Westlake Corporation reports news around its global materials and building-products operations, organized around Performance and Essential Materials and Housing and Infrastructure Products. Updates commonly cover earnings, segment pricing and volume trends, olefins, vinyl chemicals, polyethylene, epoxies, building products, pipe and fittings, facility actions, product certifications, distribution launches, litigation matters and leadership changes.
The company also appears in updates involving Westlake Royal Building Products, Westlake Epoxy and its relationship with Westlake Chemical Partners LP, a limited partnership formed by Westlake to operate, acquire and develop ethylene production facilities and other qualified assets.
Westlake Royal Building Products (NYSE: WLK) has launched Dryroll™, a new universal ridge vent and weather block solution. The product features easy rollable installation and provides superior airflow with 15.6 square inches of ventilation per linear foot. Key features include:
- Butyl strips for effective sealing against wind-driven rain and snow
- Available in 11.6" wide 3.7-pound and 14.4" 4.6-pound rolls
- Compatible with Newpoint™ Concrete Roof Tile and US Tile® Clay Roofing Products
- Key component of Westlake Royal™ Cool Roof System
When integrated into the Cool Roof System, Dryroll contributes to up to 22% annual energy savings by enhancing ventilation and energy efficiency.
Westlake (NYSE: WLK) has appointed Roger A. Cregg to its board of directors, replacing Marius A. Haas who retired effective December 10, 2024. Cregg, 68, brings extensive experience in homebuilding and other industries, having most recently served as President, CEO, and Director of AV Homes until its sale to Taylor Morrison Homes in 2018.
Cregg's background includes executive positions at ServiceMaster Company, PulteGroup, Zenith Electronics, and Sweetheart Cup Company. He currently serves on the boards of Comerica, Sterling Infrastructure, and Minto Group. He holds a B.S. in accounting from Northeastern University and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
Westlake (NYSE: WLK) has released its seventh annual 2023 Sustainability Report, highlighting sustainability innovations and operational improvements. The report details the company's community contributions and employee development initiatives.
Key highlights include the introduction of recycled PVC compounds under the Pivotal™ brand, installation of a solar power plant in Spain, participation in a Louisiana renewable power program, and expansion of management training programs. The report follows Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) frameworks, providing transparency across Performance & Essential Materials and Housing & Infrastructure Products divisions.
Westlake (NYSE: WLK) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.525 per share for the third quarter of 2024. The dividend will be paid on December 12, 2024, to stockholders of record as of November 26, 2024. The company has maintained a consistent track record of paying and increasing dividends since its first dividend announcement on November 11, 2004, marking a 20-year history of consecutive dividend payments.
Westlake Royal Building Products (NYSE:WLK) has expanded its partnership with Alexandria Moulding to strengthen its distribution footprint in Canada. Alexandria Moulding will now distribute Versetta Stone®, a mortarless cement-based stone veneer siding panel, at locations in Alexandria, Ontario, Calgary, Alberta, and Moxee, Washington. The expansion builds upon their existing partnership, which includes distribution of Royal® Trim & Mouldings and Celect® Cellular Composite Siding. Versetta Stone offers the appearance of hand-laid stone walls with virtually undetectable joints and easy installation features.
Westlake Chemical Partners LP (NYSE: WLKP) reported strong Q3 2024 results with net income of $18.1 million ($0.51 per unit), up from $13.2 million in Q3 2023. Cash flows from operating activities reached $126.1 million, increasing by $25.2 million year-over-year. MLP distributable cash flow was $17.9 million, up $4.3 million from Q3 2023. The company declared its 41st consecutive quarterly distribution of $0.4714 per unit. The improvement was driven by higher third-party ethylene sales volume and margins, with the company strategically deferring the Petro 1 ethylene unit turnaround to Q1 2025.
Westlake (WLK) reported third quarter 2024 results with net sales of $3.1 billion, net income of $183 million (excluding identified item), and EBITDA of $580 million. The quarter was impacted by extended maintenance outages at ethylene JV and chlorovinyl facilities. Sales declined 3% compared to Q2 2024, with a 4% decrease in volume and 1% increase in average sales price.
The company accrued $75 million in mothball expenses related to two units in European epoxy business. Performance and Essential Materials (PEM) segment reported sales of $2.0 billion, while Housing and Infrastructure Products (HIP) segment recorded sales of $1.1 billion. The company ended the quarter with $2.9 billion in cash and $4.6 billion in total debt.
Westlake Royal Building Products (NYSE:WLK) has announced strategic investments to enhance operations and capacity of Newpoint Concrete Roof Tile in Florida. The initiative includes improvements at two manufacturing facilities: Lake Wales, focusing on streamlining operations and improving product quality, and Okeechobee, concentrating on increasing production capacity. The company is highlighting the Saxony 900 profile tile, known for efficient foam-adhesive application and enhanced wind-uplift protection. The expansion includes improvements to e-commerce, delivery services, and roof-load services to reach more areas in Florida.
Westlake Chemical Partners LP (NYSE:WLKP) has announced its third quarter 2024 distribution of $0.4714 per unit, marking its 41st quarterly distribution since its IPO. The distribution will be paid on November 27, 2024, to unitholders of record as of November 12, 2024. The announcement includes notice that 100% of distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate.
Westlake Epoxy has joined the B4 Consortium in Western North Brabant, Netherlands, as part of an initiative to develop bio-based building blocks for the construction industry. The three-year project involves 11 partners led by TNO, focusing on converting tree and plant residues into sustainable construction materials. Westlake Epoxy will explore replacing fossil fuel-based feedstock with bio-based alternatives for epoxy resin production. The €4.4 million project aims to reduce CO2 emissions in construction by 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050, targeting the replacement of fossil-based aromatics, which are present in 40% of products including paint, glue, and insulation materials.