Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company anticipates a cash flow generation of $700 million to $800 million for the year, despite uncertainties in the second half [40][44][73] - The company expects a run rate of approximately $2 per share by year-end if demand remains stable [60][64] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Engineered Materials volumes were down 4% year-over-year, while acetyl chain volumes were down 6% [25][28] - The company noted a significant improvement in acetate tow volumes, with April volumes being about 25% higher than January [28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is observing a stabilization in the Nylon business, which has been a significant driver of earnings decline [16][18] - The automotive sector is showing signs of recovery, with the company outperforming the global industry decline [45] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on cash generation and is exploring various divestiture options beyond Micromax [12][13] - The company is committed to reducing costs and improving operational efficiency, particularly in the Nylon segment [17][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed caution regarding demand uncertainty, particularly in the second half of the year [11][60] - The company is optimistic about the potential for earnings recovery, driven by self-help actions and cost reductions [64][70] Other Important Information - The company has been actively managing its portfolio and is focused on high-impact programs to drive growth [56][114] - The company has not seen project cancellations in China, although there are signs of reduced orders in low-margin segments [74][100] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the expected earnings cadence for the second half of the year? - Management indicated that there are tailwinds from cost reductions and volume increases, estimating a potential $100 million improvement in the second half [9][10] Question: How is the EBITDA margin for Micromax? - The revenue for Micromax is approximately $300 million, with EBITDA margins in the high teens [15] Question: What is the outlook for the Nylon 66 business? - Management acknowledged challenges due to reduced demand and increased capacity, but noted stabilization efforts are underway [16][32] Question: How do oil prices affect the company? - Management stated that the company is relatively agnostic to oil prices, focusing more on demand dynamics [22][23] Question: What is the company's strategy regarding pricing actions? - The company has successfully implemented price increases and is focused on reversing unsustainable pricing trends [55][108] Question: What is the expected cash flow generation for the year? - Management is confident in generating $700 million to $800 million in free cash flow, supported by various operational levers [40][44] Question: How is the company performing in the automotive sector? - The company reported a 5% decline in automotive volumes, outperforming the global industry decline of 10% [45] Question: What is the impact of tariffs on the acetyl chain? - Management indicated that tariffs have minimal impact on the acetyl chain, primarily affecting Engineered Materials [50] Question: What is the company's approach to managing leverage? - The company is focused on generating cash and reducing debt, with no liquidity challenges anticipated [80]

Core Viewpoint - Celanese Corporation reported a significant decline in earnings and revenues for the first quarter of 2025, indicating challenges in the market due to lower volumes and prices [1][3]. Financial Performance - Earnings from continuing operations were 15 cents per share, down from $1.10 in the prior-year quarter [1]. - Adjusted earnings were 57 cents, a decrease of 72.6% from $2.08 a year ago, but exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 37 cents [1]. - Revenues totaled $2,389 million, an 8.5% year-over-year decrease, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,264.6 million [1]. Segment Highlights - Engineered Materials unit reported net sales of $1,287 million, down 6.6% year over year, but above the estimate of $1,180.9 million, with an operating profit of $96 million [2]. - Acetyl Chain segment had net sales of $1,116 million, down 11.5% year over year, exceeding the estimate of $1,105.9 million, generating an operating profit of $162 million [3]. Financial Position - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter were $951 million, a decrease of 1.1% sequentially [4]. - Long-term debt increased by 11.7% sequentially to $12,378 million [4]. Outlook - The company anticipates adjusted earnings in the range of $1.30 to $1.50 per share for the second quarter of 2025 [5]. - Celanese aims to generate $700 million to $800 million in free cash flow in 2025, assuming stable demand [5]. Stock Performance - Celanese's shares have declined by 71.8% over the past year, contrasting with a 0.8% decline in the industry [6]. Zacks Rank & Comparisons - Celanese currently holds a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell) [7]. - Other stocks in the basic materials sector with better rankings include Hawkins, Inc. (Rank 1), Franco-Nevada Corporation (Rank 1), and Coeur Mining (Rank 2) [7].