Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE) Extends Liquidity While Near-Term Pressure Persists

Celanese heads into the coming weeks with improved liquidity but technicals and margins signal continued near-term pressure; fundamental cash generation supports downside containment. The balance of heavy leverage and modest free-cash yield frames a cautious bias.

Recent News

On August 11, 2025 Celanese announced a new $1.75 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility that replaces its prior facility and extends maturity to 2030; the company cited the move as a step to manage debt and liquidity and confirmed roughly $1.2 billion in cash at quarter-end.

Technical Analysis

Directional indicators show bearish pressure: DI+ at 16.63 with a decreasing trend and DI– at 27.95 showing a dip-and-reversal pattern; both point to DI– strength and a near-term directional bias toward sellers while ADX at 24.56 indicates only an emerging trend strength rather than an entrenched move. This alignment raises the probability of further downside tests unless DI+ re-accelerates.

MACD sits at -1.67 and trends down with the MACD line below the signal line (-1.39), signaling bearish momentum and reducing the immediacy of trend-following upside relative to recent valuation levels.

MRO at -28.39 with a dip-and-reversal pattern indicates the price sits beneath the model target and carries potential for a corrective increase; that potential acts as a counterweight to outright downside and supports the case for mean-reversion rallies against the prevailing bearish momentum.

RSI at 42.33 and decreasing confirms weakening momentum; the stock trades below the 12-day EMA ($42.90), 20-day average ($43.71), 50-day average ($47.43) and 200-day average ($54.99), which keeps the near-term technical bias negative and suggests rallies will face moving-average resistance into the mid-$40s.

Ichimoku components place price beneath the cloud (Senkou A $47.35, Senkou B $50.25); the Tenkan ($43.79) and Kijun ($44.58) sit above price and signal resistance levels inside the short-term trading band. Bollinger bands compress around the $43.71 mean with the close near the lower 1x band ($41.36), pointing to reduced volatility but asymmetric downside risk toward the 2x lower band ($39.01). Volume trends sit below 10-, 50- and 200-day averages, indicating muted participation during recent moves and raising the likelihood of volatile responses to new fundamental headlines.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Operating performance shows mixed momentum: total revenue reached $2,532,000,000 with EBIT of $312,000,000 and EBITDA of $505,000,000. YoY revenue growth equals 2.91%, while operating margin stands at 9.83% and EBIT margin at 12.32%—EBIT margin improved QoQ by 76.28% but fell YoY by 8.50%, indicating recent margin recovery from a weaker base.

  • Profitability: Net income $199,000,000; return on equity about 3.77% and return on assets about 0.85%—profitability remains moderate given the capital base.
  • Cash and Liquidity: Cash and short-term investments $1,173,000,000; current ratio 2.05 and quick ratio 1.22, with a newly executed $1.75 billion revolver extending unsecured liquidity to 2030.
  • Leverage: Total debt $13,314,000,000 with net debt $11,768,000,000; debt-to-equity 2.52x (252.35%), and debt-to-EBITDA ~26.36x—capital structure shows material leverage that constrains flexibility absent sustained cash generation.
  • Cash Generation: Free cash flow $317,000,000 and free-cash-flow yield about 5.67%; operating cash flow $410,000,000 and cash conversion ratio 0.8707, supporting near-term liquidity while deleveraging remains necessary.
  • Earnings: Reported EPS $1.81 vs. estimate $1.43, an EPS surprise of 26.57%; forward EPS $2.405 implies forward P/E ~22.46 versus current P/E ~30.24, suggesting market-implied near-term multiple compression has occurred.

