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CE · Analysis updated Nov 10, 2026, 6:00 PM ET
Why is Celanese Corporation Common Stock (CE) stock moving?
Celanese reported Q3 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.65 versus a $1.57 estimate, up 23% year over year, and free cash flow of $461M. Net sales of $2.556B missed the $2.624B estimate, falling 7% sequentially though rising 6% year over year. Management raised its full-year outlook, guiding FY2026 adjusted EPS to $6.00-$6.25 against a $6.03 estimate, and reiterated progress toward about $1B of divestiture proceeds by end-2027, with roughly $650M targeted by year-end 2026. After the results, six brokers raised targets: JP Morgan to $77 (Overweight), BofA to $66, Citigroup to $65 (Buy), Deutsche Bank to $60 (Buy), KeyBanc to $59 (Overweight), and UBS to $58 while keeping Neutral on Nov 10. The price reaction was sharp but faded. Shares closed at $50.36 on Nov 3 on 3.69M volume, about 2.5 times the prior run-rate, hit a high of $51.59 on Nov 5, dropped to $46.49 on Nov 6, and recovered to $48.93 on Nov 10. The stock trades well below the $58-$77 target range, which supports the bullish tilt, but the sales miss, the sequential decline and the failed follow-through after the spike argue for caution near term. Asia price increases of $0.20-$0.30/kg on polyamide, PBT and PET products (Nov 4) and a Rochling collaboration on lower-carbon POM add modest commercial support.
News behind the analysis
- UBS Maintains Neutral on Celanese, Raises Price Target to $58UBS kept its Neutral rating on Celanese and raised its price target to $58 from $53.
- UBS Adjusts Price Target on Celanese to $58 From $53, Maintains Neutral RatingUBS raised its Celanese price target from $53 to $58 while keeping a Neutral rating.
- KeyBanc Raises Celanese Price Target to $59.00KeyBanc kept its Overweight rating and raised its Celanese price target from $57.00 to $59.00.
- Celanese Corporation Reports Q3 2026 Financial ResultsCelanese reported Q3 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.65 and revenue of $2.56 billion, and it raised its full-year outlook.
- Celanese Q3 Adj. EPS $1.65 Beats $1.57 Estimate, Sales $2.556B Miss $2.624B EstimateAdjusted EPS beat consensus while sales came in below estimates, with net sales down 7% sequentially.
- Celanese Sees FY2026 Adj EPS $6.00-$6.25 vs $6.03 EstCelanese guided full-year 2026 adjusted EPS to $6.00-$6.25, above the $6.03 consensus estimate.
- JP Morgan Maintains Celanese at Overweight, Raises Price Target to $77JP Morgan kept its Overweight rating and raised its Celanese price target from $76 to $77.
- Celanese Announces Asia Price Increases Of $0.20/kg For PA66 And $0.30/kg For PA6, PBT And PET Products, Including Zytel, Frianyl, Celanyl, Minlon, CoolPoly, Ecomid, Crastin, Celanex And RyniteCelanese announced Asia price increases of $0.20/kg for PA66 and $0.30/kg for PA6, PBT and PET products.
- Citigroup Maintains Buy on Celanese, Raises Price Target to $65Citigroup kept its Buy rating on Celanese and raised its price target to $65.
- BofA Securities Adjusts Price Target on Celanese to $66 From $63BofA Securities raised its Celanese price target from $63 to $66.
About Celanese Corporation Common Stock
Celanese is a Dallas-area chemical and specialty materials company, founded in 1912, that makes engineered polymers and acetyl chemicals used in cars, electronics, medical devices, paints, adhesives and consumer goods. It is one of the world's largest acetyl producers. After buying DuPont's Mobility & Materials business in 2022 it took on heavy debt, and it is now focused on paying that debt down, cutting costs and generating cash.
How it makes money
It has two main segments, each bringing in roughly half of sales (about $9.7 billion over the past 12 months, approximate). Engineered Materials sells high-performance plastics, such as nylon, POM and specialty polymers, to automotive, electronics, industrial and medical customers. Acetyl Chain makes acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer, emulsions and related chemicals that go into coatings, adhesives and construction products. The company has also been selling off non-core units, such as the roughly $500 million sale of Micromax, and closing higher-cost plants, such as its Lanaken site in Belgium, which made cellulose acetate tow.
What usually moves CE
- Automotive and industrial demand
- Raw-material and energy costs (natural gas, ethylene, methanol)
- Debt reduction and free cash flow progress
- Acetyl pricing and global chemical capacity, especially in China
- Cost-cutting and asset sales