Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) is included among the 10 Highest Dividend-Paying Stocks to Buy in the S&P 500. Dow Inc. (DOW): A High-Yield Dividend Stock in the Materials Sector Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) is the producer of polyethylene and other commodity chemicals that are used as raw materials in packaging and consumer product industries. Meanwhile, the company has faced pressure in recent years from rising US interest rates and growing domestic supply in China. Adding to the problems, Dow slashed its dividend by 50% t ...

Core Insights - Vioneo, a producer of fossil-free plastics, will debut its polyethylene and polypropylene made from green methanol at K2025, a global trade exhibition for the plastics and rubber sectors in Düsseldorf, Germany from October 8 to 15, 2025 [1][4] - The company's plant in Antwerp, Belgium, has an annual production capacity of 300,000 tons of fossil-free virgin plastics [1] - Vioneo's production process can prevent up to 6 kg of CO₂ emissions for every kilogram of plastic produced, demonstrating the environmental benefits of their technology [2] Production Technology - Vioneo utilizes methanol-to-olefins processes with renewable feedstocks to produce commercially viable polyethylene and polypropylene that perform comparably to conventional materials [2] - The company claims that its fossil-free plastics can be seamlessly integrated into existing manufacturing operations without compromising processing efficiency or product performance [3] Market Demand and Sustainability - Vioneo emphasizes the necessity of alternative production methods in Europe to sustainably meet the growing demand for plastics, as recycling and reuse are projected to fulfill only about half of global plastics demand by 2050 [3][4] - The company is the first to introduce a large-scale solution for producing fossil-free virgin plastics, highlighting the urgency for Europe to accelerate the development of green-methanol-to-olefins (MTO) technologies [4]

Group 1: Company Overview - Westlake Corporation's share was trading at $89.58 as of September 11th, with trailing and forward P/E ratios of 69.52 and 37.59 respectively [1] - Westlake is the second-largest fully integrated global chlor-alkali producer, benefiting from structural advantages in ethylene feedstock access and energy efficiency in its production process [3] Group 2: Market Conditions - Commodity chemicals companies are facing challenging business conditions, with stock valuations near decade lows due to excess capacity in China and energy price distortions from the war in Ukraine [2] - Current market conditions have depressed Westlake's margins, but limited capacity additions in the U.S., closures in Europe, and restrained Chinese expansion support a favorable mid-cycle outlook [3] Group 3: Investment Thesis - Westlake's acquisition of Boral North America building products assets enhances its Housing & Infrastructure Products segment, complementing its PVC operations [4] - Valuation analysis suggests a share value around $110 based on mid-cycle EBITDA of $2.7 billion, NOPAT of $1.3 billion, and EPS of $9.22, indicating significant upside potential from current levels [4] - The company presents a compelling cyclical investment opportunity, with catalysts including sector recovery, higher utilization, and structural capacity advantages [4]

Group 1 - The polyethylene market is expected to experience positive price action in September after a decline in the second quarter due to tariff uncertainties, with no significant inventory build observed [1] - The company has reported stable volumes, strong export capabilities, and low-cost positions in the United States during the third quarter [2] - Ongoing tariff and geopolitical uncertainties have impacted demand patterns, particularly in the industrial infrastructure and durable goods sectors [2] Group 2 - A reduction in interest rates is anticipated to aid recovery in depressed end markets such as housing and durable goods, which are sensitive to rates and affordability [3] - The company is adding additional capacity to its net-zero petrochemical project, Path2Zero production complex, in Alberta, Canada, with an update expected by year-end [3] - The project timeline has been delayed by one to two years due to unfavorable market conditions, with construction initially planned to begin in 2024 [4]

Group 1: Dividend-Paying Stocks Overview - Dividend-paying stocks are considered a reliable source of passive income, with top payers providing cash payments consistently over decades [1] - Companies like Dow and AGNC Investment offer yields significantly above the market average, with Dow at 5.9% and AGNC at 14.9% [2][9] Group 2: Dow Company Analysis - Dow's stock has decreased by approximately 38% this year, primarily due to a 50% dividend cut announced in July [4] - The company produces polyethylene and other commodity chemicals, facing challenges from increased domestic supply in China and rising U.S. interest rates [5] - Dow is closing unprofitable facilities in Europe to reduce operating costs amid a global supply glut and fluctuating tariffs [6] - A plan to reduce capital expenditures by $1 billion in 2025 may help Dow maintain its dividend commitment until market conditions improve [7] Group 3: AGNC Investment Analysis - AGNC Investment is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in mortgage-backed securities, offering a high yield due to its borrowing strategy [10] - The average yield from AGNC's assets increased from 3.72% to 4.87% year-over-year, while its cost of funds rose from 0.63% to 2.86% [12] - AGNC's monthly dividend payment of $0.12 per share has been reduced three times since 2015, indicating potential future reductions due to profit margin pressures [13]

