HOUSTON and LONDON, Feb. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB), a leader in the global chemical industry, today announced that Agustin Izquierdo, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the 2026 Bank of America Global Agriculture and Materials Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 9:45 a.m. EST. Webcast and Presentation Slides AccessA live webcast can be accessed at the time of the event at https://inv ...

In this article, we will be talking about 9 Undervalued Chemical Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.The chemical industry is valued at between $800 and $900 billion, and it is also the backbone of the US industrial sector. In 2023 alone, it directly employed over 900,000 people in over 14,000 industrial sites and created over 70,000 chemical goods. In addition, it also attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) of roughly $766.7 billion.In a similar context, it is important to mention that the U.S. speci ...

Core Insights - Celanese Corporation reported fourth-quarter results that missed analyst expectations for both earnings and revenue, yet shares rose over 4% in after-hours trading [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share for the fourth quarter were $0.67, below the consensus estimate of $0.91 [1] - Revenue for the fourth quarter totaled $2.2 billion, slightly under the forecast of $2.25 billion and down 6.5% from $2.36 billion in the same quarter last year [1][2] - The company recorded an operating profit of $93 million and adjusted EBIT of $251 million for the fourth quarter [2] Yearly Overview - For the full year 2025, Celanese generated adjusted earnings per share of $3.98 on net sales of $9.5 billion, representing a 7% year-over-year decline [3] - Operating cash flow totaled $1.1 billion, while free cash flow reached $773 million [3] Future Outlook - The company expects limited change in the demand environment during the first quarter, with seasonal volume improvements offset by the timing of dividend payments from its acetate tow joint venture in China [4] - Celanese forecasts first-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.70 to $0.85 and targets free cash flow between $650 million and $750 million for 2026 [4]

Core Viewpoint - The financial sector is crucial for the transformation and upgrading of Northeast China's old industrial base, with significant growth in various financing metrics projected for 2025, indicating a robust financial ecosystem supporting economic revitalization [1][2]. Financing Channels - In 2025, Liaoning Province's social financing scale is expected to increase by 348.2 billion yuan, the highest in seven years, with new corporate bond financing reaching 37.3 billion yuan, the highest in nine years [2]. - The balance of RMB loans is projected to reach 5.32 trillion yuan, with an increase of 121.9 billion yuan, marking the highest growth in three years [2]. - The demand for financing in the real economy is being increasingly met, particularly through corporate bond financing, which reflects a richer financing channel for the real economy [2][3]. Financing Services Optimization - China Construction Bank's Liaoning branch has provided comprehensive financial support to a technology enterprise, including 100 million yuan in fixed asset loans and 30 million yuan in working capital loans [4]. - The bank's technology loan balance is expected to reach 104.47 billion yuan by the end of 2025, with a year-to-date increase of 17.45 billion yuan, reflecting a growth rate of 20.05% [4]. - The financial services are evolving from a broad approach to a more targeted one, addressing the specific needs of enterprises at different growth stages [4][5]. Financing Ecosystem Development - The "2026 Capital Market Liaoning Action" event attracted over 80 listed companies and more than 100 potential listing companies, providing comprehensive services for enterprises seeking to go public [7]. - In 2025, direct financing in Liaoning is projected to exceed 90 billion yuan, reaching 92.78 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 41.3%, marking a ten-year high [7]. - Various innovative financial products, including public REITs and intellectual property securitization, are being introduced to support enterprise development [7][8]. Financial Environment Optimization - Liaoning is implementing measures to enhance the financial ecosystem, focusing on issues like financial fraud and debt evasion, to restore market confidence [8]. - The province aims to address shortcomings such as low capitalization levels and insufficient roles of leading companies in the economy, with targeted initiatives to improve the effectiveness of capital market services [8].

