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Westlake Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and EBITDA rose sharply: Net sales were $3.3 billion, net income $260 million or $2.01 per share, and EBITDA $679 million in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • EBITDA doubled from prior-year quarter: EBITDA rose 100% from $340 million in the second quarter of 2025 to $679 million in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • PEM swung to operating income: PEM income from operations was $185 million, against a $188 million loss a year earlier, both excluding Identified Items. Source
  • PEM average price up 14%: PEM average sales price rose 14% year on year against the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Hormuz disruption lifted supply-demand: Management tied PEM's improved earnings in part to logistical disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, linked to improving global supply-demand fundamentals. Source
  • Free cash flow turned positive: Free cash flow was $111 million, computed as $318 million of operating cash less $207 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Profit plan targets $600 million: The company said its three-pillar profitability plan is on track to deliver a $600 million operating income benefit. Source

“The significant improvement in PEM's second quarter earnings underscores its substantial leverage to improving global supply-demand fundamentals”

Jean‑Marc Gilson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Profitability improvement plan operating income benefit Sourcenot stated in the documents$600 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A $600 million operating income benefit figure for the profitability plan appears in this release and not in the prior release. Source
  • New: During the quarter the company completed the acquisition of a PVC and VCM production site in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Source
  • New: The company replaced its revolving credit facility, which was due to expire in 2027, with a $1.5 billion revolver expiring in 2031. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Net income and EBITDA rose sharply: Net sales were $3.3 billion, net income $260 million or $2.01 per share, and EBITDA $679 million in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • EBITDA doubled from prior-year quarter: EBITDA rose 100% from $340 million in the second quarter of 2025 to $679 million in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • EBITDA up $444 million sequentially: Compared with first quarter EBITDA of $235 million, second quarter EBITDA rose $444 million. Source
  • Year-on-year earnings drivers listed: Management named PEM price and margin, the profitability plan, the ACI acquisition and higher sales volume as drivers of the year-on-year gain. Source

Housing and Infrastructure Products

  • Pipe and fittings volume grew double digits: Management said HIP EBITDA growth was driven by a double-digit increase in pipe and fittings sales volume, with HIP results described as solid. Source
  • HIP income down on lower prices: Segment income from operations fell $10 million year on year, which management attributed to lower average sales price and margins for pipe and fittings. Source
  • Housing Products sales rose on volume: Housing Products sales rose $31 million to $1.0 billion, mainly on higher sales volume. Source
  • Infrastructure sales lifted by ACI: Infrastructure Products sales rose $61 million to $241 million, mainly from the ACI acquisition made in January 2026. Source
  • HIP EBITDA margin at 22%: HIP EBITDA margin was 22% in the second quarter of 2026, against 24% a year earlier. Source
  • HIP income rose sequentially: HIP income from operations rose $88 million from the first quarter, which management attributed to seasonal volume and higher pipe and fittings demand. Source

“We continue to prioritize a disciplined approach to capital deployment”

Jonathan Baksht, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Performance and Essential Materials

  • PEM swung to operating income: PEM income from operations was $185 million, against a $188 million loss a year earlier, both excluding Identified Items. Source
  • PEM average price up 14%: PEM average sales price rose 14% year on year against the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Performance Materials sales up $214 million: Performance Materials sales rose $214 million to $1.2 billion, mainly on higher prices for polyethylene and PVC resin. Source
  • Essential Materials sales rose modestly: Essential Materials sales rose $12 million to $783 million, on higher caustic soda volume and a higher average price. Source
  • PEM income up $379 million sequentially: From the first quarter's $194 million operating loss, PEM income from operations rose $379 million in the second quarter. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Price and plan lifted PEM margin: Management credited PEM's income gain to the 14% price increase and margin benefits from the three-pillar profitability plan. Source
  • Lower natural gas costs helped quarter: Sequential PEM improvement reflected higher polyethylene and PVC resin prices and lower North American natural gas costs. Source
  • Raw material inflation accelerated: Management noted accelerating raw material cost inflation alongside slower North American residential construction activity. Source
  • HIP sales price fell 3%: HIP average sales price was down 3% year on year, while HIP sales volume rose 6% excluding the ACI effect. Source

“and our globally advantaged North American feedstock and energy cost position”

Jean‑Marc Gilson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Demand and the order book

  • Middle East conflict adds price volatility: Management said the Middle East conflict continues to add volatility to selling prices and export demand for PEM products, including polyethylene and PVC resin. Source
  • Hormuz disruption lifted supply-demand: Management tied PEM's improved earnings in part to logistical disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, linked to improving global supply-demand fundamentals. Source
  • Homebuilding slowed on affordability: Management said slower homebuilding activity from affordability pressures is being offset within HIP. Source
  • Company sales volume up 7%: Company-wide sales volume rose 7% from the second quarter of 2025. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow turned positive: Free cash flow was $111 million, computed as $318 million of operating cash less $207 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Remaining 2026 senior notes redeemed: The company redeemed the remaining roughly $500 million of its 3.60% 2026 senior notes during the quarter. Source
  • Revolver replaced and extended: The company replaced its revolving credit facility, which was due to expire in 2027, with a $1.5 billion revolver expiring in 2031. Source
  • Cash and debt at quarter end: At June 30, 2026, cash and fixed-income investments were $1.9 billion and total debt was $5.1 billion. Source
  • $99 million returned to shareholders: The company returned $99 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in the quarter. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Profit plan targets $600 million: The company said its three-pillar profitability plan is on track to deliver a $600 million operating income benefit. Source
  • Plan built on 2025 actions: Management linked PEM's earnings recovery to 2025 actions on footprint optimization, cost reduction and reliability improvement. Source
  • Wilhelmshaven PVC site acquired: The company completed the Wilhelmshaven, Germany PVC and VCM site, which management said adds logistics assets to its European chlorovinyls business. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Sales volume, Housing and Infrastructure Products (excluding ACI) Source+6%
Sales volume, Performance and Essential Materials (excluding plant shutdowns) Source+7%
Sales volume, company Source+7%
Average sales price, company Source+8%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited the Middle East conflict as exacerbating volatility in selling prices and export demand for PEM products. Source
  • Demand: Management said affordability pressures are slowing homebuilding activity, a drag offset within HIP. Source
  • Operational: Management noted accelerating raw material cost inflation, alongside slower North American residential construction activity. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the three-pillar profitability plan is on track to deliver a $600 million operating income benefit. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release expected a meaningful PEM margin benefit through at least summer 2026; this release does not restate that expectation.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.