Westlake (WLK) Q4 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates
For the quarter ended December 2023, Westlake Chemical (WLK) reported revenue of $2.83 billion, down 14.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.72, compared to $1.79 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.85 billion, representing a surprise of -0.99%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -11.11%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.81.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Westlake performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Net external sales- Performance and Essential Materials: $1.88 billion compared to the $1.87 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of -20.4% year over year.
Net external sales- Housing and Infrastructure Products: $946 million compared to the $934.91 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +0.9% year over year.
Net external sales- Performance and Essential Materials - Performance materials: $1.11 billion versus $1.04 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -13.9% change.
Net external sales- Performance and Essential Materials - Essential materials: $773 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $831.33 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -28.1%.
Net external sales- Housing and Infrastructure Products - Housing products: $795 million compared to the $796.18 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.9% year over year.
Net external sales- Housing and Infrastructure Products - Infrastructure products: $151 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $178.18 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -16.1%.
EBITDA- Housing and Infrastructure Products: $173 million versus $141.88 million estimated by four analysts on average.
EBITDA- Performance and Essential Materials: -$424 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $293.28 million.
View all Key Company Metrics for Westlake here>>>
Shares of Westlake have returned +3.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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Westlake Corp. (WLK) : Free Stock Analysis Report
