Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Investors looking for stocks in the Chemical - Diversified sector might want to consider either Avient (AVNT - Free Report) or Air Liquide (AIQUY - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.

The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.

Avient has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Air Liquide has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell) right now. The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that AVNT has an improving earnings outlook. But this is only part of the picture for value investors.

Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.

The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.

AVNT currently has a forward P/E ratio of 11.73, while AIQUY has a forward P/E of 28.24. We also note that AVNT has a PEG ratio of 1.13. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. AIQUY currently has a PEG ratio of 2.78.

Another notable valuation metric for AVNT is its P/B ratio of 1.37. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, AIQUY has a P/B of 4.22.

These are just a few of the metrics contributing to AVNT's Value grade of A and AIQUY's Value grade of F.

AVNT stands above AIQUY thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that AVNT is the superior value option right now.

Avient (AVNT - Free Report) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.

A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.

Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.

As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for Avient is essentially a positive comment on its earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price.

Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.

For Avient, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.

Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Earnings Estimate Revisions for AvientFor the fiscal year ending December 2026, this maker of resins used in plastic pipe and other products is expected to earn $3.08 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.

Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Avient. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 1.1%.

Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.

You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>

The upgrade of Avient to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.

For those looking to find strong Basic Materials stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is Avient (AVNT - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

Avient is one of 275 individual stocks in the Basic Materials sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #15 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.

The Zacks Rank is a successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. Avient is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVNT's full-year earnings has moved 1.1% higher within the past quarter. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

Based on the most recent data, AVNT has returned 15.6% so far this year. In comparison, Basic Materials companies have returned an average of 4.2%. This means that Avient is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.

Another stock in the Basic Materials sector, Ternium S.A. (TX - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 16.6%.

For Ternium S.A., the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 36.8% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Looking more specifically, Avient belongs to the Chemical - Diversified industry, which includes 31 individual stocks and currently sits at #156 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 17.9% so far this year, meaning that AVNT is slightly underperforming its industry in terms of year-to-date returns.

In contrast, Ternium S.A. falls under the Steel - Producers industry. Currently, this industry has 17 stocks and is ranked #42. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +29.3%.

Going forward, investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should continue to pay close attention to Avient and Ternium S.A. as they could maintain their solid performance.

Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Avient (AVNT - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry.

This maker of resins used in plastic pipe and other products has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 2.14%.

For the last reported quarter, Avient came out with earnings of $0.83 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.81 per share, representing a surprise of 2.47%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $0.55 per share and it actually produced earnings of $0.56 per share, delivering a surprise of 1.82%.

For Avient, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Avient has an Earnings ESP of +0.87% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on August 6, 2026.

When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Avient (AVNT - Free Report) Avient Corporation is a global specialty-materials company focused on color, additives, inks, engineered polymers, advanced composites, and performance fibers, combining materials science, formulation expertise and manufacturing scale. Formed as PolyOne Corporation on Aug. 31, 2000, the company changed its name to Avient Corporation, effective June 30, 2020.

AVNT is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 11.55; value investors should take notice.

Two analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $3.08 per share. AVNT also boasts an average earnings surprise of +2.1%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, AVNT should be on investors' short list.

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Avient (AVNT - Free Report) Avient Corporation is a global specialty-materials company focused on color, additives, inks, engineered polymers, advanced composites, and performance fibers, combining materials science, formulation expertise and manufacturing scale. Formed as PolyOne Corporation on Aug. 31, 2000, the company changed its name to Avient Corporation, effective June 30, 2020.

AVNT is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Momentum investors should take note of this Basic Materials stock. AVNT has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 2.2% over the past four weeks.

Two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $3.08 per share. AVNT boasts an average earnings surprise of +2.1%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, AVNT should be on investors' short list.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT), an innovator of materials solutions, intends to release its second quarter 2026 earnings before the market opens on Thursday, August 6, 2026. The company will then host a webcast with a slide presentation at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

The webcast can be viewed live at avient.com/investors, or by clicking on the webcast link here. Conference call participants in the question and answer session should pre-register using the link at avient.com/investors, or here, to receive the dial-in number and personal PIN. This information is required to access the conference call. The question and answer session will follow the company's presentation and prepared remarks.

