Core Viewpoint - Dow is implementing a cost-saving program that includes cutting 4,500 employees, aiming to enhance productivity through artificial intelligence and improve shareholder returns, which will incur one-time charges between $1.1 billion and $1.5 billion [1] Group 1 - The company is reducing its workforce by 4,500 employees as part of its cost-saving measures [1] - The initiative will leverage artificial intelligence to boost productivity [1] - The expected one-time charges associated with this program will range from $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion [1]

Dow Inc. (DOW) shares fell about 2.6% in premarket trading Thursday, erasing an earlier gain, after the company announced a broad restructuring initiative and reported a deeper net loss. The chemical maker (DOW) swung to a profit with earnings ...

Dow said on Thursday it would slash about 4,500 jobs in a sweeping restructuring aimed at boosting profitability by at least $2 billion, as the chemicals maker battles persistent weak demand and ind... ...

Exhibit 99.1 January 29, 2026 Dow reports fourth quarter 2025 results FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | | | Three Months Ended Dec 31 | | | | Three Months Ended Sep 30 | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | In millions, except per share amounts | | 4Q25 | 4Q24 | | vs. SQLY | | 3Q25 | vs. PQ | | | | | | | [B / (W)] | | | [B / (W)] | | Net Sales | $ | | 9,460 $ | 10,405 $ | | (945) $ | 9,973 $ | (513) | | GAAP Income (Loss), Net of Tax | $ | | (1,477) $ | (35) $ | | (1,442) $ | 124 $ | (1,601) | ...

Core Insights - The company reported a significant decline in net sales and increased losses in the fourth quarter of 2025, with net sales of $9.46 billion, down 9% year-over-year and 5% sequentially [5][40]. - The GAAP net loss for the quarter was $1.5 billion, compared to a loss of $35 million in the same quarter last year [5][34]. - The company is implementing a comprehensive cost reduction program, which is expected to yield significant savings and improve productivity [6]. Financial Performance - Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2025 were $9,460 million, down from $10,405 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 [2][34]. - GAAP income (loss) net of tax was $(1,477) million, compared to $(35) million in the previous year [2][34]. - Operating EBIT was $33 million, a decrease of $421 million year-over-year, primarily due to price declines and lower operating rates [5][34]. - Operating EBITDA was $741 million, down from $1,205 million in the same quarter last year [2][34]. - Cash provided by operating activities was $298 million, down from $811 million year-over-year [5][34]. Segment Performance - The Packaging & Specialty Plastics segment reported net sales of $4,744 million, down 11% year-over-year, driven by lower downstream polymer prices [7][40]. - The Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure segment saw net sales of $2,688 million, a 9% decline compared to the previous year, with operating EBIT falling to $(201) million [12][40]. - The Performance Materials & Coatings segment had net sales of $1,852 million, down 6% year-over-year, with operating EBIT increasing to $25 million [18][40]. Outlook and Strategic Initiatives - The company is focused on delivering near-term cost savings and simplifying its operating model through the "Transform to Outperform" initiative, which aims to enhance productivity and shareholder returns [6][22]. - The CEO emphasized the importance of reducing complexity and adopting advanced technologies to improve operational efficiency [6][22]. - The company expects these efforts to generate at least $2 billion in additional near-term earnings [6]. Shareholder Returns - The company returned $251 million to shareholders in dividends during the fourth quarter [5][34]. - For the full year 2025, total returns to shareholders amounted to $1.5 billion in dividends [5]. Cash Flow and Capital Expenditures - Cash provided by operating activities for continuing operations was $1,062 million for the year, down from $2,903 million in 2024 [38]. - Capital expenditures for the year were $2,479 million, compared to $2,940 million in the previous year [38]. - The company ended the year with cash and cash equivalents of $3,816 million, up from $2,189 million in 2024 [38].

Core Viewpoint - Dow has announced a comprehensive plan called "Transform to Outperform" aimed at simplifying operations, streamlining processes, and modernizing customer service, targeting at least $2 billion in near-term operational EBITDA improvement through AI and automation [1][2][8] Group 1: Transformation Goals and Benefits - The transformation aims to achieve significant growth and productivity gains, enhancing Dow's competitive position and resilience [2] - Approximately two-thirds of the expected benefits will come from productivity improvements, while one-third will be from growth [2] - The company has established a dedicated internal team to guide the transformation process [2] Group 2: Financial Projections and Costs - Dow anticipates one-time costs of approximately $1.1 to $1.5 billion associated with the transformation, including $600 to $800 million in severance for around 4,500 roles [3] - The estimated cash costs to achieve operational EBITDA targets are projected to be $800 to $1,000 million in 2026, $300 to $500 million in 2027, and $0 in 2028 [4] Group 3: Commitment to Long-Term Strength - The transformation is designed to ensure Dow's continued global leadership by leveraging best-in-class processes and technologies [5] - The company emphasizes a focus on safe and reliable operations while driving accountability and continuous improvement [5] - Local stakeholders will be engaged in each region during the implementation of the announced actions [5] Group 4: Company Overview - Dow is a leading materials science company with a focus on high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications [6] - The company operates manufacturing sites in 29 countries and employs approximately 34,600 people, with sales of around $40 billion in 2025 [6]

