Zacks Research Estimates Westlake’s Q4 Earnings (NYSE:WLK)

Westlake Corporation (NYSE:WLK) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research decreased their Q4 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Westlake in a note issued to investors on Thursday, September 25th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the specialty chemicals company will earn ($0.06) per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of ($0.04). The consensus estimate for Westlake’s current full-year earnings is $6.48 per share.

Westlake (NYSE:WLK) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The specialty chemicals company reported ($0.09) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.06 by ($0.15). Westlake had a positive return on equity of 1.26% and a negative net margin of 0.57%.The firm had revenue of $2.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.40 EPS. Westlake’s revenue was down 7.9% on a year-over-year basis.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Westlake from $73.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday. Citigroup increased their target price on Westlake from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Bank of America decreased their target price on Westlake from $90.00 to $84.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. Mizuho upped their price target on Westlake from $82.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. upgraded Westlake from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $90.00 price target on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $92.64.

Westlake Price Performance

WLK opened at $77.55 on Monday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $83.89 and its 200 day moving average price is $84.39. Westlake has a 12-month low of $68.55 and a 12-month high of $151.56. The company has a current ratio of 2.47, a quick ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The firm has a market cap of $9.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -146.32 and a beta of 0.92.

Westlake Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 4th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 19th were issued a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 19th. This is an increase from Westlake’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. Westlake’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -400.00%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Westlake by 17.7% in the 1st quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,900,025 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $390,120,000 after acquiring an additional 586,178 shares during the last quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP increased its holdings in shares of Westlake by 246.0% in the 2nd quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 1,456,871 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $110,621,000 after acquiring an additional 1,035,851 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Westlake in the 2nd quarter valued at about $104,314,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Westlake by 10.9% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,041,190 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $104,150,000 after acquiring an additional 102,268 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Westlake by 366.7% in the 1st quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 901,229 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $90,150,000 after acquiring an additional 708,142 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 28.40% of the company’s stock.

Westlake Company Profile

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.