Westlake Chemical Debt
| UEO Stock | EUR 121.00 1.00 0.82% |
Westlake Chemical has over 4.88 Billion in debt which may indicate that it relies heavily on debt financing. . Westlake Chemical's financial risk is the risk to Westlake Chemical stockholders that is caused by an increase in debt.
Asset vs Debt
Equity vs Debt
Westlake Chemical's liquidity is one of the most fundamental aspects of both its future profitability and its ability to meet different types of ongoing financial obligations. Westlake Chemical's cash, liquid assets, total liabilities, and shareholder equity can be utilized to evaluate how much leverage the Company is using to sustain its current operations. For traders, higher-leverage indicators usually imply a higher risk to shareholders. In addition, it helps Westlake Stock's retail investors understand whether an upcoming fall or rise in the market will negatively affect Westlake Chemical's stakeholders.
For most companies, including Westlake Chemical, marketable securities, inventories, and receivables are the most common assets that could be converted to cash. However, for Westlake Chemical, the most critical issue when managing liquidity is ensuring that current assets are properly aligned with current liabilities. If they are not, Westlake Chemical's management will need to obtain alternative financing to ensure there are always enough cash equivalents on the balance sheet to meet obligations.
Given that Westlake Chemical's debt-to-equity ratio measures a Company's obligations relative to the value of its net assets, it is usually used by traders to estimate the extent to which Westlake Chemical is acquiring new debt as a mechanism of leveraging its assets. A high debt-to-equity ratio is generally associated with increased risk, implying that it has been aggressive in financing its growth with debt. Another way to look at debt-to-equity ratios is to compare the overall debt load of Westlake Chemical to its assets or equity, showing how much of the company assets belong to shareholders vs. creditors. If shareholders own more assets, Westlake Chemical is said to be less leveraged. If creditors hold a majority of Westlake Chemical's assets, the Company is said to be highly leveraged.
Westlake |
Westlake Chemical Debt to Cash Allocation
Many companies such as Westlake Chemical, eventually find out that there is only so much market out there to be conquered, and adding the next product or service is only half as profitable per unit as their current endeavors. Eventually, the company will reach a point where cash flows are strong, and extra cash is available but not fully utilized. In this case, the company may start buying back its stock from the public or issue more dividends.
Westlake Chemical has accumulated 4.88 B in total debt with debt to equity ratio (D/E) of 50.0, indicating the company may have difficulties to generate enough cash to satisfy its financial obligations. Westlake Chemical has a current ratio of 2.1, suggesting that it is liquid and has the ability to pay its financial obligations in time and when they become due. Debt can assist Westlake Chemical until it has trouble settling it off, either with new capital or with free cash flow. So, Westlake Chemical's shareholders could walk away with nothing if the company can't fulfill its legal obligations to repay debt. However, a more frequent occurrence is when companies like Westlake Chemical sell additional shares at bargain prices, diluting existing shareholders. Debt, in this case, can be an excellent and much better tool for Westlake to invest in growth at high rates of return. When we think about Westlake Chemical's use of debt, we should always consider it together with cash and equity.Westlake Chemical Assets Financed by Debt
Typically, companies with high debt-to-asset ratios are said to be highly leveraged. The higher the ratio, the greater risk will be associated with the Westlake Chemical's operation. In addition, a high debt-to-assets ratio may indicate a low borrowing capacity of Westlake Chemical, which in turn will lower the firm's financial flexibility.Westlake Chemical Corporate Bonds Issued
Most Westlake bonds can be classified according to their maturity, which is the date when Westlake Chemical has to pay back the principal to investors. Maturities can be short-term, medium-term, or long-term (more than ten years). Longer-term bonds usually offer higher interest rates but may entail additional risks.
Understaning Westlake Chemical Use of Financial Leverage
Westlake Chemical's financial leverage ratio helps determine the effect of debt on the overall profitability of the company. It measures Westlake Chemical's total debt position, including all outstanding debt obligations, and compares it with Westlake Chemical's equity. Financial leverage can amplify the potential profits to Westlake Chemical's owners, but it also increases the potential losses and risk of financial distress, including bankruptcy, if Westlake Chemical is unable to cover its debt costs.
Westlake Chemical Corporation manufactures and markets basic chemicals, vinyls, polymers, and building products worldwide. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. WESTLAKE CHEM operates under Specialty Chemicals classification in Germany and is traded on Frankfurt Stock Exchange. It employs 8870 people. Please read more on our technical analysis page.
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Additional Information and Resources on Investing in Westlake Stock
When determining whether Westlake Chemical is a good investment, qualitative aspects like company management, corporate governance, and ethical practices play a significant role. A comparison with peer companies also provides context and helps to understand if Westlake Stock is undervalued or overvalued. This multi-faceted approach, blending both quantitative and qualitative analysis, forms a solid foundation for making an informed investment decision about Westlake Chemical Stock. Highlighted below are key reports to facilitate an investment decision about Westlake Chemical Stock:Check out the analysis of Westlake Chemical Fundamentals Over Time. For more detail on how to invest in Westlake Stock please use our How to Invest in Westlake Chemical guide.You can also try the Portfolio Analyzer module to portfolio analysis module that provides access to portfolio diagnostics and optimization engine.
What is Financial Leverage?
Financial leverage is the use of borrowed money (debt) to finance the purchase of assets with the expectation that the income or capital gain from the new asset will exceed the cost of borrowing. In most cases, the debt provider will limit how much risk it is ready to take and indicate a limit on the extent of the leverage it will allow. In the case of asset-backed lending, the financial provider uses the assets as collateral until the borrower repays the loan. In the case of a cash flow loan, the general creditworthiness of the company is used to back the loan. The concept of leverage is common in the business world. It is mostly used to boost the returns on equity capital of a company, especially when the business is unable to increase its operating efficiency and returns on total investment. Because earnings on borrowing are higher than the interest payable on debt, the company's total earnings will increase, ultimately boosting stockholders' profits.Leverage and Capital Costs
The debt to equity ratio plays a role in the working average cost of capital (WACC). The overall interest on debt represents the break-even point that must be obtained to profitability in a given venture. Thus, WACC is essentially the average interest an organization owes on the capital it has borrowed for leverage. Let's say equity represents 60% of borrowed capital, and debt is 40%. This results in a financial leverage calculation of 40/60, or 0.6667. The organization owes 10% on all equity and 5% on all debt. That means that the weighted average cost of capital is (.4)(5) + (.6)(10) - or 8%. For every $10,000 borrowed, this organization will owe $800 in interest. Profit must be higher than 8% on the project to offset the cost of interest and justify this leverage.Benefits of Financial Leverage
Leverage provides the following benefits for companies:- Leverage is an essential tool a company's management can use to make the best financing and investment decisions.
- It provides a variety of financing sources by which the firm can achieve its target earnings.
- Leverage is also an essential technique in investing as it helps companies set a threshold for the expansion of business operations. For example, it can be used to recommend restrictions on business expansion once the projected return on additional investment is lower than the cost of debt.