Westlake Corporation Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

Westlake Corporation (NYSE: WLK) (the "Company" or "Westlake") today announced first quarter 2024 results.

SUMMARY FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (in millions of dollars, except per share data and percentages)

 

Three Months
Ended March 31,
2024

 

Three Months
Ended December
31, 2023

 

Three Months
Ended March 31,
2023

Westlake Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

2,975

 

 

$

2,826

 

 

$

3,356

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

$

223

 

 

$

(552

)

 

$

536

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Westlake Corporation

 

$

174

 

 

$

(497

)

 

$

394

 

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share

 

$

1.34

 

 

$

(3.86

)

 

$

3.05

 

EBITDA

 

$

546

 

 

$

(235

)

 

$

825

 

Identified Items ⁽¹⁾

 

$

—

 

 

$

625

 

 

$

—

 

EBITDA excl. Identified Items

 

$

546

 

 

$

390

 

 

$

825

 

EBITDA margin ⁽²⁾

 

 

18%

 

 

14%

 

 

25%

Performance and Essential Materials ("PEM") Segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

1,931

 

 

$

1,880

 

 

$

2,349

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

$

22

 

 

$

(664

)

 

$

403

 

EBITDA

 

$

253

 

 

$

(424

)

 

$

615

 

Identified Items ⁽¹⁾

 

$

—

 

 

$

625

 

 

$

—

 

EBITDA excl. Identified Items

 

$

253

 

 

$

201

 

 

$

615

 

EBITDA margin ⁽²⁾

 

 

13%

 

 

11%

 

 

26%

Housing and Infrastructure Products ("HIP") Segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

1,044

 

 

$

946

 

 

$

1,007

 

Income from operations

 

$

210

 

 

$

121

 

 

$

143

 

EBITDA

 

$

264

 

 

$

173

 

 

$

205

 

EBITDA margin

 

 

25%

 

 

18%

 

 

20%

_______________  

(1)		"Identified Items" include a $475 million non-cash impairment charge and a $150 million charge to fully resolve certain liability claims
(2)		Excludes Identified Items

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

In the first quarter of 2024, Westlake achieved net sales of $3.0 billion, net income of $174 million and EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) of $546 million. The Company benefitted from continued strong demand in housing end markets, particularly for pipe & fittings and siding & trim, that drove record first quarter EBITDA in our HIP segment, while results in our PEM segment reflected continued weak global industrial and manufacturing activity.

Sales volume for Housing and Infrastructure Products in the first quarter increased 12% from the fourth quarter of 2023 while Performance and Essential Materials sales volume increased 3% quarter-over-quarter. Overall sales volume for the Company increased 6% sequentially from the previous quarter.

Housing and Infrastructure Products first quarter average sales price decreased 2% from the fourth quarter of 2023 while Performance and Essential Materials average sales price decreased less than 1% quarter-over-quarter. Overall average sales price for the Company decreased 1% sequentially from the previous quarter.

In the first quarter of 2024, HIP's EBITDA margin increased to 25% from 18% in the fourth quarter of 2023, while PEM's EBITDA margin increased to 13% from 11%, excluding Identified Items, over the same period of time.

EXECUTIVE COMMENTARY

"Our first quarter of 2024 results demonstrated the value of the diversity of the businesses in our portfolio as sales volume growth and margin expansion in our HIP segment supported our overall earnings at a time when pricing and margins in our PEM segment remain challenged by weak global demand. HIP sales volume grew a solid 12% sequentially as our leading positions in key channels enabled us to capitalize on resilient North American residential construction and infrastructure activity. The solid sales volume growth, combined with cost savings initiatives, enabled HIP EBITDA margin to expand to a first-quarter record of 25% from 18% in the fourth quarter of 2023," said Albert Chao, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"PEM segment sales volume improved 3% sequentially with most product categories growing due to favorable seasonality and modest improvement in end market demand. Average sales price, while relatively stable sequentially, remained depressed by continued weak global industrial and manufacturing activity and low-priced Asian imports," continued Mr. Chao.

"Looking ahead, we expect the growth in our HIP segment to continue despite elevated inflation and interest rates, as the supply of houses remains limited and the demographics supporting housing demand remain favorable. In our PEM segment, we expect relatively stable near-term performance as growth is constrained by continuing weak end market demand and low-priced Asian imports in some product categories and geographies. While we await an improvement in macroeconomic conditions, we are progressing with our efforts to improve the profitability of our European operations through structural cost improvement and we continue to make investments to improve the reliability and efficiency of our plants," concluded Mr. Chao.

RESULTS

Consolidated Results

(Unless otherwise noted the financial numbers below exclude the Identified Items)

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company reported quarterly net income of $174 million, or $1.34 per share, on net sales of $3.0 billion. The year-over-year decrease in net income of $220 million was primarily due to lower average sales price and margins in our PEM segment, which were partially offset by lower material costs and higher margins in our HIP segment.