Group 1: Dow Inc. - Dow Inc. has reduced its quarterly dividend payout by 50% to $0.35 per share, leading to a significant market reaction with shares losing about 31% of their value from July 23 to August 11 [3][5] - The stock now offers a yield of 6.7%, which is attractive given the current price drop [3] - Dow's operations are affected by rising interest rates and increased competition from China, which has ramped up its own supply of polyethylene and other chemicals [4][5] - The company is expected to save an additional $992 million annually due to the reduced dividend payout, which will help maintain financial stability [6] - Dow has also announced the shutdown of three facilities in Europe and a $1 billion reduction in capital expenditures for 2025 to further cut costs [7] Group 2: UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth Group is the largest health benefits management company in America and has consistently increased its dividend payout, raising it by 342% over the past decade [8] - The stock is currently down about 50% this year, offering a yield of 3.5% [9] - The company expects to earn an adjusted $16 per share in 2025, significantly above the annualized dividend payment of $8.84 per share [10] - Although there are temporary challenges due to higher healthcare expenses from new Medicare Advantage patients, these costs are typically passed on to health plan sponsors and patients, ensuring long-term stability [11]

Group 1: Company Overview - Dow Inc. has experienced a significant decline in stock price, falling 6.4% on August 1, reaching its lowest level since the spin-off from DowDuPont in 2019, surpassing the intraday low from the COVID-19 sell-off in March 2020 [1][2] - The company produces a variety of commodity chemicals, including polyethylene, polyurethane, and silicones, which are sensitive to supply and demand changes, input costs, and global competition [4][5] - Dow's management has shifted its focus to capital preservation and protecting the balance sheet, leading to a 50% cut in its dividend as a necessary measure to navigate the current downturn [7][9] Group 2: Industry Challenges - The chemical industry is facing a prolonged downturn exacerbated by global supply chain disruptions, trade tensions, and soft demand, particularly in Europe and China [5][6] - Increased competition from China is intensifying pressure on Dow and other chemical companies, impacting their pricing power and profitability [6][10] - The oversupply in the chemical industry, stemming from a boom in 2021, has led to reduced pricing power and profitability for major players like Dow [10][14] Group 3: Strategic Responses - Dow has announced the shutdown of certain European assets, resulting in noncash write-downs of $630 million to $790 million, but these moves are expected to improve cash flow by reducing operating expenses [11] - The company has revised its 2025 capital expenditures to $2.5 billion, which is $1 billion less than previously planned, as part of its cost management strategy [12] - Industry-wide cost-saving measures and capital expenditure pullbacks are anticipated to improve supply dynamics, positioning Dow to benefit from margin improvements when demand recovers [13][15] Group 4: Investment Perspective - Despite the bleak outlook and drastic cost cuts, there are indications that Dow may be nearing the bottom of the cycle, with potential savings from the dividend cut and reduced capital expenditures [15][16] - The stock remains attractive for investors, offering a dividend yield of 6.4% even after the cut, making it a compelling deep value opportunity for patient investors [17]

