ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Jan. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innospec Inc. (NASDAQ: IOSP) today announced that it will release fourth quarter 2025 earnings results on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, after market close. Following the release of its results, Patrick S. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Ian Cleminson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will host an interactive conference call on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET. The public is invited to listen to the confe ...

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) will hold a conference call on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its fourth quarter 2025 financial results. Following some opening remarks, the call will move into a question and answer session. The earnings press release, including financial statements and segment information, will be distributed after the market closes on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The earnings slide presentation and prepared rema ...

Ascent Industries Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company Name**: Ascent Industries (NasdaqGM:ACNT) - **Industry**: Specialty Chemicals - **History**: Founded in 1945, transitioned from a specialty chemical company to a diversified entity, and recently refocused as a pure-play specialty chemical company after divesting tubular assets [4][5][34] Key Points and Arguments Management Team and Experience - **Leadership**: Brian Kitchen (CEO) and Ryan Kavalauskas (CFO) have a combined experience of over 10 years working together, previously at Clearon, a specialty chemical company [2][3] - **Turnaround Experience**: The management team successfully turned around Clearon from a loss of $8 million in Adjusted EBITDA to a profit of $36 million over four years [3] Financial Performance - **Sales**: Last year, Ascent Industries reported approximately $80 million in sales [6] - **Adjusted EBITDA**: Significant improvement noted, with a gross profit increase of 171% or $11 million on a trailing 12-month basis [6] - **Share Buybacks**: The company has repurchased about 7.2% of its outstanding shares, totaling 726,000 shares [7][21] Operational Strategy - **Portfolio Optimization**: Successfully executed a strategy to divest tubular assets, focusing solely on specialty chemicals [5][34] - **Manufacturing Capacity**: Operates three manufacturing facilities in Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, with a current utilization rate below 50% [12][13] - **Cost Management**: Achieved $2.1 million in annualized cost savings by eliminating idle facilities [6][32] Market Position and Growth Strategy - **Target Markets**: Focus on life sciences, personal care, agriculture, HI&I (Household, Industrial & Institutional), oil and gas, and water treatment [12][9] - **Customer Base**: Serves over 170 customers, primarily small to mid-sized manufacturers, providing tailored solutions [10][11] - **Sales Pipeline**: Strong growth in the sales pipeline, with a 45% increase from Q1 to Q2 and a 26% increase from Q2 to Q3 [17] Future Outlook - **Revenue Growth**: Expected revenue split for 2026 is 65% from custom manufacturing and 35% from product sales [24] - **Gross Margin Goals**: Aiming for a gross margin profile of approximately 35% and EBITDA margins of 15%-20% by 2030 [19][20] - **Cash Position**: Currently holds $60 million in cash with zero debt, providing capacity for investments and share repurchases [20][21] Competitive Landscape - **Raw Material Sourcing**: 95% of sales supported by domestically sourced raw materials, mitigating tariff impacts [26][27] - **Reshoring Trends**: Increased inquiries from customers looking to reshore supply chains to the U.S. due to tariff situations [28][30] Additional Important Insights - **Utilization Levels**: Significant operating leverage remains, with potential for growth without substantial capital reinvestment [13][31] - **Customer Retention**: Custom manufacturing opportunities tend to be sticky, leading to long-term customer relationships [33] - **Market Positioning**: Positioned as a clean, optimized, and growth-ready company, with a focus on organic growth strategies [23][35] This summary encapsulates the key insights from the Ascent Industries conference call, highlighting the company's strategic direction, financial performance, and market positioning.

Core Insights - Dow Inc. is a leading U.S.-based materials-science and chemical company with a market capitalization of $17 billion, providing solutions across various industries including packaging, construction, automotive, and consumer goods [1][2] Company Overview - Dow is classified as a "large-cap stock" due to its market cap exceeding $10 billion, highlighting its size and influence in the materials sector [2] - The company focuses on materials innovation, performance, and sustainability, offering foundational solutions for thousands of end-products globally [2] Stock Performance - Dow's stock is currently trading approximately 46.1% below its 52-week high of $44.04, with a 45.8% decline over the past 52 weeks and a 40.8% drop year to date [3][4] - In contrast, the S&P 500 Index has increased by 13.2% over the past year and 16.5% in 2025, indicating significant underperformance by Dow's stock [4] Recent Earnings and Market Reaction - On October 23, Dow's stock surged nearly 13% following the release of third-quarter earnings, despite missing revenue expectations with sales of $9.97 billion [5] - The stock rally was attributed to a narrower-than-expected adjusted loss of $0.19 per share and effective cost-cutting measures, with the company securing over half of its targeted $6.5 billion in near-term cash support [5] - Increased production volumes from new polyethylene and alkoxylation facilities along the U.S. Gulf Coast contributed to margin improvement [5]

Core Viewpoint - AkzoNobel has been downgraded to a "Market Perform" rating by Bernstein, reflecting a challenging financial outlook for the company [1][2][5] Company Performance - AkzoNobel's stock price is currently $20.88, showing a 2.24% increase or $0.46 from previous trading [3][5] - The stock has fluctuated between $20.57 and $20.88 on the day, with a yearly high of $24.52 and a low of $18.07 [3] - The company's market capitalization is approximately $32.14 billion, with a trading volume of 5,257 shares on the OTC exchange [3][5] Earnings Outlook - AkzoNobel has been added to the Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) List, indicating a negative sentiment in the market [2][4][5] - There has been a 10.1% downward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company's current year earnings over the past 60 days [2][5] - The inclusion in the Strong Sell List aligns with broader market challenges, as seen with other companies like Alvotech and Alamo Group, which also experienced significant downward revisions in earnings estimates [4]

