Westlake Corporation's stock rose 5.71% and reached a 20-day high despite the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500 declining significantly.
Albert Chao, the Executive Chairman, sold 40,836 shares for approximately $3 million, indicating a cautious stance towards the market amid ongoing industrial demand weakness and pricing pressures. This sale, his first open-market transaction in over three years, reflects a need for liquidity while maintaining confidence in the company's future. Westlake reported third-quarter net sales of $2.8 billion, showing profitability despite a $727 million non-cash goodwill impairment.
The stock's rise amidst broader market declines suggests a potential sector rotation, as investors may be seeking opportunities in companies with resilient fundamentals like Westlake, despite the overall market challenges.
Wall Street analysts forecast WLK stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for WLK is 82.64 USD with a low forecast of 70.00 USD and a high forecast of 92.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
12 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast WLK stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for WLK is 82.64 USD with a low forecast of 70.00 USD and a high forecast of 92.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
7 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 81.880
Low
70.00
Averages
82.64
High
92.00
Current: 81.880
Low
70.00
Averages
82.64
High
92.00
Truist
Peter Osterland
Buy
maintain
$82 -> $99
2026-01-21
Reason
Truist
Peter Osterland
Price Target
$82 -> $99
AI Analysis
2026-01-21
maintain
Buy
Reason
Truist analyst Peter Osterland raised the firm's price target on Westlake to $99 from $82 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm adjusted targets in the chemicals group as part of its Q4 earnings preview. The analyst says demand growth for the group will be limited in 2026 given the "low-growth" macro environment. Truist expects relative strength to continue for the companies with exposure to AI and data centers.
RBC Capital
Outperform
maintain
$85 -> $100
2026-01-16
Reason
RBC Capital
Price Target
$85 -> $100
2026-01-16
maintain
Outperform
Reason
RBC Capital raised the firm's price target on Westlake to $100 from $85 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares as part of a broader research note previewing Q4 for Commodity Chemicals as part of a broader research note previewing Q4 for Commodity Chemicals, also saying the company is best positioned among its peers. The firm is positive on the company's high visibility on 2026-27 earnings growth from non-market dependent cost reductions and having the most exposure to construction recovery, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Westlake's lowest leverage minimizes risk and allows for opportunistic M&A and organic investment, RBC added.
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BofA
Matthew DeYoe
Buy
downgrade
$83 -> $82
2026-01-08
Reason
BofA
Matthew DeYoe
Price Target
$83 -> $82
2026-01-08
downgrade
Buy
Reason
BofA analyst Matthew DeYoe lowered the firm's price target on Westlake to $82 from $83 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm is updating its price targets for Chemicals under its coverage, the analyst tells investors. Commodities face another year of growing oversupply, specialties continue to manage an inconsistent backdrop, and agriculture presents a more mixed setup, the firm adds. BofA highlights that there are areas for optimism, with several possible catalysts for the stocks including PMI indicators shifting positive, rate cuts, and potential capacity rationalization in China. The firm cautions, however, that these catalysts are too new to rely on.
Mizuho
Outperform
maintain
$82 -> $88
2026-01-08
Reason
Mizuho
Price Target
$82 -> $88
2026-01-08
maintain
Outperform
Reason
Mizuho raised the firm's price target on Westlake to $88 from $82 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm cites recent market movements for the target bump.
About WLK
Westlake Corporation is a global manufacturer and supplier of materials and products that enhance life every day. With operations in Asia, Europe, and North America, it provides building blocks for solutions from housing and construction to packaging and healthcare to automotive and the consumer. Its segments include Performance and Essential Materials and Housing and Infrastructure Products. The Performance and Essential Materials include Westlake North American Vinyls, Westlake North American Chlor-alkali & Derivatives, Westlake European & Asian Chlorovinyls, Westlake Olefins, Westlake Polyethylene and Westlake Epoxy. The Housing and Infrastructure Products include Westlake Royal Building Products, Westlake Pipe and Fittings, Westlake Global Compounds and Westlake Dimex. Its products are used in diverse consumer and industrial markets, including residential construction, automotive products, water treatment, wind turbines, coatings as well as other durable and non-durable goods.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
