NYSE$CE

Celanese Corp · Q1 2021 earnings

Q1 2021 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Celanese reported first quarter earnings and raised full year financial outlook.

Celanese Corporation reported a strong first quarter with GAAP diluted earnings per share of $2.83 and adjusted earnings per share of $3.46. Net sales were $1.8 billion, driven by a 15% increase in pricing, which offset a 3% volume decline. The company's performance was impacted by Winter Storm Uri, but strong operational agility and global network flexibility enabled them to deliver solid operating profit and adjusted EBIT growth.

  • Net sales for the quarter were $1.8 billion with pricing increased by 15 percent.
  • Operating profit of $326 million and adjusted EBIT of $482 million, both increases over pre-COVID earnings in the first quarter of 2020.
  • Returned $328 million of cash to shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends.
  • Expect second quarter 2021 adjusted earnings of approximately $4.00 per share, and adjusted earnings of $12.50 to $13.50 per share in 2021.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$1.8B

Previous: $1.46B+23.2%
EPS (adj)

$3.46

Previous: $2.29+51.1%
Operating EBITDA

$570M

No prior period
Capital Expenditures

-$92M

Previous: -$119M+22.7%
Free Cash Flow

$230M

Previous: $99M+132.3%
Net Income

$322M

Previous: $218M+47.7%
Operating Income

$326M

Previous: $194M+68.0%
Gross Profit

$485M

Previous: $348M+39.4%
Cash & Equivalents

$791M

Previous: $570M+38.8%
Total Assets

$10.8B

Previous: $9.55B+12.7%
Stock-Based Comp

$12M

Previous: $10M+20.0%

Revenue & EPS history

Celanese · Revenue · Quarterly

$1.8B

Q1 2021+23.2%vs Q1 2020
Beat estimate in 13 of 16 quarters(81%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Celanese · $1.7B total across 2 segments · Q1 2021

  • Acetyl Chain
    $1.06B+32.2%
  • Engineered Materials
    $645M+14.6%

Forward guidance

Celanese expects second quarter 2021 adjusted earnings of approximately $4.00 per share, which would be an all-time record. Driven by this elevated performance across the first half, the company now expects adjusted earnings of $12.50 to $13.50 per share in 2021, reflecting a moderation in Acetyl Chain industry utilization and pricing as the year progresses.

Tailwinds

  • Demand for Engineered Materials and Acetyl Chain products remains strong across most end markets.
  • Well positioned to continue to deliver leading value.
  • Expect second quarter 2021 adjusted earnings of approximately $4.00 per share, which would be an all-time record.
  • Expect adjusted earnings of $12.50 to $13.50 per share in 2021.
  • Unique value of our global positions and unparalleled optionality, particularly within our Acetyl Chain business.

Headwinds

  • Higher inventory costs from Winter Storm Uri
  • Minimal turnaround needs due to previous acceleration of scheduled turnarounds.
  • Reflecting a moderation in Acetyl Chain industry utilization and pricing as the year progresses.
  • Amid a tightened industry landscape following the storm.
  • Challenges of Winter Storm Uri

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q1 2021

Historical avgQ1 2021

+0.3%

Avg return

Earnings day

-1.4%

Avg return

5 days after

+1.3%

Avg return

30 days after

56%

41 / 73 earnings

Positive

+16.4%

Q1 2015

Best reaction

-27.1%

Q3 2024

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026+0.6%-13.9%-26.1%
Q4 2025-1.6%-6.1%+2.2%
Q3 2025+14.5%+8.3%+12.5%
Q2 2025-13.1%-10.4%-1.2%
Q1 2025+10.0%+14.4%+21.8%
Q4 2024-21.5%-24.3%-18.3%
Q3 2024-27.1%-32.1%-43.2%
Q2 2024-6.8%-10.0%-7.5%
Q1 2024-0.8%-1.5%-10.0%
Q4 2023-0.5%-1.1%+11.4%
Q3 2023-3.6%-2.0%+16.5%
Q2 2023+1.1%+1.7%+2.4%
Q1 2023-2.9%-4.9%+9.1%
Q4 2022+3.1%+1.8%-11.1%
Q3 2022-2.2%-0.2%+16.1%
Q2 2022-0.5%-5.7%-3.6%
Q1 2022+4.9%+7.3%+13.7%
Q4 2021-4.0%-1.3%-11.5%
Q3 2021+1.2%+3.0%-0.5%
Q2 2021+0.9%+1.7%+1.5%
Q1 2021-0.9%-1.3%+3.5%
Q4 2020+2.3%+4.7%+16.4%
Q3 2020-3.9%-5.6%+14.4%
Q2 2020+2.1%+2.1%+8.2%
Q1 2020+4.0%+0.7%+19.4%
Q4 2019-7.5%-4.1%-16.3%
Q3 2019-1.9%+1.6%+2.1%
Q2 2019+3.0%+3.8%+5.7%
Q1 2019+6.6%+3.2%-4.8%
Q4 2018-1.0%+1.5%+6.3%
Q3 2018-0.1%+0.3%+2.7%
Q2 2018+2.1%+2.9%+4.3%
Q1 2018+6.0%+7.2%+6.7%
Q4 2017+1.1%-0.3%-5.6%
Q3 2017-2.9%-1.6%-3.9%
Q2 2017-1.4%-3.2%+0.4%
Q1 2017-0.1%-0.9%-5.9%
Q4 2016+3.9%+4.3%+6.6%
Q3 2016+9.5%+11.5%+24.2%
Q2 2016-6.4%-9.7%-6.1%
Q1 2016+0.6%
Q4 2015+3.2%
Q3 2015+2.3%
Q2 2015-4.7%
Q1 2015+16.4%
Q4 2014-7.6%
Q3 2014+8.2%
Q2 2014-2.3%
Q1 2014+2.5%
Q4 2013-4.3%
Q3 2013+5.4%
Q2 2013+0.8%
Q1 2013+11.2%
Q4 2012+2.4%
Q3 2012+2.5%
Q2 2012+4.5%
Q1 2012+1.1%
Q4 2011-1.0%
Q3 2011+9.9%
Q2 2011-0.9%
Q1 2011+0.2%
Q4 2010+0.7%
Q3 2010+1.6%
Q2 2010-1.2%
Q1 2009-5.7%
Q1 2010+0.1%
Q4 2007+0.0%
Q4 2009+0.0%
Q3 2008+3.6%
Q3 2009+3.6%
Q4 2008+0.5%
Q2 2009+0.5%
Q2 2008+0.5%

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