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a significant focus on cash generation, targeting free cash flow of $700 million to $800 million for the year despite uncertainties in demand [38][42][44] - The management indicated that the second half of the year could see tailwinds amounting to approximately $100 million from cost reductions and volume increases [7][41] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Engineered Materials volumes were down 4% year-over-year, while acetyl chain volumes decreased by 6% [23][25] - The company noted a strong recovery in acetate tow volumes, with April volumes being approximately 25% higher than January [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The automotive sector showed a decline of 5% in volumes, compared to a 10% decline in the global industry, indicating some market share gains [44] - The company observed a lack of normal seasonal pickup in acetyls, particularly in paints and coatings, which typically see stronger demand in Q2 [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is actively pursuing divestitures beyond Micromax, focusing on cash generation and portfolio optimization [9][10] - Management emphasized the importance of stabilizing the nylon business, which has been a significant driver of earnings decline, and is taking actions to improve profitability [14][30] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed caution regarding demand uncertainty, particularly in the second half of the year, while noting some positive trends in April and May [8][126] - The company is not assuming any significant improvements in demand but is focused on self-help actions to drive cash flow and earnings [61][62] Other Important Information - The company highlighted that it has a flexible operating model and is relatively agnostic to oil price fluctuations, focusing instead on demand dynamics [20][21] - Management indicated that the nylon business has faced significant challenges due to reduced demand and increased capacity, leading to overcapacity issues [30][31] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the expected earnings cadence for the second half of the year? - Management indicated potential tailwinds of around $100 million from cost reductions and volume increases, but demand uncertainty remains a key concern [6][7] Question: Is Micromax the only divestiture planned for this year? - Management confirmed that they are exploring multiple divestiture options beyond Micromax, focusing on cash generation [9][10] Question: What are the EBITDA margins for the Micromax business? - The revenue for Micromax is approximately $300 million, with EBITDA margins in the high teens [12] Question: What is the outlook for the nylon business? - Management acknowledged that the nylon business has been a significant drag on operating profit and emphasized the need for focused actions to stabilize and improve profitability [14][30] Question: How is the company positioned regarding oil price changes? - Management stated that the company has a flexible operating model and is generally agnostic to oil price fluctuations, focusing more on demand [20][21] Question: What is the expected impact of tariffs on the acetyl chain? - Management indicated that tariffs have minimal impact on the acetyl chain, with more significant effects seen in Engineered Materials [50] Question: What is the company's strategy for pricing actions in the Engineered Materials portfolio? - Management confirmed that they are implementing pricing actions to reverse negative trends and improve margins [54][56] Question: What is the expected cash flow generation for the year? - Management reiterated confidence in generating $700 million to $800 million in free cash flow, despite uncertainties in demand [38][42] Question: How is the company addressing the challenges in the nylon business? - Management is taking decisive actions to address overcapacity and improve profitability in the nylon segment [30][31]

Core Insights - Celanese reported revenue of $2.39 billion for Q1 2025, a decrease of 8.5% year-over-year, with EPS at $0.57 compared to $2.08 in the same quarter last year [1] - The revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.26 billion by 5.49%, while the EPS surpassed the consensus estimate of $0.37 by 54.05% [1] Financial Performance - Net Sales from the Acetyl Chain were $1.12 billion, above the average estimate of $1.08 billion, but down 11.5% year-over-year [4] - Net Sales from Inter segment eliminations were -$14 million, better than the estimated -$25.25 million, reflecting a 50% decrease compared to the previous year [4] - Net Sales from Engineered Materials reached $1.29 billion, exceeding the estimate of $1.18 billion, but down 6.6% year-over-year [4] - Operating EBITDA for the Acetyl Chain was $229 million, below the estimate of $245.41 million [4] - Operating EBITDA for Other Activities was -$50 million, better than the estimated -$55.99 million [4] - Operating EBITDA for Engineered Materials was $235 million, surpassing the estimate of $197.28 million [4] Stock Performance - Celanese shares have returned +12.1% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.4% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell), indicating potential underperformance in the near term [3]

