This article is based on 100 top sustainable companies as determined by Calvert Research and Management's annual review of more than 230 Environmental, Social and Governance [ESG] performance indicators, such as workplace diversity, data security, and greenhouse-gas emissions, as reported in the February 21, 2025 edition ofGet the Sustainable Dividend Dog HistoryClick here to subscribe to The Dividend Dogcatcher & get more information.Catch A Dog On Facebook. The morning of every NYSE trade day on Facebook/ ...

Group 1 - Avient (NYSE: AVNT) is showing signs of recovery and growth in 2024 after previous disappointments, with a positive outlook for 2025 [1] - The investment group "Value In Corporate Events" focuses on identifying opportunities in major corporate events such as IPOs, mergers & acquisitions, and earnings reports, providing coverage of 10 significant events monthly [2] - The article emphasizes the potential for Avient to become a more attractive investment option following the market downturn in March [1]

Core Insights - Avient reported strong Q2 2025 results with adjusted EPS of $0.80, exceeding analyst expectations of $0.78, and revenue of $866.5 million, up from $849.7 million in Q2 2024, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of organic revenue growth [1][5][11] Financial Performance - Adjusted EPS (Non-GAAP) increased by 5.3% year-over-year from $0.76 in Q2 2024 to $0.80 in Q2 2025 [2] - Revenue rose by 2.0% year-over-year from $849.7 million in Q2 2024 to $866.5 million in Q2 2025, surpassing estimates of $852.87 million [2] - Adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 17.2%, up 0.3 percentage points from 16.9% in Q2 2024 [2][5] - Operating income increased by 32.6% year-over-year from $72.5 million in Q2 2024 to $96.1 million in Q2 2025 [2] Business Overview - Avient operates in the specialty materials industry, focusing on polymers, colorants, additives, and engineered thermoplastics, with key markets in packaging, healthcare, defense, transportation, consumer goods, and energy [3][4] - The company invested $98.7 million in R&D in 2024, employing a technical workforce of around 1,100, including over 100 with doctoral degrees [3] Strategic Focus - Recent business strategies include expanding high-value applications, particularly in healthcare and defense, while maintaining operational agility and cost control [4] - The company emphasizes its global manufacturing footprint and customer partnerships to navigate regulatory changes and supply chain challenges [4] Segment Performance - The Color, Additives and Inks segment reported sales of $538.6 million, slightly down from the previous year, but operating income rose to $90.3 million due to strong demand in packaging [6] - The Specialty Engineered Materials segment saw a 7% increase in sales to $329.7 million, although operating income declined by 6.1% to $40.2 million, reflecting margin pressures [7] Cash Flow and Debt Management - Avient generated $113 million in cash flow from operations, using $50 million to reduce debt, aligning with its 2025 debt reduction target of $100–$200 million [8][9] Future Guidance - For Q3 2025, Avient forecasts adjusted EPS of $0.70 and narrows full-year guidance to $2.77–$2.87 [11] - The company anticipates continued margin expansion in defense and healthcare sectors, while monitoring cash management and working capital requirements [11]

