Westlake Chemical Q1 diluted EPS mounts 28%

05 May '14

3 min read

Westlake Chemical Corporation reported net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 of $158.0 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, on net sales of $1,027.7 million. This represents an increase in net income of $34.7 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to first quarter 2013 net income of $123.3 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, on net sales of $864.6 million.

Highlights:

- Earnings per share up 28% over Q1 2013

- Record quarterly Olefins segment income from operations of $272.3 million

Net sales for the first quarter of 2014 increased by $163.1 million compared to net sales for the first quarter of 2013, mainly attributable to higher sales volumes for polyethylene and ethylene, higher sales prices for most of our major products and sales contributed by our specialty PVC pipe business, which we acquired in May 2013. Income from operations was $248.1 million for the first quarter of 2014 as compared to $194.1 million for the first quarter of 2013.

Income from operations for the first quarter of 2014 benefited primarily from higher olefins volumes and improved integrated product margins, as higher sales prices more than offset the increase in feedstock and energy costs as compared to the prior year period.

The increase in first quarter 2014 income from operations was partially offset by the lost sales, lower production rates, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs associated with the planned maintenance turnaround of our Calvert City production facilities for the ethylene plant's feedstock conversion and expansion project and other planned maintenance activities.

First quarter 2014 net income of $158.0 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, decreased from the $171.0 million, or $1.27 per diluted share, reported in the fourth quarter of 2013. First quarter 2014 sales of $1,027.7 million increased $76.1 million compared to sales of $951.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.

The increase in sales in the first quarter of 2014 was largely due to higher sales prices for most of our major products, as well as higher sales volumes for polyethylene, caustic, and building products as compared to the fourth quarter of 2013.

First quarter 2014 income from operations of $248.1 million decreased by $9.5 million from income from operations in the fourth quarter of 2013 of $257.6 million. The decrease in income from operations in the first quarter of 2014 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2013 was primarily due to higher propane feedstock costs, the severe winter weather and the lost sales and associated costs related to the planned maintenance turnaround of our Calvert City production facilities.

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