First quarter 2024 net income of $174 million increased by $81 million as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. The sequential increase in net income compared to the prior quarter was primarily due to higher sales volume, driven by seasonal demand improvement and strong demand for both Housing Products and Infrastructure Products.

EBITDA of $546 million for the first quarter of 2024 decreased by $279 million compared to first quarter 2023 EBITDA of $825 million. First quarter 2024 EBITDA increased by $156 million compared to fourth quarter 2023 EBITDA of $390 million.

A reconciliation of EBITDA to net income, income from operations (including and excluding Identified Items) and net cash provided by operating activities can be found in the financial schedules at the end of this press release.

Cash and Debt

Net cash provided by operating activities was $169 million for the first quarter of 2024 and capital expenditures were $272 million. As of March 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents were $3.1 billion and total debt was $4.9 billion.

Performance and Essential Materials Segment

(Unless otherwise noted the financial numbers below exclude the Identified Items)

For the first quarter of 2024, Performance and Essential Materials income from operations was $22 million as compared to $403 million in the first quarter of 2023. This year-over-year decrease of $381 million was due to lower average sales price for most of the Company's major products, particularly caustic soda and epoxy resin. The lower average sales price in the first quarter of 2024 was partially offset by higher sales volume in the quarter.

Sequentially, Performance and Essential Materials income from operations increased by $61 million as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. This increase in income from operations versus the prior quarter was primarily driven by higher sales volume, particularly for epoxy resin and PVC resin. Average sales price declined by less than 1% sequentially as increases in epoxy resin and olefins nearly offset decreases in chlorovinyls.

Housing and Infrastructure Products Segment

For the first quarter of 2024, Housing and Infrastructure Products income from operations of $210 million increased by $67 million as compared to the first quarter of 2023. The year-over-year increase was the result of higher sales volume, particularly for pipe and fittings, and lower material costs.

Sequentially, Housing and Infrastructure Products income from operations increased by $89 million as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. This increase in income from operations versus the prior quarter was primarily due to higher sales volume and approximately $15 million lower plant closure costs associated with our footprint optimization program.

UPCOMING HOUSING & INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS-FOCUSED INVESTOR EVENT

Westlake will host an investor event focused on its Housing & Infrastructure Products businesses on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. During the event, Albert Chao, President and Chief Executive Officer; Steve Bender, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Robert Buesinger, Executive Vice President – Housing & Infrastructure Products, IT & Digital; and the leaders of Westlake Royal Building Products, Westlake Pipe & Fittings, and Westlake Global Compounds, will present an in-depth review of the Company's HIP segment and its financials. The event will cover Westlake's integrated and expanded business portfolio, including the breadth of diversified and market-leading products and solutions produced by the HIP businesses, which serve the home building and construction markets, municipal water and sewer infrastructure, and automotive and healthcare industries.

The event will take place in New York City, and information on registering for in-person attendance will be provided in the coming days.

A live webcast will be accessible on https://www.westlake.com/investor-relations at the time of the event. For those who are unable to attend in-person or watch the live webcast, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor Relations website.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this release and the related teleconference relating to matters that are not historical facts, including statements regarding our outlook for the performance of our business segments, consumer spending in the U.S., global macroeconomic conditions, continuing stabilization or increases in sales prices and volumes in both domestic and export markets for most of our products, industrial, manufacturing, residential construction and infrastructure activity in our target markets, trends in labor markets and interest rates, our ability to weather economic volatility, raw material costs, higher energy prices, the continuation of low-priced exports out of Asia, our market position, our ability to improve reliability and efficiency of our plants, further commercialization of new product innovations, our cost savings initiatives, global demand for our products, and our ability to deliver greater value to customers and investors as general economic conditions improve are forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially, based on factors including, but not limited to: general economic and business conditions; the cyclical nature of the chemical and building products industries; the availability, cost and volatility of raw materials and energy; uncertainties associated with the United States, European and worldwide economies, including those due to political tensions and conflict in the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine and elsewhere; uncertainties associated with pandemic infectious diseases; uncertainties associated with climate change; the potential impact on demand for ethylene, polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride due to initiatives such as recycling and customers seeking alternatives to polymers; current and potential governmental regulatory actions in the United States and other countries; industry production capacity and operating rates; the supply/demand balance for Westlake's products; competitive products and pricing pressures; instability in the credit and financial markets; access to capital markets; terrorist acts; operating interruptions; changes in laws and regulations, including trade policies; technological developments; information systems failures and cyberattacks; foreign currency exchange risks; our ability to implement our business strategies; creditworthiness of our customers; the effect and results of litigation and settlements of litigation; and other risk factors. For more detailed information about the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, please refer to Westlake's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC in February 2024.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release makes reference to certain "non-GAAP" financial measures, such as EBITDA, free cash flow and other measures that exclude the effects of the Identified Items, as defined in Regulation G of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. For this purpose, a non-GAAP financial measure is generally defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a numerical measure of a registrant's historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that (1) excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statement of income, balance sheet or statement of cash flows (or equivalent statements) of the registrant; or (2) includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated and presented. We report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP), but believe that certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as EBITDA, free cash flow and measures that exclude the effects of the Identified Items, provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding the underlying business trends and performance of the Company's ongoing operations and are useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of (i) EBITDA to net income, income from operations and net cash provided by operating activities, (ii) free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, and (iii) other measures reflecting adjustments for the effects of the Identified Items can be found in the financial schedules at the end of this press release.