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ________________________________________________ FORM 10-Q ________________________________________________ (Mark One) ☒ Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 OR ☐ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the transition period from to . Commission file number 1-16091 ________________________________________________ AVIENT CORPORATION (E ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported second quarter organic sales growth of 0.6% despite an uncertain macro environment, with adjusted EPS growing 5% to $0.80, slightly ahead of guidance [6][10] - Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 30 basis points to 17.2%, driven by favorable mix, productivity initiatives, and disciplined discretionary spending [6][10] - For the first half of the year, organic sales grew about 1%, with expectations for a similar demand environment in the second half [7][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Color Additives and Inks segment saw adjusted EBITDA grow 4% on 2% lower organic sales, with weaker demand in consumer and transportation markets offset by strong growth in healthcare [16] - The Specialty Engineered Materials segment grew organic sales by 6%, driven by strong demand in defense and healthcare, with healthcare growing double digits [17][18] - Packaging Materials, the segment's largest end market, experienced muted sales growth, particularly in EMEA, despite overall EBITDA margin expansion of 100 basis points [16][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S. and Canada, sales increased 1% year over year, led by healthcare and defense, offsetting weaker demand in consumer and transportation markets [19] - EMEA sales were down slightly, with robust healthcare and defense sales but muted packaging sales [20] - Asia delivered 3% organic growth, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of growth, with strength in healthcare and transportation [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to evolve from a specialty formulator to an innovator of material solutions, with a focus on strategic structural changes in R&D to enhance product differentiation [9][11] - The operational playbook is designed to realize approximately $40 million in benefits for 2025, with a focus on sourcing, Lean Six Sigma, and manufacturing optimization [8][10] - The company is prioritizing investments in growth vectors, particularly in healthcare and defense, which are expected to drive future growth [12][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that market trends are not improving, with customers remaining in a wait-and-see mode, particularly in consumer markets [7][10] - The company expects Q3 to continue the trends observed in Q2, with consumer weakness anticipated to persist [7][45] - Despite challenges, management remains optimistic about strong demand in defense and healthcare, which are seen as bright spots for the business [7][18] Other Important Information - The company has already realized $17 million of the $40 million benefits targeted for 2025, with the remaining expected in the second half [8] - The company is on track to reduce total debt by $100 million to $200 million by year-end, having repaid $50 million in the second quarter [11][22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is there any pre-buying activity affecting sales? - Management indicated no significant pre-buying activity has been observed, as customers are managing inventory tightly in the current uncertain demand environment [25][26] Question: What is the outlook for raw material inflation? - The company expects raw material inflation to remain at 1% to 2% for the year, with some fluctuations in specific materials [28][29] Question: What is the outlook for volume in the second half? - Management anticipates a continuation of trends from the first half, with consumer markets expected to decline and packaging to grow slightly [35][36] Question: How has consumer weakness evolved? - Consumer sales were flat in Q1 and down 8% in Q2, with significant weakness noted in the U.S. and Canada [44][45] Question: What is the impact of planned maintenance on EBITDA? - The planned maintenance in the SEM segment impacted EBITDA by approximately $3 million in Q2, but margins are expected to expand in the second half [46][80] Question: Are customers pressuring for tariff cost absorption? - Management acknowledged some pressure on pricing due to increased tariffs, but they are working with suppliers and customers to manage costs [50][51] Question: Can you provide context on healthcare growth? - Healthcare has shown strong growth, particularly in medical devices and drug delivery, with a positive outlook for continued demand [62][63] Question: What are the trends in key markets in China? - The color business in China is under pressure due to government policies, but growth is expected in the SEM side related to high-performance computing [66][68]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported second quarter organic sales growth of 0.6% and adjusted EPS growth of 5% to $0.80, slightly ahead of guidance [6][11] - Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 30 basis points to 17.2%, driven by favorable mix and productivity initiatives [6][11] - For the first half of the year, organic sales grew about 1%, with expectations for a similar demand environment in the second half [7][11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Color Additives and Inks segment saw adjusted EBITDA grow 4% despite a 2% decline in organic sales, with weaker demand in consumer and transportation markets [16][17] - Specialty Engineered Materials segment grew organic sales by 6%, driven by strong growth in defense and healthcare, with healthcare growing double digits [18][19] - Packaging Materials segment's sales were muted, but EBITDA margins expanded by 100 basis points through cost improvement initiatives [16][17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S. and Canada, sales increased by 1% year over year, led by healthcare and defense, offsetting weaker demand in other sectors [20] - EMEA sales were slightly down, with robust healthcare and defense sales but muted packaging sales [21] - Latin America grew 6%, marking its sixth consecutive quarter of growth, while Asia delivered 3% organic growth [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to evolve from a specialty formulator to an innovator of material solutions, with a focus on strategic structural changes in R&D to enhance product differentiation [10][12] - The operational playbook is designed to navigate low demand and high uncertainty, targeting approximately $40 million in benefits for 2025 [8][12] - Continued investment in growth vectors and strategic initiatives is prioritized, with a focus on healthcare, defense, and telecommunications as key growth drivers [12][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that market trends are not improving, with customers remaining in a wait-and-see mode, particularly in consumer markets [6][7] - The company expects Q3 to mirror Q2, with continued strength in defense and healthcare offsetting consumer weakness [7][22] - There is cautious optimism regarding the second half of the year, with expectations for adjusted EPS of $0.70, representing 8% growth year over year [22][23] Other Important Information - The company has a strong cash position, having paid down $50 million of debt during the quarter, and is on track to reduce total debt by $100 million to $200 million by year-end [12][23] - Patent filings increased by 50% in 2024 compared to 2023, indicating a focus on innovation [13] - The company expects CapEx for the year to be approximately $110 million and free cash flow to range from $190 million to $210 million [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is there any pre-buying activity affecting sales? - Management indicated no significant pre-buying activity has been observed, as customers are managing inventory tightly in uncertain demand environments [26][28] Question: What is the outlook for raw material inflation? - The company expects raw material inflation to remain at 1% to 2%, with some fluctuations in specific materials [30][31] Question: What is the outlook for volume in the second half? - Management expects a continuation of trends from the first half, with healthcare, defense, and telecommunications driving growth, while consumer and packaging markets may see slight declines [35][36] Question: How has consumer weakness evolved? - Consumer sales were flat in Q1 but down 8% in Q2, with significant weakness noted in the U.S. and Canada [45][46] Question: What is the impact of planned maintenance on EBITDA? - The planned maintenance impacted EBITDA by approximately $3 million in Q2, but margins are expected to expand in the second half [47][48] Question: Are customers pressuring to absorb tariff costs? - Management acknowledged pressure from customers regarding pricing due to increased tariffs, but they are working to manage costs and maintain pricing [51][52] Question: Can you provide context on the healthcare growth? - Healthcare has shown strong growth, particularly in medical devices and drug delivery, with a long-term positive outlook [61][62] Question: What are the trends in key markets in China? - The color business in China is under pressure due to government policies, but growth is expected in high-performance computing [67][68]

