 2025

On August 26, 2025, Westlake Corporation announced its agreement to acquire the global compounding solutions businesses of the ACI/Perplastic Group, a Portugal-based manufacturer serving the wire and cable sectors. This acquisition is expected to enhance Westlake’s Housing & Infrastructure Products segment by integrating ACI’s specialty materials and technology, thereby expanding Westlake’s product portfolio. ACI, with production facilities in Mexico, Portugal, Romania, and Tunisia, reported net sales of approximately EUR 210 million for the year ending December 31, 2024. The transaction is anticipated to close in early 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

The most recent analyst rating on (WLK) stock is a Hold with a $85.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Westlake Corporation stock, see the WLK Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Sep 19, 2025