A recording of the webcast and the slide presentation will be available at avient.com/investors/events-presentations immediately following the conference call and will be accessible for one year.

About Avient

Our purpose at Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT) is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world. Our local touch and customer engagement, combined with our global presence, allows us to serve customers with agility. We harness the collective strength of more than 9,000 employees worldwide to collaborate and build on each other's ideas. In doing so, we innovate solutions that help our customers overcome their challenges or capitalize on opportunities provided by the fast-changing world and secular trends. Our expanding portfolio of offerings includes colorants, advanced composites, functional additives, engineered materials, and Dyneema®, the world's strongest fiber™. By intersecting our broad portfolio of technologies with the product roadmaps of our customers, we help create differentiated and high-performance products that make the world better and more sustainable. Visit www.avient.com to learn more. 

To access Avient's news library online, please visit www.avient.com/news

SOURCE Avient Corporation

Key Takeaways Avient launched PREPERM thermoplastics globally for 5G/6G radar sensing applications.PREPERM targets ADAS, intelligent transportation, humanoid robotics and mmWave radome uses.The PPE portfolio helps address signal-loss, warpage and BSIS compliance barriers. Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) has introduced its new PREPERM Low Loss Dielectric Thermoplastics, a modified polyphenylene ether (PPE) solution engineered to support the rapid growth of 5G/6G-enabled radar sensing. The new addition provides automotive advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), intelligent transportation and humanoid robotics. The new PPE-based portfolio helps overcome signal-loss, warpage and BSIS compliance barriers of conventional glass-fiber-reinforced polybutylene terephthalate (PBT+GF) materials.

The PREPERM portfolio addresses these challenges with a dielectric constant (Dk) ranging from 2.53 to 2.94 and a loss tangent (Df) as low as 0.001 at 2.5 GHz. It is built to deliver at high frequencies. According to Avient’s in-house RF testing, the materials delivered improved gain, detection angles and elevation angle compared to traditional PBT+GF alternatives.

The portfolio includes four grades, offered in both unfilled and glass-filled PPE variants. These materials are optimized for the entire radome assembly, including high-impact and laser-weldable performance, structural requirements and laser absorption, while enabling a smooth upgrade for manufacturers currently using PBT+GF with dimensional stability.

Produced in Asia and available worldwide, PREPERM thermoplastics are expected to help automotive suppliers, traffic radar manufacturers, and robotics developers improve radar performance and manufacturing efficiency for mmWave radome applications.

AVNT shares have gained 12.7% over the past year compared with the industry’s 22.9% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AVNT’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksAVNT currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Nucor Corporation (NUE - Free Report) , Dow Inc. (DOW - Free Report) and Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (ASM - Free Report) .

While NUE and DOW sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each at present, ASM carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NUE’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $17.08 per share, indicating a 121.53% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed the remaining two, with an average surprise of 8.10%. NUE’s shares have jumped 89.4% over the past year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DOW’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $2.61 per share, indicating a rise of 377.66% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters. DOW’sshares have gained 8.6% over the past year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASM’s current fiscal-year earnings is pinned at 34 cents per share, indicating a 17.24% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 125%.

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Avient (AVNT - Free Report) Avient Corporation is a global specialty-materials company focused on color, additives, inks, engineered polymers, advanced composites, and performance fibers, combining materials science, formulation expertise and manufacturing scale. Formed as PolyOne Corporation on Aug. 31, 2000, the company changed its name to Avient Corporation, effective June 30, 2020.

AVNT is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Momentum investors should take note of this Basic Materials stock. AVNT has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 9.8% over the past four weeks.

For fiscal 2026, four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $3.08 per share. AVNT boasts an average earnings surprise of +2.1%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, AVNT should be on investors' short list.

Key Takeaways AVNT trades at 11.08X forward earnings vs 22.51X industry, signaling a notable valuation discount.Avient targets lower leverage and $200-$220M free cash flow, prioritizing debt reduction through 2026.Avient's 2026 outlook depends on pricing, mix and cost control amid uneven demand and $30M inflation headwind. Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) is currently trading at a meaningful discount to its industry. The key question is whether that gap reflects an attractive entry point or a fair price for near-term execution and demand risks.

