Element Solutions Inc (NYSE:ESI) Poised For Near-Term Revaluation After Merger Drama

Momentum in core sales and sizable YoY earnings gains counterbalance elevated leverage and compressed cash yield; near-term price direction depends on M&A headlines and execution against guidance.

Recent News

July 6, 2026: Solstice Advanced Materials announced a definitive agreement to acquire Element Solutions in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at about $14.5 billion. July 27, 2026: Element Solutions reported second-quarter 2026 results and reiterated guidance while posting record quarterly revenue. August 27, 2026: Element Solutions announced a mutual termination of the merger agreement with Solstice, with no termination payments by either party.

Technical Analysis

ADX registers 26.24, indicating a strong trend environment; strength supports conviction that short-term directional moves can carry momentum.

DI+ shows a peak-and-reverse pattern, signaling a bearish directional shift, while DI- also shows a peak-and-reverse pattern that signals bullish directional pressure; the conflicting directional signals point to immediate volatility with no clean one-sided trend.

MACD sits negative at -0.82 but displays a dip-and-reversal and has crossed above its signal line (-0.90), a bullish momentum signal despite the negative absolute level; expect short-term upside attempts to encounter resistance near the 26-day EMA and 50-day average.

MRO stands at 5.64 and is increasing; the positive MRO implies price sits modestly above WMDST’s target and therefore carries limited downside bias from oscillator reversion risk.

RSI at 44.07 with a peak-and-reverse signature signals a bearish shift from recent highs; the indicator leaves room for both further consolidation and renewed selling pressure if momentum indicators roll over again.

Price sits at $36.21 between the 12-day EMA ($35.72) and the 26-day EMA ($36.52), below the 50-day average ($38.08) but above the 200-day average ($35.13); Bollinger bands compress tightly around recent trading, supporting a near-term range between the lower band (~$34.71) and the super-trend resistance (~$37.58). Volume on the close undercuts the 10-day average, reducing conviction behind the latest move and increasing the likelihood of chop until a catalyst appears.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Revenue totaled $977.9 million. YoY revenue growth equals 209.40%, while sequential revenue change shows a QoQ decline of -32.23%; the YoY surge reflects sizable period-over-period gains while the QoQ drop highlights timing variability in sales recognition or acquisitions. Gross margin sits at 34.16% (down YoY by 19.84 percentage points), and operating margin equals 11.63% (down YoY by 22.91 percentage points), indicating margin pressure despite top-line expansion.

EBIT reaches $131.1 million with an EBIT margin of 13.41%, which falls below the industry peer mean of 15.88% and below the peer median of 17.71% while remaining well above the industry low. QoQ EBIT margin improved by 8.07 percentage points and YoY improved by 9.99 percentage points, underlining margin recovery versus recent comps.

Earnings per share came in at $0.47 versus an estimate of $0.43, an EPS surprise of +9.30%, and forward EPS of $0.5258 supports a forward P/E of 79.24. Trailing P/E equals 86.10, slightly below the industry peer mean of 97.33. The price-to-book ratio reads 3.51, below the peer mean of 4.89. WMDST’s valuation model classifies the stock as under-valued, reflecting the combination of elevated growth metrics and a valuation profile below peer averages on some multiples.

Free cash flow equals $71.7 million, producing a free-cash-flow yield of 0.73%, beneath the industry peer mean of 1.24% and down QoQ and YoY, which compresses the company’s cash return profile despite positive operating cash flow of $99.6 million and a cash conversion ratio near 0.979. The current ratio stands at 2.91, above the industry peer mean of 1.93, providing short-term liquidity cushion.

Leverage remains high by coverage metrics: total debt of $2.12 billion yields debt-to-EBITDA of 12.06x and debt-to-equity of 0.75. Interest coverage equals 5.46, below the peer mean of 8.00, indicating meaningful fixed-charge exposure despite manageable cost of debt (~0.81%). Net tangible assets show a negative balance, reflecting sizable intangibles on the balance sheet. Return on equity sits at 2.75%, below the peer mean of 4.21%, while earnings growth YoY equals 65.84% and operating cash conversion supports ongoing investment and acquisition optionality.

Working-capital dynamics require attention: cash conversion cycle runs long at 106 days versus the peer mean of ~80 days, driven by inventory days (~74) and receivables (~65), limiting dexterity in converting sales to cash relative to many peers.

