Zacks Research Issues Negative Outlook for Westlake Earnings

Westlake Co. (NYSE:WLK) – Research analysts at Zacks Research dropped their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Westlake in a report issued on Monday, November 25th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the specialty chemicals company will post earnings of $1.56 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $1.76. The consensus estimate for Westlake’s current full-year earnings is $6.47 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Westlake’s Q2 2025 earnings at $2.13 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $2.05 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $1.08 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $2.20 EPS and Q3 2026 earnings at $2.32 EPS.

Several other research firms have also recently commented on WLK. Barclays upgraded shares of Westlake from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $162.00 to $180.00 in a research report on Monday, September 30th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Westlake from $171.00 to $165.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. StockNews.com upgraded Westlake from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on Westlake from $170.00 to $167.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Mizuho began coverage on shares of Westlake in a report on Thursday, August 8th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $170.00 price objective for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Westlake currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $162.17.

Westlake Stock Up 0.3 %

Westlake stock opened at $128.55 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 181.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $137.83 and a 200-day simple moving average of $144.05. Westlake has a one year low of $118.64 and a one year high of $162.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a current ratio of 2.79.

Westlake (NYSE:WLK) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 5th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.41 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.21 by ($0.80). The company had revenue of $3.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.31 billion. Westlake had a return on equity of 6.93% and a net margin of 0.81%. Westlake’s quarterly revenue was up .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.20 earnings per share.

Institutional Trading of Westlake

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Tidal Investments LLC lifted its stake in Westlake by 30.1% in the 1st quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 5,017 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $767,000 after acquiring an additional 1,162 shares in the last quarter. Comerica Bank grew its position in Westlake by 17.9% during the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 24,490 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $3,742,000 after purchasing an additional 3,710 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Westlake in the 1st quarter worth approximately $316,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of Westlake during the 1st quarter valued at $43,000. Finally, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale increased its stake in shares of Westlake by 3.4% in the first quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 3,518 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $532,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 28.40% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Westlake

In related news, Director David Tsung-Hung Chao sold 1,750 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $227,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 9,534 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,239,420. This trade represents a 15.51 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 74.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Westlake Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 26th will be paid a dividend of $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.63%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 26th. Westlake’s dividend payout ratio is presently 295.77%.

About Westlake

Westlake Corporation engages in the manufacture and marketing of performance and essential materials, and housing and infrastructure products in the United States, Canada, Germany, China, Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Taiwan, and internationally. The company operates through two segments: Performance and Essential Materials and Housing and Infrastructure Products.