Comparisons to industry peer values (industry peer mean/median/high/low where provided) show EBIT margin (12.32%) sits below the industry peer mean (15.05%) and median (18.29%), while price-to-book at 1.06 comes in below the industry peer mean (5.39) and median (8.22). Free-cash-flow yield (~5.67%) ranks above the industry peer mean (~0.84%). These relative placements indicate operating margins lag typical peer medians even as cash returns appear comparatively better. WMDST values the stock as under-valued given current cash generation, lower relative multiples, and the new credit facility improving liquidity, though elevated leverage tempers valuation upside.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2025-06-30
REPORT DATE: 2025-08-11
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2025-11-03
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 951.0 M
 Operating Cash Flow 410.0 M
 Capital Expenditures -93.00 M
 Change In Working Capital 82.0 M
 Dividends Paid -3.00 M
 Cash Flow Delta 222.0 M
 End Period Cash Flow 1.2 B
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 2.5 B
 Forward Revenue 837.7 M
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 2.0 B
 Depreciation 193.0 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 193.0 M
 Research and Development 31.0 M
 Total Operating Expenses 2.3 B
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 535.0 M
 EBITDA 505.0 M
 EBIT 312.0 M
 Operating Income 249.0 M
 Interest Income 7.0 M
 Interest Expense 177.0 M
 Net Interest Income -170.00 M
 Income Before Tax 135.0 M
 Tax Provision -77.00 M
 Tax Rate 21.0 %
 Net Income 199.0 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations 202.0 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate 1.43
 EPS Actual 1.81
 EPS Difference 0.38
 EPS Surprise 26.573 %
 Forward EPS 2.40
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 23.7 B
 Intangible Assets 9.2 B
 Net Tangible Assets -3.96 B
 Total Current Assets 5.7 B
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 1.2 B
 Cash 1.2 B
 Net Receivables 1.2 B
 Inventory 2.3 B
 Long-Term Investments 525.0 M
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 1.3 B
 Short-Term Debt 252.0 M
 Total Current Liabilities 2.8 B
 Net Debt 11.8 B
 Total Debt 13.3 B
 Total Liabilities 18.0 B
EQUITY
 Total Equity 5.3 B
 Retained Earnings 11.2 B
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 48.18
 Shares Outstanding 109.502 M
 Revenue Per-Share 23.12
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 5.6 B
 Enterprise Value 17.7 B
 Enterprise Multiple 35.119
Enterprise Multiple QoQ -30.104 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY 19.434 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA high: 85.583
median: 84.899
mean: 60.261
CE: 35.119
low: -118.916
 EV/R 7.004
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 4.495
 Asset To Liability 1.317
 Debt To Capital 0.716
 Debt To Assets 0.561
Debt To Assets QoQ -0.926 %
Debt To Assets YoY 633.072 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.733
CE: 0.561
median: 0.378
mean: 0.332
low: 0.021
 Debt To Equity 2.523
Debt To Equity QoQ -0.45 %
Debt To Equity YoY 814.676 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA CE: 2.523
high: 2.178
median: 0.962
mean: 0.767
low: 0.024
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 1.06
Price To Book QoQ -5.075 %
Price To Book YoY -51.067 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 14.757
median: 8.223
mean: 5.386
CE: 1.06
low: 0.307
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 30.243
Price To Earnings QoQ -67.442 %
Price To Earnings YoY -49.35 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA high: 139.289
median: 139.289
mean: 105.719
CE: 30.243
low: -3.22
 PE/G Ratio 0.139
 Price To Sales (P/S) 2.209
Price To Sales QoQ -8.881 %
Price To Sales YoY -62.28 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 20.44
median: 19.039
mean: 13.286
CE: 2.209
low: 0.914
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 22.465
Forward PE/G 0.103
Forward P/S 6.678
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage 14.505
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.108
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ 4.048 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY 5.554 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.334
median: 0.175
mean: 0.162
CE: 0.108
low: 0.003
 Receivables Turnover 2.062
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ 1.886 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY -0.716 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 2.422
CE: 2.062
mean: 1.463
median: 1.361
low: 0.117
 Inventory Turnover 0.869
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ 4.3 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY 4.13 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 2.465
median: 1.426
mean: 1.186
CE: 0.869
low: 0.034
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 44.256
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) 91.955
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ -4.409 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY 8.701 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA high: 488.171
mean: 93.942
CE: 91.955
median: 55.264
low: 5.01
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio 0.871
 CapEx To Revenue -0.037
 CapEx To Depreciation -0.482
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 18.0 B
 Net Invested Capital 18.2 B
 Invested Capital 18.2 B
 Net Tangible Assets -3.96 B
 Net Working Capital 2.9 B
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 0.424
 Current Ratio 2.051
Current Ratio QoQ 5.879 %
Current Ratio YoY 60.701 %
Current Ratio IPRWA high: 6.372
CE: 2.051
mean: 1.972
median: 1.442
low: 1.35
 Quick Ratio 1.224
Quick Ratio QoQ 10.123 %
Quick Ratio YoY 64.61 %
Quick Ratio IPRWA high: 3.851
mean: 1.336
CE: 1.224
median: 1.122
low: 0.803
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA 26.364
 Cost Of Debt 1.057 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio 1.763
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ 79.438 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY -14.086 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA high: 24.749
median: 9.66
mean: 8.486
CE: 1.763
low: -21.281
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio 0.147
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 61.938
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio 66.333
 Dividend Payout Ratio 0.015
 Dividend Rate 0.03
 Dividend Yield 0.001
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate 2.224 %
 Revenue Growth 5.986 %
Revenue Growth QoQ 646.384 %
Revenue Growth YoY 290.731 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 47.859 %
median: 8.936 %
mean: 8.304 %
CE: 5.986 %
low: -4.472 %
 Earnings Growth 217.544 %
Earnings Growth QoQ -458.451 %
Earnings Growth YoY 1408.313 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA high: 346.154 %
CE: 217.544 %
median: 26.0 %
mean: 18.897 %
low: -380.0 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 21.13 %
Gross Margin QoQ 6.048 %
Gross Margin YoY -12.614 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 62.406 %
median: 44.778 %
mean: 38.279 %
CE: 21.13 %
low: -24.576 %
 EBIT Margin 12.322 %
EBIT Margin QoQ 76.28 %
EBIT Margin YoY -8.502 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 46.541 %
median: 18.287 %
mean: 15.053 %
CE: 12.322 %
low: -33.607 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) 9.834 %
Return On Sales QoQ 40.687 %
Return On Sales YoY -26.977 %
Return On Sales IPRWA high: 23.528 %
median: 18.253 %
mean: 14.161 %
CE: 9.834 %
low: -33.437 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) 317.0 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield 5.667 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ -605.08 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY 370.681 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA CE: 5.667 %
high: 5.199 %
mean: 0.837 %
median: 0.633 %
low: -1.464 %
 Free Cash Growth -587.692 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ 403.549 %
Free Cash Growth YoY -5.126 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 333.766 %
median: 266.0 %
mean: 34.95 %
CE: -587.692 %
low: -926.923 %
 Free Cash To Net Income 1.593
 Cash Flow Margin 16.035 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings 2.04
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.02
 Return On Assets (ROA) 0.848 %
Return On Assets QoQ -1031.868 %
Return On Assets YoY 41.806 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 11.068 %
median: 2.274 %
mean: 1.475 %
CE: 0.848 %
low: -15.06 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) 1.49 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) 0.038
Return On Equity QoQ -1031.358 %
Return On Equity YoY 74.387 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.233
median: 0.056
CE: 0.038
mean: 0.037
low: -0.393
 DuPont ROE 3.804 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) 1.353 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ 142.473 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY -96.427 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 4.864 %
median: 3.363 %
mean: 2.51 %
CE: 1.353 %
low: -6.68 %

