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Celanese to Implement Price Hike – Analyst Blog
Chemical company Celanese Corporation (CE) announced that it will raise the price of vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) emulsions sold in the Americas. Celanese will increase VAE emulsions prices by up to 4 cents per wet pound. The revision is effective from Apr 15, 2013, or as contracts permit.
This price hike is expected to impact all applications including adhesives, paint and coatings, building and construction, nonwovens, glass fiber, carpet, paper and textiles.
Celanese’s fourth-quarter 2012 results, released on Jan 28, were mixed as adjusted earnings exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate while sales missed the same. The company’s adjusted earnings (excluding one-time items) of 67 cents per share exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 63 cents and the year-ago earnings of 58 cents per share.
Earnings (as reported) from continuing operation were 60 cents a share in the quarter compared with 61 cents recorded a year ago. Celanese’s cost reduction measures aided earnings as well as operating margin expansion in the quarter.
Celanese’s sales for the quarter were $1,501 million, down 7% year over year, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,534 million. The decline was due to lower volumes in the company’s acetyl intermediates segment and the Acetate footprint rationalization in its Consumer Specialties segment. Lower pricing also hurt sales.
Celanese expects the challenging economic conditions to persist in 2013. For 2013, it expects earnings growth on the back of company-specific initiatives and to be consistent with its long-term growth objective of 12% to 14%. The company remains focused on enhancing the competitiveness of its products through technological innovations.
Celanese currently holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Other companies in the chemical industry having favorable Zacks Rank are Akzo Nobel NV (AKZOY), Axiall Corporation (AXLL) and LyondellBasel Industries NV (LYB). All of them carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
AKZO NOBEL NV (AKZOY): Free Stock Analysis Report
AXIALL CORP (AXLL): Free Stock Analysis Report
CELANESE CP-A (CE): Free Stock Analysis Report
LYONDELLBASEL-A (LYB): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research
2013-04-02 16:16:35
Source: http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/96143/celanese-to-implement-price-hike
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