Key Takeaways OLN now expects about $67M in Q4 2025 adjusted EBITDA, down from prior guidance of $110-$130M.OLN's Freeport site faced extended maintenance, unplanned downtime and chlorine demand issues.OLN says Freeport has returned to normal, with focus on operations, cost cuts and a value-first approach.Olin Corporation (OLN) has updated its outlook for the fourth quarter of 2025 due to a shortfall in its Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls segment. The company now expects adjusted EBITDA of approximately $6 ...

CLAYTON, Mo., Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Olin Corporation (NYSE: OLN), today announced an updated outlook for the fourth quarter 2025. Olin now expects fourth quarter 2025 adjusted EBITDA to be approximately $67 million compared to the previous outlook of $110 to $130 million. Most of the earnings shortfall occurred within the Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls business, reflecting an extended planned maintenance turnaround and unplanned downtime at our Freeport, Texas operations, as well as lower-than-exp ...

Financial Performance - Q3 2025 - Chlor Alkali Products & Vinyls segment sales were $924 million, with adjusted EBITDA of $237 million[11, 12] - Epoxy segment sales were $350 million, with an adjusted EBITDA loss of $19 million[18] - Winchester segment sales were $440 million, with adjusted EBITDA of $33 million[24] - Olin Corporation's Q3 2025 Adjusted EBITDA was $222.4 million, compared to $176.1 million in Q2 2025 and $160.3 million in Q3 2024[60, 62] Key Highlights & Actions - Olin recognized a $32 million net benefit from Section 45V Clean Hydrogen Production tax credits in the Chlor Alkali Products & Vinyls segment[16] - Winchester is shifting production toward international military sales and lowering commercial production to reduce inventory levels[29] - The company expects to lower current debt levels, targeting year-end 2025 net debt comparable to year-end 2024[36] Outlook - Q4 2025 - Olin anticipates Q4 2025 adjusted EBITDA to be between $110 million and $130 million, including a ~$40 million penalty from planned inventory reductions[38] - The company expects caustic soda price improvement and aims to preserve ECU values despite seasonally weak demand in the CAPV segment[38] - Olin plans aggressive inventory reductions and will execute the Freeport turnaround safely and on budget[38]

Core Viewpoint - Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) is expected to report a significant decline in earnings for the fiscal third quarter of 2025, with analysts projecting a profit of $0.51 per share, down 49% from the previous year [2]. Financial Performance - OXY's market capitalization is valued at $41.9 billion, and the company is involved in oil and gas properties as well as the manufacturing of basic chemicals [1]. - For the full fiscal year 2025, analysts anticipate an EPS of $2.27, which represents a 34.4% decrease from $3.46 in fiscal 2024 [3]. - The EPS is expected to further decline to $1.69 in fiscal 2026, marking a year-over-year decrease of 25.6% [3]. Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, OXY stock has underperformed, with a decline of 17.1%, compared to a 16.9% gain in the S&P 500 Index [4]. - The stock also underperformed relative to the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund, which experienced a loss of 1.9% during the same period [4]. Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion on OXY stock is cautious, with a "Hold" rating from 25 analysts: 4 recommend "Strong Buy," 1 suggests "Moderate Buy," 17 give "Hold," and 3 recommend "Strong Sell" [6]. - The average analyst price target for OXY is $50.32, indicating a potential upside of 18.2% from current levels [6].

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway is acquiring Occidental Petroleum's chemical unit, OxyChem, for $9.7 billion in cash, marking its largest deal in three years just before Warren Buffett's retirement as CEO [1][9] - Berkshire has significantly increased its stake in Occidental Petroleum, reaching 32.7% by August 2025, making it the sixth-largest holding in its portfolio [2] - The acquisition focuses solely on OxyChem, a key manufacturer of chemicals, rather than full control of Occidental [3] Financial Performance - OxyChem generated $1.1 billion in operating income for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, contributing approximately 16% to Occidental's total income [6] - Occidental's capital expenditures for OxyChem are projected to rise by $200 million to $900 million in 2025, indicating a commitment to growth in this segment [6] Debt and Financial Strategy - The sale of OxyChem will provide Occidental with $6.5 billion to repay debt, enhancing its balance sheet and allowing for potential share repurchases and dividend growth [7] - Occidental's debt concerns have been exacerbated by its $12 billion acquisition of CrownRock in 2024, primarily financed through borrowing [7] Market Implications - The divestiture of OxyChem will position Occidental as a more focused oil and gas company, increasing its vulnerability to fluctuations in commodity prices [8]