Six-Week Outlook

Expect a cautious, predominantly bearish-to-neutral price environment over six weeks: near-term momentum indicators and moving averages imply downward pressure, while a negative MRO suggests technical potential for intermittent mean-reversion rallies. Watch for sustained DI+ improvement or a MACD turn above its signal line to shift the bias toward meaningful rallies; absent those, price likely remains capped by the mid-$40s moving-average band and vulnerable to moves toward the low-$40s and the secondary support area around the low $39s. Liquidity improvements reduce tail-risk from refinancing stress but heavy net debt keeps fundamental risk elevated should macro demand soften further.

About Celanese Corporation

Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE) designs and manufactures high-performance engineered polymers and acetyl products, serving a diverse range of industries globally. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, the company operates through two main segments: Engineered Materials and the Acetyl Chain. The Engineered Materials segment focuses on developing specialty polymers tailored for sectors such as automotive, medical, industrial, and consumer electronics, ensuring these materials meet the stringent demands of modern applications. The Acetyl Chain segment plays a crucial role in producing and distributing key acetyl products, including acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomers, and acetate esters. These components are vital in the formulation of colorants, paints, adhesives, coatings, and pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, Celanese provides vinyl acetate-based emulsions and ethylene vinyl acetate resins, which support industries like construction, textiles, and packaging. Since its founding in 1918, Celanese has maintained a commitment to innovation and quality, consistently delivering solutions that enhance product performance and sustainability. The company’s dedication to customer satisfaction and excellence continues to drive its growth and influence in the specialty materials industry worldwide.



© 2025 WMDST — The World’s Most Dangerous Swing Trader. All rights reserved.