The opportunity comes down to whether Avient’s margin and cash flow plan can overcome a mixed demand backdrop. With leverage trending lower and productivity programs in place, valuation has a reasonable foundation.

AVNT’s Valuation Snapshot vs Peers and HistoryOn a forward 12-month price-to-earnings basis, AVNT trades at 11.08X. That compares with 22.51X for the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry. The gap is wide, and it positions AVNT as a clear discount name versus its closest peer set.

History suggests the stock is not priced for an aggressive outcome. Over the last five years, AVNT’s forward 12-month earnings multiple has ranged from a high of 20.07X to a low of 9.01X, with a median of 14.24X. At 11.08X, AVNT sits below that median, implying investors are demanding proof that margin expansion and end-market stabilization can hold through 2026.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Cash Flow and Deleveraging as Downside SupportDeleveraging remains a key pillar of the downside case. Avient paid down $150 million of debt in 2025 and ended the year with net leverage at 2.6x. Management expects to exit 2026 below 2.5x, extending the balance-sheet improvement.

Cash generation supports that trajectory. Free cash flow is guided at $200-$220 million for 2026, and management’s stated priority is further debt reduction. If demand recovery is uneven, that combination of liquidity and continued leverage improvement can help limit fundamental downside.

AVNT’s Capital Allocation Trade-Offs in 2026The near-term trade-off is that cash is being steered toward investment and deleveraging instead of more visible shareholder-return levers. Capital expenditures are planned at roughly $140 million in 2026, higher than 2025 levels, with much of the spending aimed at defense and Dyneema capacity.

With higher investment requirements, flexibility for buybacks is reduced. Management also plans no near-term mergers and acquisitions as deleveraging remains the priority. For valuation-focused investors, this is important because the near-term catalyst set is more about operating execution than headline capital deployment.

Avient’s Earnings Path and Sensitivity PointsThe earnings bridge in 2026 leans more on execution than on a broad cyclical rebound. Management expects margin expansion primarily from price/mix and productivity rather than operating leverage, which matters in a demand environment described as patchy across consumer, industrial and building and construction.

That also defines the sensitivity points. Results can swing with pricing execution, mix shift toward higher-value applications and delivery on cost actions, especially with an embedded net inflation headwind of roughly $30 million in 2026. A slower-than-expected demand recovery would raise the bar for self-help to carry a larger share of the earnings load.

Practical Takeaway for Action-Oriented InvestorsFor investors weighing AVNT at a discounted valuation, a practical checklist starts with balance-sheet progress: continued deleveraging toward management’s goal for 2026. Next is delivery against the 2026 guidance ranges for adjusted EBITDA of $555-$585 million and adjusted earnings per share of $2.93-$3.17.

Operational markers also matter. Watch for tangible packaging improvement within the Color, Additives and Inks unit, and monitor stability around defense-related timing and Specialty Engineered Materials margins, where timing can be lumpy. In that context, AVNT fits a “Hold” framework at the moment.

AVNT currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

For context, Cabot Corporation (CBT - Free Report) and Methanex Corporation (MEOH - Free Report) are among the industry names investors may compare for valuation and trend, and both sit in the same broad chemical landscape that can amplify rotation-driven performance differences across the group.

Key Takeaways Avient leans on specialty materials to boost margins despite uneven 2025 volumes and demand.AVNT targets 2026 margin gains via price, mix and productivity, not volume-driven leverage.Defense, healthcare, telecom and chip packaging demand support AVNT's margin resilience. Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) is leaning into a specialty-materials model that is proving steadier than the typical chemical cycle. The company exited 2025 with stronger margins despite uneven volumes, and management is positioning 2026 for additional improvement driven more by mix and execution than by a broad demand surge.

That setup matters for investors because it puts the focus on what Avient can control: where it competes, how it prices and how consistently it takes costs out.

AVNT’s Mix Shift Toward Defense, Health Care and TelecomAvient is a specialty-materials supplier focused on color, additives, inks, engineered polymers, advanced composites and performance fibers. That mix matters because these offerings tend to be more formulation and application-driven, which can support steadier pricing and better margins than commodity exposure.

