El interés en corto de Westlake da a los inversores una idea del grado en que los inversores apuestan por la caída de las acciones de Westlake. Los datos de interés en corto se actualizan cada dos semanas.

Westlake (NYSE:WLK) Bolsa, Informe de interés en corto

WESTLAKE CORP

Westlake

Westlake Corp is a manufacturer and supplier of chemicals, polymers, and building products. Its Performance and Essential Materials segment offers a wide range of essential building blocks for making products utilized in everyday living, including olefins, vinyl chemicals, polyethylene, and epoxies. Its Housing and Infrastructure Products segment produces key finished goods for building products, pipe and fittings, and global compounds businesses.

Earnings

News

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

Trading Ideas

Aquí tienes cinco acciones estadounidenses que podrían llamar la atención de los inversores este lunes: OC, DPZ, HE, OKE y WLK.

5 acciones en el foco este lunes: OC, DPZ, HE, OKE y WLK

Long Ideas

Las acciones más sobrevendidas de materiales según su RSI: MP Materials, AptarGroup y Westlake ofrecen oportunidades para inversores atentos.

Acciones más sobrevendidas en materiales: MP Materials, AptarGroup y Westlake

Westlake Corp

WALKABOUT RES LTD by Walkabout Resource Limited

Westlake Chemical Partners LP Common Units representing limited partner interests

Westlake Chemical Partners LP

WILK TECHNOLOGIES LTD by WILK TECHNOLOGIES LTD.

Wilk Technologies Ltd

WIIM

Westlake shares are trading lower after Truist Securities maintained a Buy rating and lowered its price target from $166 to $155.

Truist Securities analyst Peter Osterland maintains Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $166 to $155.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Westlake, Lowers Price Target to $155

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Charles Neivert downgraded the rating for Westlake Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) from Overweight to Neutral and lowered the price target from $135 to $120. Westlake shares closed at $100.68 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WLK/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>China Renaissance analyst Guohan Wang downgraded Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) from Buy to Hold and announced a price target of $84. Micron shares closed at $94.18 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MU/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Susquehanna analyst Bascome Majors downgraded J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) from Positive to Neutral and lowered the price target from $200 to $165. JB Hunt Transport shares closed at $149.95 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/JBHT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Wolfe Research analyst Trevor Allinson downgraded The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZEK#NYSE">AZEK</a>) from Outperform to Peer Perform. AZEK shares closed at $49.02 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/azek/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying MU stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
Read This Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44492633/jim-cramer-palantir-is-a-winner-recommends-selling-this-tech-stock">Jim Cramer: Palantir Is A &#8216;Winner,&#8217; Recommends Selling This Tech Stock</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Downgrades

AZEK

JBHT

This Micron Technology Analyst Is No Longer Bullish; Here Are Top 4 Downgrades For Wednesday

In the last three months, 13 analysts have published ratings on Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>), offering a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The table below summarizes their recent ratings, showcasing the evolving sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In the assessment of 12-month price targets, analysts unveil insights for Westlake, presenting an average target of $133.92, a high estimate of $168.00, and a low estimate of $110.00. This current average has decreased by 10.47% from the previous average price target of $149.58. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742990423_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Deciphering Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Analysis</h2>
The analysis of recent analyst actions sheds light on the perception of Westlake by financial experts. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Charles Neivert</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jeffrey Zekauskas</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Arun Viswanathan</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$133.00</td>
<td>$147.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Neel Kumar</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$122.00</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John McNulty</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$132.00</td>
<td>$157.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Peter Osterland</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$166.00</td>
<td>$168.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Sison</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steve Byrne</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$116.00</td>
<td>$134.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Leithead</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Peter Osterland</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$168.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Neel Kumar</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Spector</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$144.00</td>
<td>$144.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Charles Neivert</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to Westlake. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analyzing trends, analysts offer qualitative evaluations, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Westlake compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for Westlake's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations.</li>
</ul>
Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of Westlake's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WLK/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Westlake analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About Westlake</h2>
Westlake Corp is a manufacturer and supplier of chemicals, polymers, and building products. Its Performance and Essential Materials segment offers a wide range of essential building blocks for making products utilized in everyday living, including olefins, vinyl chemicals, polyethylene, and epoxies. Its Housing and Infrastructure Products segment produces key finished goods for building products, pipe and fittings, and global compounds businesses.
<h3>Breaking Down Westlake's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization: Exceeding industry standards, the company's market capitalization places it above industry average in size relative to peers. This emphasizes its significant scale and robust market position.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Westlake showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 0.6% as of 31 December, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company surpassed expectations with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Materials sector.
Net Margin: Westlake's net margin excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 0.25%. This signifies efficient cost management and strong financial health.
Return on Equity (ROE): Westlake's ROE falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 0.07%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 0.03%, the company showcases effective utilization of assets.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.5, Westlake adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Ratings come from analysts, or specialists within banking and financial systems that report for specific stocks or defined sectors (typically once per quarter for each stock). Analysts usually derive their information from company conference calls and meetings, financial statements, and conversations with important insiders to reach their decisions.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/turning-point-trader-checkout-2/?t=Tu1tu3arja3be22tu36&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantag">Click here for urgent details</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Westlake Stock: A Deep Dive Into Analyst Perspectives (13 Ratings)