About Westlake

Westlake is a global manufacturer and supplier of materials and innovative products that enhance life every day. Headquartered in Houston, with operations in Asia, Europe and North America, we provide the building blocks for vital solutions — from housing and construction, to packaging and healthcare, to automotive and consumer goods. For more information, visit the Company's web site at www.westlake.com.

Westlake Corporation Conference Call Information:

A conference call to discuss Westlake Corporation's first quarter 2024 results will be held Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time (10:00 AM Central Time). To access the conference call, it is necessary to pre-register at https://register.vevent.com/register/BI6dd9f6d378244f26a329eb8dfb3d39a .... Once registered, you will receive a phone number and unique PIN number.

A replay of the conference call will be available beginning two hours after its conclusion. The conference call and replay will be available via webcast at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/b4szy7np.

WESTLAKE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024				2023
		(in millions of dollars, except per share data and share amounts)
Net sales		$	2,975			$	3,356
Cost of sales			2,509				2,564
Gross profit			466				792
Selling, general and administrative expenses			209				222
Amortization of intangibles			30				31
Restructuring, transaction and integration-related costs			4				3
Income from operations			223				536
Interest expense			(40	)			(42	)
Other income, net			50				22
Income before income taxes			233				516
Provision for income taxes			48				109
Net income			185				407
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests			11				13
Net income attributable to Westlake Corporation		$	174			$	394
Earnings per common share attributable to Westlake Corporation:
Basic		$	1.35			$	3.07
Diluted		$	1.34			$	3.05
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic			128,359,983				127,548,287
Diluted			129,020,370				128,459,368

WESTLAKE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
		March 31, 2024				December 31, 2023
		(in millions of dollars)
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	3,108			$	3,304
Accounts receivable, net			1,691				1,601
Inventories			1,661				1,622
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			66				82
Total current assets			6,526				6,609
Property, plant and equipment, net			8,523				8,519
Other assets, net			5,911				5,907
Total assets		$	20,960			$	21,035
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities (accounts payable and accrued and other liabilities)		$	2,355			$	2,491
Current portion of long-term debt, net			300				299
Long-term debt, net			4,590				4,607
Other liabilities			2,862				2,874
Total liabilities			10,107				10,271
Total Westlake Corporation stockholders' equity			10,331				10,241
Noncontrolling interests			522				523
Total equity			10,853				10,764
Total liabilities and equity		$	20,960			$	21,035

WESTLAKE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024				2023
		(in millions of dollars)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income		$	185			$	407
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			273				267
Deferred income taxes			(22	)			(16	)
Net loss on disposition and others			11				11
Other balance sheet changes			(278	)			(157	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			169				512
Cash flows from investing activities
Additions to investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries			(1	)			(1	)
Additions to property, plant and equipment			(272	)			(267	)
Other, net			1				5
Net cash used for investing activities			(272	)			(263	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(10	)			(10	)
Dividends paid			(65	)			(47	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			7				5
Repurchase of common stock for treasury			—				(22	)
Other, net			(6	)			(1	)
Net cash used for financing activities			(74	)			(75	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			(18	)			9
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			(195	)			183
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period			3,319				2,246
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		$	3,124			$	2,429

WESTLAKE CORPORATION
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024				2023
		(in millions of dollars)
Net external sales
Performance and Essential Materials
Performance Materials		$	1,164			$	1,282
Essential Materials			767				1,067
Total Performance and Essential Materials			1,931				2,349
Housing and Infrastructure Products
Housing Products			879				818
Infrastructure Products			165				189
Total Housing and Infrastructure Products			1,044				1,007
		$	2,975			$	3,356
Income (loss) from operations
Performance and Essential Materials		$	22			$	403
Housing and Infrastructure Products			210				143
Corporate and other			(9	)			(10	)
		$	223			$	536
Depreciation and amortization
Performance and Essential Materials		$	220			$	210
Housing and Infrastructure Products			50				55
Corporate and other			3				2
		$	273			$	267
Other income, net
Performance and Essential Materials		$	11			$	2
Housing and Infrastructure Products			4				7
Corporate and other			35				13
		$	50			$	22

