What is Zacks Research’s Estimate for Westlake Q4 Earnings?

Westlake Co. (NYSE:WLK) – Analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q4 2024 earnings per share estimates for shares of Westlake in a note issued to investors on Monday, November 25th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the specialty chemicals company will post earnings of $1.07 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $1.19. The consensus estimate for Westlake’s current full-year earnings is $6.47 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Westlake’s FY2025 earnings at $6.82 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $2.64 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $8.63 EPS.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on WLK. Barclays upgraded Westlake from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $162.00 to $180.00 in a research report on Monday, September 30th. Mizuho began coverage on Westlake in a report on Thursday, August 8th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $170.00 price objective for the company. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on Westlake from $170.00 to $167.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 11th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Westlake from $171.00 to $165.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Westlake from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday. One research 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. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $162.17.

Westlake Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of WLK stock opened at $128.55 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $16.55 billion, a PE ratio of 180.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 1.19. Westlake has a 52-week low of $118.64 and a 52-week high of $162.64. The business’s fifty day moving average is $137.83 and its 200 day moving average is $144.05. 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 the consensus estimate of $2.21 by ($0.80). Westlake had a net margin of 0.81% and a return on equity of 6.93%. The firm had revenue of $3.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.31 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.20 EPS. Westlake’s revenue was up .1% on a year-over-year basis.

Westlake Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director David Tsung-Hung Chao sold 1,750 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $227,500.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 9,534 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,239,420. This represents a 15.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Westlake

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Westlake during the first quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Continuum Advisory LLC grew its stake in shares of Westlake by 43.2% in the third quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 318 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Quest Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Westlake by 8,400.0% in the 2nd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 340 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 336 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in Westlake during the 3rd quarter valued at about $62,000. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. bought a new stake in Westlake during the 2nd quarter valued at about $66,000. 28.40% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.