Element Solutions Inc (NYSE:ESI) Terminates Merger; Setup For Near-Term Technical Rebound

Element Solutions moves back to independent execution after a proposed sale collapses, leaving technical momentum that favors a near-term bounce if buyers reassert control. Fundamentals show improving margins and cash flow but elevated valuation multiples relative to operating scale.

Recent News

On July 6, 2026 Element Solutions and Solstice Advanced Materials announced a definitive merger agreement calling for a cash-and-stock acquisition. On August 27, 2026 the parties mutually terminated that merger agreement and issued termination documentation. Institutional filings in early September show Squarepoint Ops LLC increased its Element Solutions stake in the latest 13F period.

Technical Analysis

ADX 28.71 signals a strong trend environment, implying directional conviction that swing traders can exploit for short-term moves.

DI+ peak & reversal (DI+ 17.33) signals bearish directional pressure; DI- peak & reversal (DI- 33.08) signals bullish directional pressure, producing a tug-of-war that leaves price action dependent on who reclaims dominance.

MACD -1.20 shows negative momentum but MACD trend labeled dip & reversal indicates bullish momentum gathering; MACD remains below the signal line (-1.05) and requires a cross above the signal line to confirm momentum acceleration.

MRO -0.71 with a peak & reversal trend places price below model target, implying upward potential if momentum indicators flip positive.

RSI 41.39, decreasing, shows muted momentum with room for recovery before reaching overbought levels.

Price sits under the 50-day ($36.52) and 200-day ($35.47) averages while trading near the lower Bollinger band boundaries ($32.42–$30.72 for 1x/2x), indicating recent weakness but potential mean-reversion opportunity if intraday buyers lift price above the 12/26-day EMAs (12-day EMA $33.70 decreasing; 26-day EMA $34.96).

Volume at 10.1M outpaced the 10-day average (~4.65M) and the 200-day average (~3.58M), signaling institutional interest around recent events and enhancing the probability that technical triggers will carry weight.

Fundamental Analysis

Q2 operating metrics show accelerated top-line scale: total revenue $977.9M with revenue growth (period) 16.42% and YoY revenue growth 209.40%. EBIT $131.1M yields an EBIT margin of 13.41%, up 8.07% QoQ and up 9.99% YoY. EPS came in at $0.47 versus an estimate of $0.43, producing a $0.04 beat and an EPS surprise of 9.30%. The company reported positive operating cash flow and an end-period cash balance of $189.6M.

Margins show mixed direction: gross margin 34.16% contracted QoQ and YoY, while operating margin 11.63% fell YoY by 22.91% even as absolute EBIT improved. Free cash flow $71.7M produces a free cash flow yield of 0.73%, below the industry peer mean of 1.24%.

Leverage and liquidity present offsetting strengths and risks: total debt $2.12B with net debt $1.93B produces debt-to-EBITDA ~12.06x, highlighting high leverage relative to earnings, while current ratio 2.91 and quick ratio 2.11 indicate healthy near-term liquidity and working-capital coverage.

Return metrics improved year-over-year: return on assets 1.34% and return on equity 2.75% rose sharply QoQ and YoY; earnings growth registered 14.63% with earnings growth YoY at 65.84%. Price multiples run rich versus scale: trailing P/E ~86.10 and price-to-book ~3.51 sit below the industry peer mean price-to-book 4.88 but well within the peer range; forward P/E ~79.24 and PEG ~5.41 reflect elevated expectations versus near-term earnings growth.

WMDST values the stock as under-valued based on proprietary valuation inputs; valuation balances improved operating cash conversion and margin expansion against high leverage and elevated forward multiples.

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 406.3 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: 58.598
low: -65.192
 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: 0.375
ESI: 0.366
low: 0.0
 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: 1.059
ESI: 0.754
low: 0.0
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: 4.882
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: 96.99
ESI: 86.103
low: -52.921
 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: 12.297
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: 0.4
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: 1.198
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: 79.853
median: 49.76
low: 15.124
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: 7.125
ESI: 2.907
mean: 2.016
median: 1.841
low: 1.151
 Quick Ratio 2.11
Quick Ratio QoQ 10.637 %
Quick Ratio YoY -36.014 %
Quick Ratio IPRWA high: 2.301
ESI: 2.11
median: 1.566
mean: 1.484
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: 7.928
ESI: 5.463
low: -29.356
 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 %
median: 8.591 %
mean: 5.946 %
low: -28.712 %
 Earnings Growth 14.634 %
Earnings Growth QoQ 35.362 %
Earnings Growth YoY 65.843 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA high: 188.235 %
mean: 30.435 %
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: 39.494 %
ESI: 34.155 %
low: -2.243 %
 EBIT Margin 13.406 %
EBIT Margin QoQ 8.069 %
EBIT Margin YoY 9.993 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 27.108 %
median: 17.711 %
mean: 15.88 %
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: 16.239 %
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: 4.909 %
mean: 1.24 %
ESI: 0.727 %
median: 0.65 %
low: -8.666 %
 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: 220.523 %
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: 5.771 %
median: 1.946 %
mean: 1.39 %
ESI: 1.342 %
low: -12.582 %
 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: 0.074
median: 0.053
mean: 0.033
ESI: 0.027
low: -0.231
 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: 7.447 %
median: 2.614 %
mean: 2.433 %
ESI: 1.918 %
low: -2.063 %

Six-Week Outlook

Near-term bias favors a technical rebound if momentum confirms: a MACD rise that closes above its signal line paired with RSI stabilization above the mid-40s and sustained volume above the 10-day average would support a recovery attempt. Conversely, continued failure to recapture the 26-day EMA and a re-acceleration in DI+ would extend consolidation. Traders should monitor momentum crossovers, MRO behavior relative to target, and whether institutional flow sustains above-average volume—those factors will determine whether the current setup resolves into a clean bounce or renewed weakness.

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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