Core Viewpoint - Ingevity Corporation has appointed Ruth Castillo as president of its Performance Materials segment, effective November 10, 2025, to drive innovation and strategic growth in its activated carbon portfolio [1][12]. Group 1: Leadership Appointment - Ruth Castillo brings over 25 years of global experience in the chemicals and materials industries, previously serving as vice president of global chemicals at Avantor [2][4]. - Castillo has a proven track record in driving innovation, operational excellence, and strategic growth, having led high-value portfolios at companies like Avantor and Celanese [2][4]. - Ingevity's CEO, Dave Li, emphasized Castillo's strategic and innovation-focused leadership style, which aligns with the company's market-driven priorities [3]. Group 2: Company Overview - Ingevity specializes in products and technologies that purify, protect, and enhance the environment, operating in three segments: Performance Materials, Advanced Polymer Technologies, and Performance Chemicals [5]. - The Performance Materials segment includes activated carbon, which is crucial for applications such as evaporative emissions control [2][5]. - The company is headquartered in North Charleston, South Carolina, and employs approximately 1,600 people across 24 locations globally [6].

Core Insights - Seven companies, including Shadowfax Technologies and Rayzon Solar, have received SEBI's approval for IPOs, indicating a surge in primary market activity in India [1][2][3] Company Summaries - **Shadowfax Technologies** aims to raise ₹2,000-2,500 crore through a mix of fresh issue and offer-for-sale (OFS) [3] - **Rayzon Solar** plans to raise ₹1,500 crore entirely through a fresh issue to invest in a solar cell manufacturing facility and for general corporate purposes [6][7] - **ARCIL** will conduct an IPO entirely through an OFS of up to 10.54 crore equity shares, with no proceeds going to the company [4][6] - **Safex Chemicals (India) Ltd** is looking to raise ₹450 crore through a combination of fresh issue and OFS, with proceeds aimed at debt repayment and corporate purposes [8] - **PNGS Reva Diamond Jewellery** plans to raise ₹450 crore entirely through a fresh issue after separating from its parent company [10] - **Sudeep Pharma Ltd** intends to raise ₹95 crore through a mix of fresh issue and OFS, focusing on producing excipients for various industries [11] - **Aggcon Equipments International Ltd** aims to raise ₹332 crore through a fresh issue, with promoters also selling shares via OFS [9]

Core Insights - FutureFuel Corp. has announced updates regarding its business operations, including new production capabilities and strategic decisions related to biodiesel and corporate structure [1]. Chemicals - The company has initiated a new specialty chemical production investment, which will enhance vertical integration and provide products to the market. Production volume is expected to increase throughout Q4 2025, contributing significantly to sales starting in Q1 2026 [2]. Biodiesel - In June 2025, FutureFuel decided to idle its biodiesel production due to regulatory uncertainties and high input costs. However, recent clarity regarding support under IRA 45Z and improved input market conditions have led to optimism about restarting biodiesel production in Q4 2025 [3]. Headquarters Location - FutureFuel will close its remote headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, consolidating all corporate activities and key personnel at its Batesville, Arkansas production facility to streamline operations [4]. Company Overview - FutureFuel is a manufacturer of diversified chemical products, including custom and performance chemicals, as well as biofuels. Its product portfolio includes specialty chemicals for specific customers and multi-customer applications, with a focus on biodiesel production in its biofuels segment [5].

Core Points - Huntsman Corporation will hold a conference call on November 7, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its Q3 2025 financial results [1] - The earnings press release, including financial statements and segment information, will be distributed after the market closes on November 6, 2025 [2] - The conference call will be accessible via a webcast link and Huntsman's investor relations website, with a replay available post-call [3] Company Overview - Huntsman Corporation is a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals, with approximately $6 billion in revenues for 2024 [4] - The company operates over 60 manufacturing, R&D, and operations facilities in around 25 countries, employing approximately 6,300 associates [4]

Core Insights - SM Energy is an independent exploration and production firm focused on the Permian Basin, Uinta Basin, and South Texas region, owning approximately 111,000 net acres in the Midland Basin and 63,300 net acres in the Uinta Basin, along with 155,000 net acres in South Texas [1] Financial Performance - SM Energy reported first-quarter 2025 revenues of $844.5 million and net income of $182.3 million, showing significant improvement from the prior-year quarter, driven by increased daily oil production and operational efficiency [3] - The company aims for a 30% increase in oil production and a 20% increase in total production for 2025, which is expected to enhance financial performance [4] Asset Integration - Successful integration of Uinta Basin assets contributed to a 63% increase in daily oil production compared to the first quarter of 2024, with drilling and completion efficiency exceeding expectations [5] - The Uinta Basin wells are expected to contribute to a higher oil mix, particularly in the second half of 2025, driving sustained growth [5] Financial Strategy - SM Energy is strategically using free cash flows to reduce its debt burden, aiming for a leverage ratio of about 1, which will strengthen its balance sheet [6] - The company can generate free cash flows even at a flat $55 per barrel oil price, supporting capital expenditures and prioritizing debt reduction [7] Market Position - Despite strong financial performance, SM Energy's stock has underperformed compared to the broader Zacks Exploration and Production industry, with shares falling 36.9% over the past year [8] - The company faces vulnerability to commodity price volatility, with potential adjustments needed if oil prices fall below $55 per barrel [11] Dividend Considerations - SM Energy's current dividend yield lags behind industry peers, as the company prioritizes debt reduction over aggressive shareholder return measures [12]