Piper Sandler analyst Charles Neivert downgrades Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) from Overweight to Neutral and lowers the price target from $135 to $120.

Piper Sandler Downgrades Westlake to Neutral, Lowers Price Target to $120

ASPI

BSLK

CRKN

CRML

CTVA

FEAM

MATV

MEOH

NITO

SCCO

TROX

Shares of companies in the broader materials sector are trading lower amid overall market uncertainty after President Trump confirmed March 4 tariffs.

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>DA Davidson analyst Brent Thielman upgraded Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STRL#NASDAQ">STRL</a>) from Neutral to Buy and announced a $185 price target. Sterling Infrastructure shares closed at $122.16 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AFRM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Jefferies analyst Chris LaFemina upgraded the rating for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>) from Hold to Buy and raised the price target from $40 to $48. Freeport-McMoRan shares closed at $37.95 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AFRM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Jeffrey Zekauskas upgraded Westlake Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) from Underweight to Neutral but lowered the price target from $135 to $110. Westlake shares closed at $112.32 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AFRM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Timothy Switzer upgraded Triumph Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TFIN#NASDAQ">TFIN</a>) from Underperform to Market Perform and lowered the price target from $80 to $74. Triumph Financial shares closed at $68.97 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AFRM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Susquehanna analyst James Friedman upgraded EVERTEC, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVTC#NYSE">EVTC</a>) from Negative to Neutral and raised the price target from $28 to $30. Evertec shares closed at $32.34 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
</ul>
Considering buying WLK stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
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<li> <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43981679/top-3-real-estate-stocks-that-may-fall-off-a-cliff-in-q1">Top 3 Real Estate Stocks That May Fall Off A Cliff In Q1</a></li>
</ul>

Upgrades

EVTC

STRL

TFIN

This Westlake Analyst Is No Longer Bearish; Here Are Top 5 Upgrades For Thursday

JP Morgan analyst Jeffrey Zekauskas upgrades Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) from Underweight to Neutral and lowers the price target from $135 to $110.

JP Morgan Upgrades Westlake to Neutral, Lowers Price Target to $110

RBC Capital analyst Arun Viswanathan maintains Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $147 to $133.

RBC Capital Maintains Outperform on Westlake, Lowers Price Target to $133

Morgan Stanley analyst Neel Kumar maintains Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $130 to $122.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight on Westlake, Lowers Price Target to $122

BMO Capital analyst John McNulty maintains Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) with a Market Perform and lowers the price target from $157 to $132.

BMO Capital Maintains Market Perform on Westlake, Lowers Price Target to $132

Truist Securities analyst Peter Osterland maintains Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $168 to $166.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Westlake, Lowers Price Target to $166

Wells Fargo analyst Michael Sison maintains Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $160 to $130.

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on Westlake, Lowers Price Target to $130

B of A Securities analyst Steve Byrne maintains Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $134 to $116.