WESTLAKE CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA TO NET INCOME AND INCOME FROM OPERATIONS AND
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING AND EXCLUDING IDENTIFIED ITEMS)
(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended December 31,				Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2024				2023
		(in millions of dollars, except percentages)
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	573			$	169			$	512
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and other			(1,168	)			(6	)			(121	)
Deferred income taxes			108				22				16
Net income (loss)			(487	)			185				407
Add:
Impairment charge			475				0				0
Litigation settlement charge, after-tax			115				0				0
Net income excl. Identified Items		$	103			$	185			$	407
Net income (loss)			(487	)			185				407
Less:
Other income, net			35				50				22
Interest expense			(41	)			(40	)			(42	)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes			71				(48	)			(109	)
Income (loss) from operations			(552	)			223				536
Add:
Impairment charge			475				0				0
Litigation settlement charge, pre-tax			150				0				0
Income from operations excl. Identified Items			73				223				536
Add:
Depreciation and amortization			282				273				267
Other income, net			35				50				22
EBITDA excl. Identified Items			390				546				825
Less:
Impairment charge			475				0				0
Litigation settlement charge, pre-tax			150				0				0
EBITDA		$	(235	)		$	546			$	825
Net external sales		$	2,826			$	2,975			$	3,356
Operating income (loss) margin			(20)%				7%				16%
Operating income margin excl. Identified Items			3%				7%				16%
EBITDA Margin			(8)%				18%				25%
EBITDA margin excl. Identified Items			14%				18%				25%

WESTLAKE CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE TO DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE EXCLUDING IDENTIFIED ITEMS
(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended December 31,				Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2024				2023
		(per share data)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Westlake Corporation		$	(3.86	)		$	1.34			$	3.05
Add:
Impairment charge			3.69				—				—
Litigation settlement charge			0.89				—				—
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Westlake Corporation excl. Identified Items		$	0.72			$	1.34			$	3.05

WESTLAKE CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF FREE CASH FLOW TO NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended December 31,				Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2024				2023
		(in millions of dollars)
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	573			$	169			$	512
Less:
Additions to property, plant and equipment			282				272				267
Free cash flow		$	291			$	(103	)		$	245

WESTLAKE CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF PEM SEGMENT EBITDA TO INCOME FROM OPERATIONS (INCLUDING AND EXCLUDING IDENTIFIED ITEMS)
(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended December 31,				Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2024				2023
		(in millions of dollars, except percentages)
Performance and Essential Materials Segment
Income (loss) from operations		$	(664	)		$	22			$	403
Add:
Impairment charge			475				—				—
Litigation settlement charge			150				—				—
Income (loss) from operations excl. Identified Items			(39	)			22				403
Add:
Depreciation and amortization			229				220				210
Other income, net			11				11				2
EBITDA excl. Identified Items			201				253				615
Less:
Impairment charge			475				—				—
Litigation settlement charge			150				—				—
EBITDA		$	(424	)		$	253			$	615
Net external sales		$	1,880			$	1,931			$	2,349
Operating income (loss) margin			(35)%				1%				17%
Operating income (loss) margin excl. Identified Items			(2)%				1%				17%
EBITDA Margin			(23)%				13%				26%
EBITDA margin excl. Identified Items			11%				13%				26%

WESTLAKE CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF HIP SEGMENT EBITDA TO INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended December 31,				Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2024				2023
		(in millions of dollars, except percentages)
Housing and Infrastructure Products Segment
Income from operations		$	121			$	210			$	143
Add:
Depreciation and amortization			50				50				55
Other income, net			2				4				7
EBITDA		$	173			$	264			$	205
Net external sales		$	946			$	1,044			$	1,007
Operating Income Margin			13%				20%				14%
EBITDA Margin			18%				25%				20%

WESTLAKE CORPORATION

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PRODUCT SALES PRICE AND VOLUME VARIANCE BY OPERATING SEGMENTS

(Unaudited)

First Quarter 2024 vs. First Quarter 2023

First Quarter 2024 vs. Fourth Quarter 2023

Average Sales Price

Volume

Average Sales Price

Volume

Performance and Essential Materials

-23%

+5%

-1%

+3%

Housing and Infrastructure Products

-10%

+14%

-2%

+12%

Company

-19%

+8%

-1%

+6%

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240501372599/en/

The Westlake Corporation Stock at the time of publication of the news with a fall of -1,42 % to 139EUR on Tradegate stock exchange (30. April 2024, 22:26 Uhr).