Core Viewpoint - LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) has experienced significant stock performance fluctuations, underperforming the broader market over the past year but showing strong year-to-date growth. Group 1: Company Overview - LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is a chemical company based in Houston, Texas, with a market capitalization of $18.6 billion, producing essential materials for various industries including packaging, automotive, construction, medical supplies, and consumer goods [1]. Group 2: Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, LYB shares have declined by 22.2%, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by 14.4%. However, year-to-date, LYB's stock is up 37.3%, outperforming the S&P 500's return of 1.4% [2]. - LYB has also lagged behind the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB), which rose by 20.1% over the past year, but has outperformed XLB's year-to-date increase of 18.2% [3]. Group 3: Financial Performance - In Q4, LYB reported a 9.2% year-over-year decline in sales and other operating revenues, totaling $7.1 billion. The adjusted EPS shifted from $0.77 in the same quarter last year to an adjusted loss of $0.26. Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 39.3% year-over-year to $417 million due to higher costs and weaker demand [6]. - Analysts project LYB's EPS to grow by 78.2% year-over-year to $3.03 for fiscal 2026 [7]. Group 4: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Among 21 analysts covering LYB, the consensus rating is a "Hold," with one "Strong Buy," one "Moderate Buy," 15 "Hold," and four "Strong Sell" ratings [7]. - RBC Capital maintained a "Sector Perform" rating on LYB and raised its price target to $51, while the mean price target is $50.47. The highest price target of $75 suggests a potential upside of 26.1% from current levels [8].

Core Viewpoint - Avient Corporation reported its fourth-quarter and full-year results for 2025, highlighting a 6% increase in adjusted EPS and a positive outlook for 2026 with projected earnings growth despite mixed demand conditions. Financial Performance - Full-year 2025 adjusted EPS was $2.82, a 6% increase from the previous year, driven by an adjusted EBITDA margin expansion of 50 basis points to 16.7% and lower interest expenses [1] - Fourth-quarter adjusted EPS was $0.56, reflecting a 14% growth year-over-year, primarily due to organic sales growth in the Specialty Engineered Materials segment and productivity initiatives [1] - Full-year sales for 2025 increased by 1% to $3,260 million, with fourth-quarter sales rising 2% to $761 million; foreign exchange positively impacted sales by 3% in Q4 and 1% for the full year [1] Debt Management and Cash Flow - The company generated strong operating cash flow of $302 million in 2025, which supported a debt repayment of $150 million during the year [1] - Avient expects to deliver free cash flow exceeding $200 million in 2026, enhancing its flexibility for future cash deployment [1] 2026 Financial Guidance - For 2026, Avient projects adjusted EPS to range from $2.93 to $3.17, indicating a growth of 4% to 12% over 2025 [1] - The company anticipates adjusted EBITDA for 2026 to be between $555 million and $585 million, representing a growth of 2% to 7% [1] Strategic Focus - The management emphasized a commitment to driving profitable mix and productivity, which contributed to the adjusted EBITDA margin expansion and overall financial performance [1] - Continued investments in prioritized growth areas and a robust innovation pipeline are part of the strategy to maintain earnings and margin growth into 2026 [1]

This story was originally published on Manufacturing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Manufacturing Dive newsletter. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the manufacturing industry added 5,000 jobs in January, according to a Feb. 11 news release.  It’s a huge improvement compared to the revised data from the same period last year, which showed a loss of 20,000 jobs, according to the Federal Reserve Economic Data. BLS initially published 5,000 job cuts. The BLS ...

Core Viewpoint - Albemarle Corporation has decided to idle its Kemerton lithium hydroxide processing plant in Western Australia to improve financial flexibility and preserve optionality amid ongoing price volatility in the lithium market [1]. Group 1: Operational Changes - The company will place Train 1 of the Kemerton plant into care and maintenance immediately, following the previous decision to idle Train 2 in 2024 and halt expansion plans for Trains 3 and 4 [1]. - The Kemerton plant processes spodumene from the Greenbushes mine, which is recognized as one of the world's best spodumene resources [1]. Group 2: Financial Implications - The decision to idle operations is expected to be accretive to adjusted EBITDA starting in the second quarter of 2026, with no impact on projected 2026 volumes [1]. - Albemarle will continue to meet customer demand for lithium hydroxide through other production channels, ensuring that its financial performance remains stable [1]. Group 3: Strategic Positioning - The company's mining interests in Australia, including holdings in Greenbushes and Wodgina, remain unaffected by the decision regarding the Kemerton plant and are considered core components of its strategy [1]. - The company emphasizes its commitment to developing a Western lithium supply chain through proven technology and commercial scale production [1].