B of A Securities Maintains Neutral on Westlake, Lowers Price Target to $116

Ratings for Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) were provided by 6 analysts in the past three months, showcasing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives.
The table below provides a snapshot of their recent ratings, showcasing how sentiments have evolved over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Insights from analysts' 12-month price targets are revealed, presenting an average target of $142.0, a high estimate of $168.00, and a low estimate of $130.00. A negative shift in sentiment is evident as analysts have decreased the average price target by 9.09%. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1740484841_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Analyzing Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Breakdown</h2>
A clear picture of Westlake's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Michael Leithead</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Peter Osterland</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$168.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Neel Kumar</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Spector</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$144.00</td>
<td>$144.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Charles Neivert</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Patrick Cunningham</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$152.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Westlake. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Gaining insights, analysts provide qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Westlake compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts explore the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Westlake's stock. This examination reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
To gain a panoramic view of Westlake's market performance, explore these analyst evaluations alongside essential financial indicators. Stay informed and make judicious decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WLK/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Westlake analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering Westlake: A Closer Look</h2>
Westlake Corp is a manufacturer and supplier of chemicals, polymers and building products. Its Performance and Essential Materials segment offers a wide range of essential building blocks for making products utilized in everyday living, including olefins, vinyl chemicals, polyethylene, and epoxies. Its Housing and Infrastructure Products segment produces key finished goods for building products, pipe and fittings, and global compounds businesses.
<h3>Key Indicators: Westlake's Financial Health</h3>
Market Capitalization Highlights: Above the industry average, the company's market capitalization signifies a significant scale, indicating strong confidence and market prominence.
Revenue Growth: Westlake displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 0.06%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company stands out with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Materials sector.
Net Margin: Westlake's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 3.43%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 1.01%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): Westlake's ROA stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 0.51%, the company demonstrates effective utilization of assets and strong financial performance.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.5, Westlake adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>The Basics of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Within the domain of banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their work involves attending company conference calls and meetings, researching company financial statements, and communicating with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/turning-point-trader-checkout-2/?t=Tu1tu3arja3be22tu36&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantag">Click here for urgent details</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Assessing Westlake: Insights From 6 Financial Analysts

Barclays analyst Michael Leithead maintains Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $175 to $135.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Westlake, Lowers Price Target to $135

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General

Westlake shares are trading lower after the company reported worse-than-expected Q4 financial results.

Westlake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.06 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $1.09 by 94.5 percent. This is a 91.67 percent decrease over earnings of $0.72 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $2.84 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $2.94 billion by 3.30 percent. This is a 0.60 percent increase over sales of $2.83 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Misses

CORRECTION: Westlake Q4 Adj EPS $0.06 Misses $1.09 Estimate, Sales $2.84B Miss $2.94B Estimate