Valuation context: enterprise multiple measures at 67.07, slightly above the industry peer mean of 63.55, while P/E and P/B sit below their peer means; combined with WMDST’s stated “under-valued” classification, fundamentals show a mixed picture—strong headline revenue and earnings growth offset by compressed margins, low free-cash yield, and elevated leverage.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2026-06-30
REPORT DATE: 2026-07-27
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2026-10-26
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 177.3 M
 Operating Cash Flow 99.6 M
 Capital Expenditures -27.90 M
 Change In Working Capital -32.00 M
 Dividends Paid -19.60 M
 Cash Flow Delta 12.3 M
 End Period Cash Flow 189.6 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 977.9 M
 Forward Revenue 405.2 M
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 643.9 M
 Depreciation 15.2 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 44.7 M
 Research and Development 19.5 M
 Total Operating Expenses 864.2 M
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 334.0 M
 EBITDA 175.8 M
 EBIT 131.1 M
 Operating Income 113.7 M
 Interest Income
 Interest Expense 24.0 M
 Net Interest Income -24.00 M
 Income Before Tax 107.1 M
 Tax Provision 29.8 M
 Tax Rate 27.825 %
 Net Income 77.3 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations 77.3 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate 0.43
 EPS Actual 0.47
 EPS Difference 0.04
 EPS Surprise 9.302 %
 Forward EPS 0.53
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 5.8 B
 Intangible Assets 3.5 B
 Net Tangible Assets -729.60 M
 Total Current Assets 1.5 B
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 189.6 M
 Cash 189.6 M
 Net Receivables 711.0 M
 Inventory 417.5 M
 Long-Term Investments 146.9 M
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 186.4 M
 Short-Term Debt 62.9 M
 Total Current Liabilities 523.8 M
 Net Debt 1.9 B
 Total Debt 2.1 B
 Total Liabilities 3.0 B
EQUITY
 Total Equity 2.8 B
 Retained Earnings -811.20 M
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 11.54
 Shares Outstanding 243.686 M
 Revenue Per-Share 4.01
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 9.9 B
 Enterprise Value 11.8 B
 Enterprise Multiple 67.067
Enterprise Multiple QoQ -4.263 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY 11.266 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA high: 79.976
median: 76.739
ESI: 67.067
mean: 63.55
low: 24.86
 EV/R 12.057
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 2.056
 Asset To Liability 1.956
 Debt To Capital 0.43
 Debt To Assets 0.366
Debt To Assets QoQ -2.514 %
Debt To Assets YoY 12.835 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.804
median: 0.465
mean: 0.377
ESI: 0.366
low: 0.026
 Debt To Equity 0.754
Debt To Equity QoQ -4.44 %
Debt To Equity YoY 21.815 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA high: 3.978
median: 1.384
mean: 1.063
ESI: 0.754
low: 0.036
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 3.506
Price To Book QoQ 15.554 %
Price To Book YoY 58.709 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 7.485
median: 5.628
mean: 4.893
ESI: 3.506
low: 0.938
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 86.103
Price To Earnings QoQ 3.641 %
Price To Earnings YoY 38.207 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA high: 128.46
median: 128.46
mean: 97.33
ESI: 86.103
low: -30.244
 PE/G Ratio 5.884
 Price To Sales (P/S) 10.083
Price To Sales QoQ 2.079 %
Price To Sales YoY 8.673 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 17.046
mean: 12.321
median: 10.431
ESI: 10.083
low: 1.523
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 79.237
Forward PE/G 5.415
Forward P/S 24.679
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage 1.573
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.17
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ 9.517 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY 32.994 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.317
ESI: 0.17
median: 0.161
mean: 0.151
low: 0.067
 Receivables Turnover 1.409
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ 0.203 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY 7.221 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 3.095
mean: 1.619
ESI: 1.409
median: 1.312
low: 0.402
 Inventory Turnover 1.535
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ 6.257 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY 18.42 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 3.058
median: 1.536
ESI: 1.535
mean: 1.197
low: 0.413
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 64.754
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) 106.375
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ -0.706 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY 2.263 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA high: 254.878
ESI: 106.375
mean: 79.972
median: 49.76
low: 24.622
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio 0.979
 CapEx To Revenue -0.029
 CapEx To Depreciation -1.836
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 4.9 B
 Net Invested Capital 4.9 B
 Invested Capital 4.9 B
 Net Tangible Assets -729.60 M
 Net Working Capital 999.0 M
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 0.362
 Current Ratio 2.907
Current Ratio QoQ 8.363 %
Current Ratio YoY -29.049 %
Current Ratio IPRWA high: 3.047
ESI: 2.907
mean: 1.931
median: 1.841
low: 1.151
 Quick Ratio 2.11
Quick Ratio QoQ 10.637 %
Quick Ratio YoY -36.014 %
Quick Ratio IPRWA ESI: 2.11
high: 1.892
median: 1.566
mean: 1.483
low: 0.768
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA 12.056
 Cost Of Debt 0.81 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio 5.463
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ 12.71 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY -7.525 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA high: 20.317
median: 8.846
mean: 8.002
ESI: 5.463
low: -10.302
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio 0.186
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 32.386
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio 3.944
 Dividend Payout Ratio 0.254
 Dividend Rate 0.08
 Dividend Yield 0.002
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate 0.809 %
 Revenue Growth 16.417 %
Revenue Growth QoQ -32.228 %
Revenue Growth YoY 209.404 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 22.018 %
ESI: 16.417 %
mean: 11.008 %
median: 8.591 %
low: 3.112 %
 Earnings Growth 14.634 %
Earnings Growth QoQ 35.362 %
Earnings Growth YoY 65.843 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA high: 188.235 %
mean: 30.395 %
median: 22.941 %
ESI: 14.634 %
low: -213.043 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 34.155 %
Gross Margin QoQ -11.094 %
Gross Margin YoY -19.843 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 55.127 %
median: 44.071 %
mean: 39.592 %
ESI: 34.155 %
low: 6.1 %
 EBIT Margin 13.406 %
EBIT Margin QoQ 8.069 %
EBIT Margin YoY 9.993 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 27.108 %
median: 17.711 %
mean: 15.882 %
ESI: 13.406 %
low: -14.185 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) 11.627 %
Return On Sales QoQ -12.328 %
Return On Sales YoY -22.913 %
Return On Sales IPRWA high: 29.895 %
median: 18.216 %
mean: 16.291 %
ESI: 11.627 %
low: -13.199 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) 71.7 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield 0.727 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ -165.792 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY -23.15 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 3.874 %
mean: 1.241 %
ESI: 0.727 %
median: 0.65 %
low: -3.553 %
 Free Cash Growth -178.19 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ -20.363 %
Free Cash Growth YoY -166.989 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 402.464 %
median: 291.667 %
mean: 221.21 %
ESI: -178.19 %
low: -391.667 %
 Free Cash To Net Income 0.928
 Cash Flow Margin 9.981 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings 1.263
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.04
 Return On Assets (ROA) 1.342 %
Return On Assets QoQ 30.165 %
Return On Assets YoY 38.636 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 3.754 %
median: 1.946 %
mean: 1.41 %
ESI: 1.342 %
low: -5.668 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) 2.492 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) 0.027
Return On Equity QoQ 34.442 %
Return On Equity YoY 52.244 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.073
median: 0.053
mean: 0.042
ESI: 0.027
low: -0.114
 DuPont ROE 2.787 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) 1.918 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ 33.01 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY 42.602 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 5.223 %
median: 2.614 %
mean: 2.425 %
ESI: 1.918 %
low: -2.063 %