Core Viewpoint - Avient (AVNT) reported quarterly earnings of $0.8 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.78 per share, and showing an increase from $0.76 per share a year ago, indicating a positive earnings surprise of +2.56% [1] Financial Performance - The company achieved revenues of $866.5 million for the quarter ended June 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.78% and showing growth from $849.7 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Avient has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times and topped revenue estimates two times [2] Stock Performance and Outlook - Avient shares have declined approximately 22.7% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 7.8% [3] - The company's earnings outlook is crucial for assessing future stock performance, with current consensus EPS estimates at $0.67 for the coming quarter and $2.76 for the current fiscal year [7] Industry Context - The Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry, to which Avient belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 5% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges for stock performance [8] - The performance of Avient's stock may also be influenced by the overall industry outlook, as historical data indicates that the top 50% of Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by more than 2 to 1 [8]

Q2 2025 Performance - Sales reached $867 million, reflecting a 2% increase compared to Q2 2024 [9] - Adjusted EBITDA was $149 million, a 3.9% increase year-over-year [9] - Adjusted EPS increased by 5.3% to $0.80 [9] - Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.2% [10] Segment Performance - Color, Additives & Inks sales were $539 million, a 1% decrease, but adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 100 bps to 20.9% [20] - Specialty Engineered Materials sales increased by 7% to $330 million, but adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 19% [23] Regional Growth - Organic revenue growth by region: US & Canada +1%, Europe, Middle East & Africa -1%, Asia +3%, Latin America +6% [25] Full Year 2025 Guidance - Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be between $545 million and $560 million, representing a 4% to 6% growth excluding foreign exchange impact [28] - Adjusted EPS is expected to be between $2.77 and $2.87 for the full year [28] - Free Cash Flow is expected to be $190 million to $210 million for FY 2025 [16] Productivity and Debt Reduction - $40 million of full year YoY productivity benefits more than offset inflation & investments in growth vectors [14] - $50 million debt reduction in Q2; expect $100 million to $200 million total debt reduction by year end [16]

Second quarter sales of $867 million reflect 2% growth over the prior year quarter and includes a favorable impact of 1% from foreign exchange Second quarter GAAP EPS of $0.57 compared to $0.36 in the prior year quarter Second quarter adjusted EPS of $0.80 exceeds previous guidance of $0.79; represents 5% growth over the prior year quarter and includes a favorable impact of $0.01 attributable to foreign exchange 2025 full-year adjusted EPS guidance range narrowed to $2.77 to $2.87 from previous guidance of ...

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Avient Announces Second Quarter 2025 Results CLEVELAND – August 1, 2025 – Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT), an innovator of materials solutions, today announced its second quarter results for 2025. The company reported second quarter sales of $866.5 million, compared to $849.7 million in the prior year quarter. Second quarter GAAP earnings per share (EPS) were $0.57 compared to $0.36 in the prior year quarter. Second quarter 2025 GAAP EPS includes special items of $0.07 (se ...