U.S. stock futures rose on Monday, following Friday's selloff. Futures of all four benchmark indices were trading higher.
Investor anxiety over tariffs and a 10% drawdown in consumer sentiment data on Friday, raised fears of a market correction.
The semiconductor technology giant led by Jensen Huang, Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) is expected to report its fourth-quarter earnings this week.
The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.44%, while the two-year yield was at 4.22%. According to the CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>, there is a 97.5% chance that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged for the March meeting. 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>0.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>0.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>0.68%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>0.82%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, rose in premarket on Friday. SPY was up 0.51% to $603.00, and QQQ advanced 0.40% to $528.16, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From The Last Session
Consumer staples stocks were in a bright spot, while information technology, consumer discretionary, and industrial sectors led the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s overall decline on Friday.
Shares of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) fell over 7% following a Wall Street Journal report that the Department of Justice is investigating the company&#8217;s Medicare billing practices.
Several economic indicators fueled the market&#8217;s downturn, including the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index, which plummeted 10% to 64.7 in January. The survey also revealed a 5-year inflation outlook of 3.5%, the highest since 1995.
Existing home sales experienced a sharp 4.9% decline in January, reaching a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.08 million, the steepest drop in seven months. February&#8217;s flash S&amp;P Global PMIs showed a significant, unexpected drop in services, raising concerns about the private sector&#8217;s health.
The Dow Jones closed lower by 749 points or 1.69% at 43,428.02 on Friday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 1.71% to 6,013.13, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.20% to 19,524.01. The small-cap gauge Russell 200 declined 2.95% to 2,195.35.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>-2.20%</td>
<td>19,524.01</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-1.71%</td>
<td>6,013.13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-1.69%</td>
<td>43,428.02 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-2.95%</td>
<td>2,195.35</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts
Talking about last week's fall on Thursday and Friday after scaling record highs, Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research, said "Sentiment turned very bearish very quickly at the end of last week because investors aren&#8217;t as sure about the economy&#8217;s resilience as we are."
"We remain impressed that it grew over the past three years notwithstanding a significant tightening of monetary policy, a mini-banking crisis, and lots of geopolitical turmoil. We continue to place our bets on its resilience," he added.
Talking about the anticipated Nvidia earnings this week, Yardeni said that he expects to hear guidance that "DeepSeek won&#8217;t kill spending on AI infrastructure, including datacenters."
"The main risk is that Nvidia will announce yet another delay in its highly anticipated Blackwell GPU, which was first announced in March 2024," he added.
The <a href="https://www.weforum.org/press/2020/10/recession-and-automation-changes-our-future-of-work-but-there-are-jobs-coming-report-says-52c5162fce/">World Economic Forum estimates</a> that 85 million worldwide jobs may be displaced by AI in 2025 alone. McKinsey Global Institute projects that 375 million jobs (14% of the global workforce) will require "reskilling" by 2030.
Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates quoted the above data and said, "The AI boom is here and now, and this means that the job market is going to go through some real upheaval in 2025 and beyond."
A surge in layoffs from S&amp;P 500 and Global 1000 companies would likely force the Fed to abandon its "higher for longer" rate strategy and rapidly shift to looser monetary policy, especially if—or when—the unemployment rate reaches 5%, he added.
Charlie Bilello, the chief market strategist at Creative Planning, in an X post, highlighted that the Nasdaq 100 was trading above its 200-day moving average for 489 consecutive sessions, which was its second highest in history since 1986.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The Nasdaq 100 has closed above its 200-day moving average for 489 consecutive trading days, the 2nd longest uptrend in history. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NDX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NDX</a><a href="https://t.co/rQuXrxVpWs">https://t.co/rQuXrxVpWs</a> <a href="https://t.co/LZoWrhGk7H">pic.twitter.com/LZoWrhGk7H</a>
&mdash; Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliebilello/status/1893855232397820404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>
Upcoming Economic Data
Here&#8217;s what investors will keep on this week:
<ul>
<li>No data is scheduled to be released on Monday.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On Tuesday, Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan will speak in London at 4:20 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>December's S&amp;P Case-Shiller home price index for 20 cities will be out at 9:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>February's consumer confidence data will be announced at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Fed Vice Chairman for Supervision Michael Barr will speak at 11:45 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin will speak at 01:00 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On Wednesday, new home sales data for January will be released at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic will speak at 12:00 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On Thursday, initial jobless claims data till the week ended Feb. 22, January's durable-goods orders data, and GDP's second reading will be announced at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid speaks will speak at 9:15 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Pending home sales data for January will be out by 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Fed Governor Michelle Bowman will speak at 11:45 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker will speak at 3:15 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On Friday, January's personal income, spending, core and headline PCE index, advanced U.S. trade balance in goods, retail and wholesale inventories will be out by 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin will speak at 8:30 a.m., ET as well.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>February's Chicago business barometer data will be released at 9:45 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee will speak at 10:15 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Owens Corning (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OC#NYSE">OC</a>) was up 0.085% in the premarket on Monday ahead of its earnings, which will be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report earnings of $2.90 per share on the revenue of $2.77 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Domino&#8217;s Pizza Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NASDAQ">DPZ</a>) advanced 1% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of $4.91 per share on revenue of $1.48 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Westlake Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) declined 0.28% ahead of its earnings, which will be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $1.09 per share on revenue of $2.94 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>ONEOK Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OKE#NYSE">OKE</a>) rose 1.12% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of $1.51 per share on the revenue of $6.73 billion after the closing bell.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) was up 1.39% after reporting a 71% increase in operating earnings to $14.5 billion for the fourth quarter.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HE#NYSE">HE</a>) dropped 4.83% after it posted a loss of 40 cents per share for the fourth quarter, versus earnings of 44 cents per share in the year-ago period.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>authID Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AUID#NASDAQ">AUID</a>) jumped 4.9% after it was recognized as a leader in biometric authentication by Acuity Market Intelligence, praised for its platform&#8217;s accuracy and data protection.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Nuburu Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BURU#NYSE">BURU</a>) plummeted 19.27% after it announced an acquisition agreement to expand its defense business and enter the security sector. It has secured a commitment letter from a private equity group for a deal involving recapitalization, acquisitions, and technology licensing.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Boxlight Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BOXL#NASDAQ">BOXL</a>) slumped 20.65% after announcing a fundraising of roughly $2.8 million through a private placement of stock and warrants at $2.13 per share.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.18% to hover around $70.53 per barrel.
The gold spot index was up by 0.16% to $2,940.60 per ounce easing from the record high of $2,954.97. The Dollar Index was flat at 106.616 level.
Asian markets ended mostly lower on Monday. Except for Japan's Nikkei 225, and Australia's ASX 200 index, all other gauges declined, including India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex index, China's CSI 300, South Korea's Kospi, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index. European markets were mostly higher in trade.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43906366/warren-buffetts-berkshire-boosts-bets-on-five-japanese-companies-admiration-has-consistently-grown-says-oracle-of-omaha-in-letter-to-shareholders">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Berkshire Boosts Bets On 5 Japanese Companies: Oracle Of Omaha Says Admiration &#8216;Has Consistently Grown&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
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Wall Street Looks To Bounce Back After Friday's Rough Ride Triggered By Consumer Sentiment: Analyst Says 'We Continue To Place Our Bets' On Economy's Resilience

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