Company Overview - Westlake Corporation manufactures and markets performance and essential materials, as well as housing and infrastructure products globally, including ethylene, polyethylene, PVC, and vinyl intermediates [1] - Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company also provides consumer and commercial products such as landscape edging and marine dock edging, serving various markets [2] Current Challenges - The company faces challenges from elevated interest rates and lingering inflation, which have dampened housing starts and reduced demand, negatively impacting business confidence [3] - Sluggish construction activity in North America is a concern, particularly affecting the pipe-and-fitting and siding-and-trim businesses [3] Industry Performance - Westlake is a component of the Zacks Chemical – Plastic industry group, which ranks in the bottom 4% out of approximately 250 Zacks Ranked Industries, indicating expected underperformance over the next 3 to 6 months [4] - Stocks in this industry are relatively overvalued and projected to experience below-average earnings growth, with a PE ratio of 92.19 compared to the iShares-SP500's 19.59 [6][7] Stock Performance - WLK shares have been underperforming, hitting a series of lower lows and representing a compelling short opportunity as 2025 approaches [8] - The company has missed earnings estimates in three of the past four quarters, with a significant loss of -$0.31 per share in Q1, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by -144.3% [9] - The trailing four-quarter average earnings miss stands at -61.4%, indicating a trend of underperformance [9] Earnings Outlook - Analysts have revised second-quarter earnings estimates down by -88.89% in the past 60 days, with the current Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate at $0.06 per share, reflecting negative growth of -97.5% year-over-year [10] - Falling earnings estimates are viewed as a significant red flag, contributing to a bearish outlook [11] Technical Analysis - WLK stock is in a sustained downtrend, trading below a downward-sloping 200-day moving average, which is a bearish indicator [12] - The stock has experienced a "death cross," where the 50-day moving average crosses below the 200-day moving average, indicating a need for a substantial upside move to warrant long positions [14][15] Conclusion - The combination of a deteriorating fundamental and technical backdrop suggests that WLK is unlikely to reach new highs soon, with a history of earnings misses and falling future earnings estimates likely capping any potential rallies [16] - The stock is recommended to be avoided by potential investors or considered for short or hedge strategies until significant improvements are observed [17]

Investment Overview - Petrobras is investing R$33 billion ($6 billion) to enhance Brazil's downstream sector, focusing on refining, petrochemicals, and renewable fuels in Rio de Janeiro [1][11][14] - The investment aims to increase domestic fuel supply, support energy transition goals, and stimulate industrial synergy across the value chain [1] Key Projects - The Boaventura Energy Complex and Duque de Caxias Refinery (Reduc) represent a combined investment of R$26 billion, enhancing S-10 diesel output by 76,000 barrels per day (bpd) and increasing jet fuel production by 20,000 bpd [2][11] - Boaventura will feature a biojet fuel facility producing 19,000 bpd of sustainable fuels, alongside two gas-fired thermoelectric plants [3][11] Sustainability Initiatives - Reduc is exploring a lubricant oil re-refining unit with a capacity of 30,000 m (6,300 bpd) to align with circular economy practices [4] - A pilot project blending 1.2% corn oil into jet fuel has been completed, paving the way for 10,000 bpd commercial-scale production of renewable diesel [5] Infrastructure Modernization - Petrobras plans to invest R$860 million in modernizing on-site power infrastructure and R$2.4 billion on maintenance shutdowns from 2025 to 2029 [6] Petrochemical Expansion - Studies are underway for local production of acetic acid and monoethylene glycol at Boaventura, reducing Brazil's reliance on imports [7] - Braskem, a Petrobras affiliate, is expected to invest R$4 billion to expand its polyethylene plant, adding 230,000 tons per year of production capacity [8][11] Gas Supply Strategy - Petrobras is focusing on boosting domestic gas availability by reactivating shut-in gas wells and integrating with Argentina and Bolivia to lower prices and meet rising demand [12] Future Investments - Beyond Rio de Janeiro, Petrobras plans to invest R$8 billion in a second refining train at RNEST in Pernambuco and R$6 billion to resume fertilizer production [13]

Core Insights - LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) has licensed four essential technologies to SHCCIG Yulin Chemical Co., Ltd. for a new petrochemical facility in Yulin City, China, which includes Spheripol and Spherizone technologies for polypropylene plants, Hostalen Advanced Cascade Process for a high-density polyethylene plant, and Lupotech T technology for a vinyl acetate copolymer plant [1][8] Technology and Production - The technology package will enable SHCCIG Yulin Chemical to produce high-performance polypropylene and polyethylene products, as well as vinyl acetate copolymer materials for renewable energy applications, particularly photovoltaic encapsulants [2] - Spheripol is recognized as the leading polypropylene processing technology with over 33 million tons of licensed capacity, and the latest fifth-generation Spheripol technology enhances operating efficiency [3] - The Spherizone multi-zone circulating reactor provides a platform for producing polypropylene products with improved characteristics, with LyondellBasell having licensed over 10 million tons of the Spherizone process globally [4][8] Market Performance and Outlook - LYB stock has experienced a decline of 40.1% over the past year, compared to a 24.2% decline in the industry [5] - For the second quarter, the company expects improved seasonal demand across most business segments, with easing U.S. natural gas and ethane feedstock prices, and lower crude oil costs benefiting operations in Europe and Asia [6] - Oxyfuels margins are anticipated to rise due to widening gasoline crack spreads during the summer driving season, and ongoing capacity reductions in Europe are expected to improve the regional supply-demand balance [6]