The company’s end-market tilt is increasingly geared toward defense, healthcare, telecommunications and materials used in chip and wafer packaging. Those demand vectors are central to the margin-resilience narrative because they skew to higher-value, mission-critical uses where performance tends to be prioritized.

AVNT’s Specialty Engineered Materials segment is positioned as the more direct beneficiary of defense, healthcare, telecommunications and advanced materials applications, including the chip and wafer packaging exposure that has been growing at a double-digit pace, particularly in Asia.

AVNT’s Mix-Led Margin PlaybookThe margin story is increasingly mix-led. Avient ended fourth-quarter 2025 with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 15.5%, up 80 basis points year over year, and delivered a full-year 2025 adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.7%, up 50 basis points. Those outcomes came despite volumes that were not uniformly supportive, underscoring the benefit of tilting toward specialty applications.

For 2026, management expects additional margin expansion driven primarily by price and mix plus productivity, rather than operating leverage. That implies earnings progression can continue even if volume improvement is modest, as long as the company keeps tightening execution and sustaining the mix shift.

Avient’s Productivity Levers That Offset InflationCost execution is the second pillar of the model. Avient delivered a little over $40 million of net productivity in 2025, with about half expected to carry into 2026. The programs include ongoing sourcing work, footprint optimization and Lean Six Sigma initiatives.

That productivity is aimed at offsetting a baseline net inflation headwind of roughly $30 million in 2026. With limited operating leverage embedded in the outlook, the quality and cadence of these productivity actions become a key driver of earnings durability.

AVNT’s End-Market Signals That Matter MostManagement has described the start to 2026 as cautiously optimistic, pointing to continued strength in defense, healthcare, and telecom, along with signs of packaging improvement. Defense grew 8% in 2025 and is again expected to be strong in 2026, while demand tied to chip and wafer packaging continues to reinforce the higher-performance portfolio.

At the same time, demand has been patchy across consumer, industrial and building and construction markets. Regional trends also remain uneven, and guidance assumes only modest improvement across several challenged areas. That backdrop keeps the 2026 setup focused on modest volume improvement, with mix and productivity doing more of the heavy lifting.

AVNT’s Risks to the Resilience ThesisThe checklist starts with demand and regional variability. Macro softness, currency, trade policy, geopolitics and supply-chain shifts can keep end markets uneven and make it harder for mix benefits to fully offset slower volume recovery. Limited operating leverage raises the importance of execution on pricing and cost actions.

Defense also brings timing risk. The company has described defense as lumpy, and near-term Dyneema capacity relies on debottlenecking process improvements, with additional capacity from current investment not expected until 2028. Higher planned capital spending and paused mergers and acquisitions also limit near-term deployment flexibility. The margin narrative in 2026 ultimately comes down to whether mix shift and productivity continue to translate into steadier earnings across uneven demand conditions.

Investors may also want to compare Avient’s profile against diversified chemical peers such as Cabot Corporation (CBT - Free Report) and Tronox Holdings plc (TROX - Free Report) , which operate in the same broad industry grouping.

AVNT carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.

While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.

Based in Avon Lake, Avient (AVNT - Free Report) is in the Basic Materials sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of 19.88%. The maker of resins used in plastic pipe and other products is paying out a dividend of $0.28 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 2.94% compared to the Chemical - Diversified industry's yield of 1.62% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.4%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.10 is up 1.4% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Avient has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 6.00%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Avient's current payout ratio is 39%, meaning it paid out 39% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

AVNT is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $3.06 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 8.51%.

From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.

Big, established firms that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options, but it's fairly uncommon to see high-growth businesses or tech start-ups offer their stockholders a dividend. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, AVNT is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

, /PRNewswire/ -- Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT), an innovator of materials solutions, announced today that Giuseppe (Joe) Di Salvo has been promoted and named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective June 1, 2026. He will succeed Jamie A. Beggs, who will be leaving Avient June 1, 2026 to pursue other opportunities.

Giuseppe (Joe) Di Salvo named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Avient Corporation, effective June 1, 2026. Mr. Di Salvo brings 25 years of financial experience, including nearly 15 years at Avient, with extensive experience in investor relations, accounting, financial planning and analysis, and treasury. This diverse experience has provided him with a deep understanding of Avient, its businesses, and the financial drivers of value creation at the company.