Market Performance - A-shares experienced a strong upward trend on February 9, with the Shanghai Composite Index rising over 1% to surpass 4100 points, and the ChiNext Index increasing nearly 3% [1] - The total trading volume in the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets reached 2.25 trillion yuan, an increase of 103.8 billion yuan compared to the previous trading day [1] - Key sectors that saw significant gains included AI applications, computing power hardware, chemicals, and photovoltaic industries, with several stocks hitting the daily limit [1][2] Sector Highlights - The film and television, photovoltaic equipment, cultural media, and AI hardware sectors showed the highest gains, while oil and gas extraction, gas, and other related sectors faced declines [2] - The photovoltaic sector continued its upward momentum, with companies like JinkoSolar and TCL Zhonghuan reaching their daily limits [1][2] Institutional Insights - Investment firms suggest that the overall market trend remains upward, with opportunities in high-growth sectors such as semiconductors, consumer electronics, artificial intelligence, and commercial aerospace [3] - Analysts believe that the recent adjustments have released certain risks, and upcoming events and the "Spring Festival effect" may create a favorable environment for market recovery [3][4] - Recommendations include maintaining positions through the holiday and focusing on sectors with high growth potential, particularly AI computing and chemical industries [4] Economic Transition - Data from the National Taxation Administration indicates that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China's economic and social green transition is accelerating, with significant growth in green technology sectors [5] - Key green product manufacturing industries, such as new energy vehicles and photovoltaic equipment, are expected to see annual sales growth rates exceeding 30% [5] Box Office Performance - As of February 9, 2026, the pre-sale box office for the Spring Festival films has surpassed 10 million yuan, with titles like "Flying Life 3" and "Silent Awakening" leading the pre-sale rankings [6]

Core Viewpoint - Westlake Chemical Partners LP (WLKP) is highlighted as a potentially undervalued investment opportunity, with a focus on its stable cash flow and unique business model that differentiates it from traditional chemical operators [1][11]. Business Overview - WLKP operates an ethylene production business with Westlake Corp. as its primary customer, utilizing a fee-based income model that is insulated from commodity price volatility [2]. - The partnership structure allows for a more stable distributable cash flow profile compared to upstream petrochemical peers [2]. Valuation Metrics - WLKP has an Intrinsic Value to Price (IV/P) ratio of 2.0, indicating it may be worth twice its current market price under conservative assumptions, providing a significant margin of safety [3]. - The Acquirer's Multiple (AM) is 4.39, placing WLKP in deep value territory, suggesting the market is pricing the partnership as if it faces imminent structural volume impairments [4][15]. Financial Performance - Revenue for the trailing twelve months (TTM) is approximately US$ 1.13 billion, with a gross profit of US$ 350 million and an operating income of US$ 322 million, resulting in an operating margin of about 28% [7]. - The net income stands at approximately US$ 49 million, with a net margin of around 4% [7]. Balance Sheet Position - WLKP's balance sheet features long-term off-take contracts and cost-plus pricing structures, which contribute to predictable capacity utilization and reduced sensitivity to energy and natural gas liquids (NGL) spreads [6][8]. Cash Flow and Capital Efficiency - WLKP demonstrates strong cash flow generation, converting operating income into significant free cash flow while returning capital to unit holders, resembling a toll-road model rather than a speculative chemical processor [9]. Market Perception and Conclusion - The current market valuation appears to be driven by perception gaps, with the partnership behaving more like an infrastructure cash-flow vehicle than a cyclical manufacturer, yet being priced as the latter [10]. - With substantial free cash flow and a favorable IV/P ratio, WLKP is positioned as a compelling deep value opportunity for investors comfortable with MLP structures [11].