Six-Week Outlook

Expect consolidation with asymmetric risk: market reaction to M&A headlines and upcoming reporting cadence will likely drive outsized intraday moves. Technicals suggest a trading range between roughly $34.70 (short-term support measured by the lower Bollinger band and 12-day EMA area) and near-term resistance around the 50-day average and super-trend upper band (~$37.60–$38.10). A sustained MACD crossover above the signal line alongside rising ADX would favor upward momentum; conversely, renewed DI+ deterioration and an RSI break below current levels would increase downside momentum. Key catalysts over six weeks include any follow-on M&A commentary, the company’s next formal report date (10/26/2026), and execution on margin recovery initiatives.

About Element Solutions Inc

Element Solutions Inc (NYSE:ESI) delivers innovative specialty chemical solutions across a variety of industries from its headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The company operates through two primary segments: Electronics and Industrial & Specialty. In the Electronics segment, Element Solutions develops advanced chemical formulations and materials crucial for the production of modern electronics. Their product offerings include surface mount technologies, thermal management materials, and photomask technologies. These solutions support sectors such as mobile communications, computing, automotive, and aerospace, ensuring the creation of high-performance electronic components. The Industrial & Specialty segment provides chemical systems that enhance and protect metal and plastic surfaces. Additionally, this segment offers consumable chemicals for image transfer in flexible packaging and specialized chemistries for water-based hydraulic fluids, particularly used in offshore energy production. Element Solutions serves a wide range of markets, including aerospace, automotive, construction, consumer electronics, and oil and gas. With a history rooted in expertise and innovation, Element Solutions remains committed to meeting the evolving demands of its global clientele by delivering high-performance solutions that enhance product functionality and durability.



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