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures rose on Thursday following a mixed close on Wednesday, with major benchmark indices showing positive movement [1] - The Federal Reserve maintained the federal funds rate at 3.5%–3.75%, pausing its easing cycle after three rate cuts last year [1] Federal Reserve Insights - Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized a data-driven approach to decision-making, avoiding political criticisms during a press conference [2] - The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.26%, while the two-year bond was at 3.58%, with an 86.5% likelihood of unchanged interest rates in March according to CME Group's FedWatch tool [3] Stock Performance - Dow Jones increased by 0.15%, S&P 500 by 0.27%, Nasdaq 100 by 0.37%, and Russell 2000 by 0.26% [3] - Microsoft (MSFT) shows a weak price trend across all time frames but maintains a good quality ranking [3] - Tesla (TSLA) has a stronger long-term price trend but a weak short-term trend with a poor value ranking [4] - Meta Platforms (META) maintains a strong price trend across all time frames with a good quality ranking [5] - International Business Machines (IBM) shows a stronger price trend across all time frames with a solid quality ranking [6] - Apple Inc. (AAPL) is projected to post quarterly earnings of $2.67 per share on revenue of $138.42 billion, with a stronger long-term price trend but weak short and medium-term trends [8] Sector Performance - Energy and information technology stocks closed higher, while real estate, consumer staples, and health care sectors recorded the largest losses on Wednesday [9] Analyst Insights - BlackRock maintains a constructive economic outlook, citing "immutable economic laws" as stabilizers against extreme policy shifts [10] - The firm expects the Federal Reserve to adopt a "wait-and-see" stance, leaving interest rates unchanged due to mixed economic signals [11] - BlackRock remains overweight on U.S. equities, viewing the "AI buildout" as a significant structural driver, while forecasting record U.S. investment-grade bond issuance of $1.85 trillion this year [11] - Increased leverage among mega-cap tech firms is noted, with a preference for high-yield bonds over investment-grade bonds due to potential vulnerabilities in the financial system [12] Commodities and Global Markets - Crude oil futures rose by 2.55% to approximately $64.82 per barrel, while Gold Spot increased by 1.88% to around $5,519.32 per ounce [14] - Bitcoin (BTC) traded 1.57% lower at $87,847.25 per coin [14] Economic Data - Upcoming economic data includes initial jobless claims, delayed U.S. trade deficit report, and revised U.S. productivity data [15]

Core Viewpoint - Dow Inc. is facing significant challenges in the chemicals industry, with analysts predicting a negative earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.46 and revenue of approximately $9.47 billion for Q4 2025, alongside an anticipated 8.8% decline in revenue year over year [1][2][6] Group 1: Financial Performance - Dow's shares have decreased by 32.8% over the past year, which is a more substantial decline compared to the 21% drop in the Zacks Chemicals Diversified industry [3] - The company has experienced mixed earnings results, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters but missing it twice, resulting in an average negative earnings surprise of 35.8% [3] - The most recent quarter showed a positive earnings surprise of 38.7% [3] Group 2: Financial Metrics - Dow has a negative price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of -17.47, indicating ongoing losses [4] - The price-to-sales ratio is 0.48, suggesting the stock is valued at less than half of its sales per share [4] - The enterprise value to sales ratio is 0.85, reflecting the company's valuation in relation to its sales [4] Group 3: Cost Management and Financial Health - The company is implementing cost-cutting measures aimed at achieving $1 billion in reductions, with an expected benefit of $400 million in 2025 [2] - Despite a negative earnings yield of -5.72%, Dow's current ratio of 1.94 indicates good short-term financial health, with nearly twice as many current assets as current liabilities [5] - The debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12 suggests that the company has more debt than equity, highlighting its financial challenges [5]

Core Viewpoint - UnitedHealth's disappointing earnings led to a significant decline in its stock price, impacting the healthcare sector and causing the Dow Jones Industrial Average to underperform compared to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, which reached record highs due to strength in technology and AI stocks [1][2][3]. Company Performance - UnitedHealth Group's stock fell approximately 20% following an earnings-related disappointment, which heavily influenced the Dow's performance due to its status as one of the index's largest holdings [2][3]. - The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.83% to 49,003.42, primarily driven by UnitedHealth's decline, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite recorded gains of 0.41% and 0.91%, respectively [1][3]. Industry Trends - Technology and semiconductor stocks, particularly Micron Technology, contributed to the gains in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, as investors shifted focus towards AI-related investments [4]. - Micron announced plans for a $24 billion memory plant in Singapore, indicating a strong trend towards increased capital expenditure in AI-focused technologies [4]. - Amazon's strategic decision to transition its Fresh and Go grocery stores into Whole Foods was positively received by the market, reflecting a commitment to expanding grocery delivery and enhancing the Whole Foods brand [4].

About this content About Oliver Haill Oliver has been writing about companies and markets since the early 2000s, cutting his teeth as a financial journalist at Growth Company Investor with a focusing on AIM companies and small caps, before a few years later becoming a section editor and then head of research. He joined Proactive after a couple of years freelancing, where he worked for the Financial Times Group, ITV, Press Association, Reuters sports desk, the London Olympic News Service, Rugby World Cup ...