Core Insights - Taylor Swift has been recognized as the world's richest musician with a net worth of $1.6 billion as of 2024, reflecting her successful career management and work ethic [3] - The upcoming release of her twelfth studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," has generated significant demand for her physical products, indicating her strong market presence [4] Group 1: Relationship with Fans - Swift's connection with her fans, known as "Swifties," is a key factor in her sustained success, as she engages directly with them through social media and events [5] - She has implemented strategies to keep ticket prices affordable and offers early access to products, enhancing fan loyalty and engagement [5] Group 2: Entrepreneurial Lessons - Swift's career illustrates the importance of being open to different paths to achieve goals, as she navigated various opportunities in her early career [7][8] - Conflict can serve as a catalyst for growth, as seen in Swift's response to public feuds, which ultimately led to successful projects like her album "Reputation" and a record-breaking concert tour [9][10] - Challenges can be transformed into opportunities, exemplified by Swift's decision to re-record her music to regain ownership, resulting in significant streaming revenue and a successful tour [11][12] Group 3: Loyalty and Appreciation - Swift rewards loyalty among her fans and staff, providing substantial bonuses to her tour team, which fosters a supportive environment and enhances her brand's socioeconomic impact [14][16] - Recognizing and rewarding the loyalty of employees and clients is crucial for long-term success, as it strengthens relationships and reduces turnover [16] Group 4: Adaptability and Change - Swift has successfully embraced changes in the music industry, adjusting her strategies to align with evolving market trends, such as the shift from album sales to streaming [17][18] - Her ability to adapt while maintaining her worth demonstrates the importance of encouraging teams to embrace change without undervaluing their products or services [18]

Core Insights - Olin Corporation reported a net loss of $1.3 million for Q2 2025, a significant decline from a net income of $74.2 million in Q2 2024, reflecting challenging market conditions [1][20][25] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 was $176.1 million, down from $278.1 million in the same quarter last year, indicating operational difficulties despite a rise in sales [1][24] - Total sales increased to $1,758.3 million in Q2 2025 from $1,644.0 million in Q2 2024, driven by higher volumes across segments [1][20][22] Financial Performance - The Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls segment reported sales of $979.5 million in Q2 2025, up from $920.3 million in Q2 2024, but segment earnings decreased to $64.9 million from $99.3 million due to lower pricing and higher operating costs [6][22] - The Epoxy segment experienced sales growth to $331.2 million from $317.7 million year-over-year, but the segment loss widened to $23.7 million from a loss of $3.0 million, primarily due to increased operating costs [7][22] - Winchester segment sales rose to $447.6 million from $406.0 million, with earnings dropping to $25.0 million from $70.3 million, attributed to lower commercial ammunition sales and rising raw material costs [8][22] Operational Challenges - The company faced operational challenges leading to higher costs, which offset solid commercial performance in the Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls business [2][3] - The Epoxy business continues to struggle with subdued global demand and competition from subsidized Asian products, prompting a focus on cost reduction and growth in formulated solutions [3][4] - The defense business within Winchester is growing, but commercial sales are hindered by economic factors affecting consumer spending [4] Outlook and Guidance - For Q3 2025, Olin expects adjusted EBITDA to range between $170 million and $210 million, reflecting ongoing market challenges and potential cost increases [4] - The company remains committed to disciplined capital allocation and maximizing cash generation, supported by a strong financial foundation [4][10] Liquidity and Capital Management - As of June 30, 2025, Olin had a cash balance of $223.8 million and net debt of approximately $2.8 billion, with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 3.9 times [10][26] - The company repurchased approximately 0.5 million shares at a cost of $10.1 million during Q2 2025, with $2.0 billion available under share repurchase authorizations [11][10]

Financial Performance (LTM 1Q 2016) - Westlake Chemical Corporation reported Net Sales of $4335 million[6] - The company's EBITDA was $1217 million[6] - Net Income attributable to Westlake was $623 million[6] - Olefins contributed $822 million to EBITDA, representing 67% of the total[6] - Vinyls contributed $410 million to EBITDA, representing 33% of the total[6] Strategic Advantages and Growth Drivers - The company leverages a strong ethane and other NGL advantage due to fundamental structural advances in supply[13] - Significant product integration allows the company to capture the full value chain[13] - Westlake is well-positioned for continued profitable growth due to its ongoing financial strength and flexibility[13] - Westlake has one of the highest LDPE product mix percentages in North America[30] - Global PVC demand is growing, supporting exports[45]

Financial Performance - Westlake Chemical Corporation reported Net Sales of $8,041 million for the full year 2017[6] - The company's EBITDA for the full year 2017 was $1,841 million[6] - Net Income attributable to Westlake Chemical for the full year 2017 reached $1,304 million[6] - Olefins contributed $805 million to the EBITDA, representing 42% of the total[6] - Vinyls contributed $1,096 million to the EBITDA, accounting for 58% of the total[6] Strategic Positioning and Growth - Westlake is a leading integrated plastics materials company, holding strong positions in North American and global markets for PVC and Chlor-Alkali[3, 7] - Synergy savings and cost reductions from the Axiall acquisition reached $170 million in 2017, with expectations to achieve a total of $250 million[7] - The company is expanding its global capacity with 750 million lbs of PVC, 200 million lbs of VCM, 60 million lbs of Caustic Soda, and 55 million lbs of Chlorine[13] - Westlake's ethylene plants are fully capable of using ethane and have some NGL flexibility, providing cost advantages[22] Product Mix and Market Focus - Westlake has a unique focus on LDPE, which has a higher margin advantage compared to other PE grades[24, 25] - The company's LDPE capacity represents a significant percentage of its total PE capacity in North America[27] - Westlake/Vinnolit is a leading specialty PVC producer with a global capacity of approximately 4,000 KMT in 2016[46, 47]