Core Viewpoint - Celanese reported quarterly earnings of $0.57 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.37 per share, but down from $2.08 per share a year ago, indicating a significant earnings surprise of 54.05% [1] Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $2.39 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.49%, although this is a decrease from $2.61 billion in the same quarter last year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Celanese has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times and topped consensus revenue estimates two times [2] Stock Performance - Celanese shares have declined approximately 33.6% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of -3.3% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.43 on revenues of $2.45 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $5.13 on revenues of $9.73 billion [7] Industry Outlook - The Chemical - Specialty industry, to which Celanese belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 41% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which could impact Celanese's stock performance [5]

[Non-US GAAP Financial Measures and Supplemental Information](index=1&type=section&id=Non-US%20GAAP%20Financial%20Measures%20and%20Supplemental%20Information) This report provides supplemental financial information and reconciles non-US GAAP measures to their US GAAP counterparts, offering additional insights into the company's performance [Introduction and Definitions](index=1&type=section&id=Introduction%20and%20Definitions) This section defines key non-GAAP financial measures and explains their importance for assessing the company's performance and internal planning - The company presents its business in two segments: Engineered Materials and the Acetyl Chain[4](index=4&type=chunk) - Management discloses non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental information for investors, believing them to be important for assessing financial results and comparing periods, and should be viewed as supplemental to US GAAP measures[6](index=6&type=chunk) - The report provides definitions for key non-GAAP measures including: Adjusted EBIT, Operating EBITDA, Adjusted Gross Profit, Adjusted Earnings Per Share, Free Cash Flow, Net Debt, and Return on Invested Capital (Adjusted)[9](index=9&type=chunk)[11](index=11&type=chunk)[15](index=15&type=chunk) - The company does not provide forward-looking reconciliations for non-GAAP measures like Adjusted EBIT or Free Cash Flow due to the difficulty in forecasting certain items like mark-to-market pension gains or working capital changes[11](index=11&type=chunk)[12](index=12&type=chunk)[15](index=15&type=chunk) [Financial Performance and Reconciliations](index=6&type=section&id=Financial%20Performance%20and%20Reconciliations) This section presents detailed unaudited financial tables reconciling US GAAP measures to non-GAAP metrics, covering key performance indicators and segment-level data [Table 1: Adjusted EBIT and Operating EBITDA Reconciliation](index=6&type=section&id=Table%201%20Adjusted%20EBIT%20and%20Operating%20EBITDA%20-%20Reconciliation%20of%20Non-GAAP%20Measures%20-%20Unaudited) This table reconciles Net Earnings to Adjusted EBIT and Operating EBITDA, showing Q1 2025 Adjusted EBIT of **$234 million** and Operating EBITDA of **$414 million** Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted EBIT and Operating EBITDA (In $ millions) | Measure | Q1 '25 | 2024 | Q4 '24 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation | (21) | (1,522) | (1,914) | | Certain Items attributable to Celanese Corporation | 43 | 2,009 | 1,696 | | **Adjusted EBIT** | **234** | **1,648** | **333** | | Depreciation and amortization expense | 180 | 728 | 184 | | **Operating EBITDA** | **414** | **2,376** | **517** | [Table 2: Supplemental Segment Data and Reconciliation](index=7&type=section&id=Table%202%20-%20Supplemental%20Segment%20Data%20and%20Reconciliation%20of%20Segment%20Adjusted%20EBIT%20and%20Operating%20EBITDA%20-%20Non-GAAP%20Measures%20-%20Unaudited) This table provides segment-level Adjusted EBIT and Operating EBITDA, with Engineered Materials reporting **$126 million** Adjusted EBIT and Acetyl Chain **$168 million** in Q1 2025 Segment Adjusted EBIT (In $ millions) | Segment | Q1 '25 | 2024 | Q4 '24 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Engineered Materials | 126 | 859 | 156 | | Acetyl Chain | 168 | 1,102 | 253 | | Other Activities | (60) | (313) | (76) | | **Total** | **234** | **1,648** | **333** | Segment Operating EBITDA (In $ millions) | Segment | Q1 '25 | 2024 | Q4 '24 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Engineered Materials | 235 | 1,296 | 270 | | Acetyl Chain | 229 | 1,346 | 316 | | Other Activities | (50) | (266) | (69) | | **Total** | **414** | **2,376** | **517** | [Table 2a: Adjusted Gross Profit Reconciliation](index=9&type=section&id=Table%202a%20Adjusted%20gross%20profit) This table reconciles Gross Profit to Adjusted Gross Profit for the Engineered Materials segment, showing **$1,356 million** Adjusted Gross Profit for 2024 Engineered Materials Adjusted Gross Profit (In $ millions) | Description | 2024 | 2021 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Gross profit | 1,236 | 1,670 | | Certain Items | 120 | 27 | | **Adjusted gross profit** | **1,356** | **1,697** | - The **$120 million** in "Certain Items" for 2024 included **$115 million** for exit and shutdown costs and **$3 million** for mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions[23](index=23&type=chunk) [Table 3 & 3a: Adjusted Earnings per Share and Tax Rate Reconciliation](index=10&type=section&id=Table%203%20Adjusted%20Earnings%20(Loss)%20per%20Share%20-%20Reconciliation%20of%20a%20Non-GAAP%20Measure%20-%20Unaudited) These tables reconcile GAAP earnings per share to Adjusted EPS, reporting **$0.57** Adjusted EPS for Q1 2025 and an adjusted effective tax rate of **9%** for 2025 Adjusted Earnings Per Share Reconciliation | Description | Q1 '25 (per share) | 2024 (per share) | Q4 '24 (per share) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Earnings (loss) from continuing operations | (0.15) | (13.86) | (17.45) | | **Adjusted earnings (loss) from continuing operations** | **0.57** | **8.37** | **1.45** | Adjusted Tax Rate Reconciliation (In percentages) | Description | Estimated 2025 | Actual 2024 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | US GAAP annual effective tax rate | 20 | (51) | | Adjustments | (11) | 60 | | **Adjusted tax rate** | **9** | **9** | [Table 4, 4a, 4b, & 4c: Net Sales Analysis](index=12&type=section&id=Table%204%20Net%20Sales%20by%20Segment%20-%20Unaudited) This section analyzes net sales by segment, with total net sales of **$2,389 million** in Q1 2025, showing a 1% sequential increase and a 9% year-over-year decrease Net Sales by Segment (In $ millions) | Segment | Q1 '25 | 2024 | Q4 '24 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Engineered Materials | 1,287 | 5,607 | 1,281 | | Acetyl Chain | 1,116 | 4,763 | 1,110 | | **Total Net sales** | **2,389** | **10,280** | **2,370** | - Sequential Change (Q1'25 vs Q4'24): Total sales increased **1%**, driven by a **2%** increase in volume, partially offset by a **1%** negative currency impact[29](index=29&type=chunk) - Year-over-Year Change (Q1'25 vs Q1'24): Total sales decreased **9%**, driven by a **5%** decrease in volume and a **3%** decrease in price[34](index=34&type=chunk) - Full Year Change (2024 vs 2023): Total sales decreased **6%**, driven by a **4%** decrease in price and a **1%** decrease in volume[39](index=39&type=chunk) [Table 5: Free Cash Flow Reconciliation](index=16&type=section&id=Table%205%20Free%20Cash%20Flow%20-%20Reconciliation%20of%20a%20Non-GAAP%20Measure%20-%20Unaudited) This table reconciles net cash from operating activities to free cash flow, reporting a negative free cash flow of **($73) million** in Q1 2025 Free Cash Flow Reconciliation (In $ millions) | Description | Q1 '25 | 2024 | Q4 '24 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 37 | 966 | 494 | | Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment | (102) | (435) | (105) | | Contributions from/(Distributions) to NCI | (8) | (33) | (8) | | **Free cash flow** | **(73)** | **498** | **381** | [Table 6: Cash Dividends Received](index=17&type=section&id=Table%206%20Cash%20Dividends%20Received%20-%20Unaudited) This table details cash dividends received from equity investments, totaling **$32 million** in Q1 2025 Cash Dividends Received (In $ millions) | Description | Q1 '25 | 2024 | Q4 '24 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Dividends from equity method investments | 31 | 160 | 38 | | Dividends from other equity investments | 1 | 128 | 33 | | **Total** | **32** | **288** | **71** | [Table 7: Net Debt Reconciliation](index=17&type=section&id=Table%207%20Net%20Debt%20-%20Reconciliation%20of%20a%20Non-GAAP%20Measure%20-%20Unaudited) This table reconciles total debt to net debt, showing net debt of **$11,833 million** at the end of Q1 2025 Net Debt Calculation (In $ millions) | Description | Q1 '25 | Q4 '24 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Total debt | 12,784 | 12,579 | | Cash and cash equivalents | (951) | (962) | | **Net debt** | **11,833** | **11,617** | [Table 8: Certain Items](index=18&type=section&id=Table%208%20Certain%20Items%20-%20Unaudited) This table details "Certain Items" excluded from non-GAAP measures, totaling **$43 million** in Q1 2025, primarily from exit and shutdown costs Breakdown of Certain Items (In $ millions) | Item | Q1 '25 | 2024 | Q4 '24 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Exit and shutdown costs | 32 | 236 | 47 | | Asset impairments | — | 1,638 | 1,601 | | Mergers, acquisitions and dispositions | 5 | 80 | 12 | | Other Items | 6 | 55 | 36 | | **Total Certain Items** | **43** | **2,009** | **1,696** | - The significant asset impairment in Q4 2024 and full year 2024 was related to goodwill and certain tradenames, primarily Zytel®, arising from impairment tests[45](index=45&type=chunk) [Table 9: Return on Invested Capital (Adjusted)](index=19&type=section&id=Table%209%20Return%20on%20Invested%20Capital%20(Adjusted)%20-%20Presentation%20of%20a%20Non-GAAP%20Measure%20-%20Unaudited) This table calculates the Return on Invested Capital (Adjusted) for 2024, which was **7.8%** based on tax-effected adjusted EBIT Return on Invested Capital (Adjusted) - 2024 | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Adjusted EBIT tax effected | $1,500 million | | Average Invested capital | $19,265 million | | **Return on invested capital (adjusted)** | **7.8%** | | Net earnings (loss) as a % of invested capital | (7.9)% |

Core Insights - Dunn-Edwards Corporation has partnered with Celanese Corporation to introduce a sustainable pathway for architectural coatings through Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technology, marking a first-to-market initiative in the U.S. [1][2] Group 1: Collaboration and Technology - The collaboration aims to minimize greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing CO2 captured from industrial processes to produce architectural paints [1][2] - Celanese's CCU technology captures industrial CO2 emissions at its Clear Lake, Texas facility, creating a key component for vinyl acetate-based emulsions used in architectural paints [2][3] Group 2: Environmental Impact - The use of CCU resin technology in Dunn-Edwards paints is expected to utilize over 2 million pounds of captured CO2 annually, equivalent to the CO2 consumption of over 800 acres of forest in a year [3] - The initiative aligns with Dunn-Edwards' commitment to sustainability, aiming to provide high-performance products while minimizing environmental impact [4] Group 3: Company Background - Dunn-Edwards is a leading manufacturer and distributor of premium architectural and industrial paints, operating over 170 stores across several states and employing approximately 1,700 people [6] - Celanese Corporation is a global leader in chemistry with a commitment to sustainability, reporting net sales of $10.3 billion in 2024 and employing over 11,000 people worldwide [7]

Core Viewpoint - Celanese has experienced a 4.2% increase in share price since the last earnings report, outperforming the S&P 500, but there are concerns about potential pullbacks leading up to the next earnings release [1]. Estimates Movement - Estimates for Celanese have trended downward over the past month, with a significant consensus estimate shift of -77.68% [2]. VGM Scores - Celanese holds a Growth Score of B, a Momentum Score of F, and a Value Score of C, resulting in an aggregate VGM Score of C, indicating a middle-tier position in investment strategy [3]. Outlook - The downward trend in estimates suggests a negative outlook for Celanese, reflected in its Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell), indicating expectations of below-average returns in the coming months [4].

DALLAS, March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE) ("Celanese"), a global chemical and specialty materials company, today announced the pricing of offers by its direct wholly-owned subsidiary Celanese US Holdings LLC (the "Company") to purchase for cash any validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to (i) €552,082,000 of 4.777% Senior Notes due 2026 (the "EUR Notes") and (ii) $500,000,000 of 6.415% Senior Notes due 2027 (the "U ...

Core Viewpoint - Celanese Corporation is conducting early tender offers to purchase a total of €552,082,000 of 4.777% Senior Notes due 2026 and $500,000,000 of 6.415% Senior Notes due 2027, with increased Series Caps for both notes [1][2]. Group 1: Tender Offer Details - The tender offers are for cash purchases of validly tendered notes, with the total principal amount of EUR Notes and USD Notes being increased from previously announced amounts [1][2]. - As of the Early Tender Time, €552,082,000 of EUR Notes and $1,354,646,000 of USD Notes were validly tendered and not withdrawn [4]. - The Series Cap for the EUR Notes is set at €552,082,000, while the USD Notes have a Series Cap of $500,000,000 [6][8]. Group 2: Acceptance and Pricing - The Company expects to accept all validly tendered EUR Notes and $500,000,000 of USD Notes, with a pro rata acceptance for the USD Notes based on a proration factor of 36.40% [4][7]. - The Total Consideration for each €1,000 or $1,000 principal amount of Notes will be determined based on fixed spreads and reference yields, including an Early Tender Premium [9]. - Payment for the accepted Notes is expected to occur on March 21, 2025, following the pricing announcement [10]. Group 3: Company Overview - Celanese Corporation is a global leader in chemistry, producing specialty material solutions across major industries, with 2024 net sales reported at $10.3 billion [24].