New York, Feb 25, 2026, 09:01 (EST) — Premarket
- Westlake ended Tuesday at $104.17, up 12%.
- Westlake posted Q4 net sales of $2.53 billion, and with shutdown charges weighing, the company pointed to a 2026 earnings-improvement drive.
- Westlake’s board just got bigger, and according to a filing, CFO Steven Bender will step down after a replacement is found.
Westlake Corp ended Tuesday’s session up 11.99% at $104.17, then gave back 2.64% after hours, settling at $101.39. The U.S. chemicals and building-products firm set out a 2026 profit target despite reporting a quarter that looked rough on paper.
Westlake occupies a tricky spot, straddling both the volatile commodity chemicals space and housing-tied products that hinge on U.S. construction trends. On Tuesday, shares surged—a pointed example that in these markets, even “less bad” news can push a stock higher.
Westlake reported fourth-quarter net sales of $2.5 billion, landing a net loss of $544 million, or $4.22 a share, as it absorbed $511 million in “identified items” — most of that stemming from plant shutdowns and restructuring. Backing out those charges, the company logged a net loss of $33 million, or $0.25 per share, and EBITDA came in at $196 million. EBITDA, which leaves out interest, taxes, and depreciation, offers a clearer take on core operations. CEO Jean-Marc Gilson said, “We are not expecting macroeconomic conditions to be a tailwind” in 2026, but signaled $600 million of targeted EBITDA improvement under its profitability plan and cited potential upside from the January ACI deal. Westlake Corporation
According to a filing, CFO M. Steven Bender told Westlake on Feb. 19 that he plans to retire after a replacement is named. That document also revealed the board grew to 14 seats, with Gilson and Bhavesh V. “Bob” Patel brought on as directors as of Feb. 20. SEC
Westlake, in its own statement, noted that Patel, before this, led Standard Industries and had been the CEO at LyondellBasell Industries—a larger rival in petrochemicals. “We are very pleased to welcome Bob to our board,” executive chairman Albert Chao said. Business Wire
Deutsche Bank bumped its price target for Westlake up to $115 from $82, sticking with its buy recommendation, MT Newswires wrote in a note.
Tuesday saw the stock swing sharply between $97.83 and $107.99, ultimately finishing the session on a stronger note.
Plenty could still derail things. Softer pricing for PVC, polyethylene, or chlorine would hit margins, and sharper spikes in energy or feedstock expenses could also take a bigger bite than management anticipates. Even with cost cuts, new plants toggling in and out of production make it tough to guarantee a straight shot to earnings growth.
Next up, traders are eyeing Westlake to see if shares stay above $100 after earnings when the bell rings at 9:30 a.m. EST. They’re also waiting for management to clarify the timing around the CFO transition and the 2026 improvement plan.
Westlake’s $0.53 per share dividend is coming up, with payment scheduled for March 18 to investors holding shares as of March 3, according to the company.