"We are pleased to promote Joe from within the organization to this important role and to our executive leadership team," said Dr. Ashish K. Khandpur, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Avient. "Joe's deep institutional knowledge, strong relationships within the company and with our investors, and consistent delivery of results make him exceptionally well suited to lead our finance organization as we execute our strategy.  I look forward to continuing to work closely with Joe to deliver value to all our stakeholders."

Mr. Di Salvo served as Avient's Corporate Controller from 2013 to 2018 when he became Vice President, Investor Relations.  In 2019, he expanded his responsibility to lead Treasury and Financial Planning and Analysis.  Prior to these roles, he held financial positions of increasing responsibility at Avient.  Joe began his career as a certified public accountant at Deloitte after graduating from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting.

"I'm honored to step into this role and energized by the opportunity to drive an even greater impact," said Mr. Di Salvo. "I have deep confidence in Avient and the strategy we are executing, and I look forward to continuing to support the company's long-term growth and success."

About Avient
Our purpose at Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT) is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.  Our local touch and customer engagement, combined with our global presence, allows us to serve customers with agility.  We harness the collective strength of more than 9,000 employees worldwide to collaborate and build on each other's ideas.  In doing so, we innovate solutions that help our customers overcome their challenges or capitalize on opportunities provided by the fast-changing world and secular trends.  Our expanding portfolio of offerings includes colorants, advanced composites, functional additives, engineered materials, and Dyneema®, the world's strongest fiber™. By intersecting our broad portfolio of technologies with the product roadmaps of our customers, we help create differentiated and high-performance products that make the world better and more sustainable.  Visit www.avient.com to learn more.

To access Avient's news library online, please visit www.avient.com/news.

SOURCE Avient Corporation

First quarter sales grew 3% to $847 million, which includes a 5% favorable foreign exchange impact First quarter GAAP EPS of $0.61 compared to ($0.22) in the prior year quarter First quarter adjusted EPS of $0.83 exceeded guidance of $0.81; growth of 9% over the prior year quarter 2026 full year adjusted EPS guidance range of $2.93 to $3.17, unchanged from prior guidance , /PRNewswire/ -- Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT), an innovator of materials solutions, today announced its first quarter results for 2026. First quarter GAAP earnings per share (EPS) were $0.61 compared to ($0.22) in the prior year quarter. 

The company noted that first quarter 2026 GAAP EPS includes special items of $0.06 and intangible amortization expense of $0.16 (see attachment 1).

First quarter 2026 adjusted EPS was $0.83 compared to $0.76 in the prior year quarter, reflecting 9% growth in adjusted EPS.

"Once again our teams successfully navigated a complex and ever-changing environment with agility to deliver these results," said Dr. Ashish Khandpur, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Avient Corporation.

"Our first quarter results also reflect the team's strong execution on driving productivity improvement and disciplined cost control, which enabled expansion of adjusted EBITDA margins by 20 basis points to 17.7%. Our teams remain focused on serving our customers, securing raw material supply, and have been proactively working to mitigate the costs of inflation from the ongoing situation in the Middle East and from macro-economic uncertainty," added Dr. Khandpur.

2026 Outlook

"We have a proven track record of successfully managing through volatile environments and supply chain constraints, as we demonstrated during the post-pandemic period in 2021 and 2022, as well as responding to the tariff policy changes in 2025. Accordingly, we expect second quarter adjusted EPS of $0.89, which represents 11% growth over the prior year quarter," said Jamie Beggs, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

"Our performance expectations for the first half of the year are slightly better-than-expected compared to the beginning of the year.  With that said, the outlook for the second half of the year is less certain, so we are maintaining our full year guidance of adjusted EBITDA of $555 to $585 million and adjusted EPS of $2.93 to $3.17," said Ms. Beggs.

Dr. Khandpur added, "Our strategy has enabled us to deliver consistent results and grow earnings in 2024 and 2025. We remain committed to growing full year earnings again in 2026, while continuing to also invest in our prioritized growth vectors to keep advancing our longer-term plans."

Webcast Details

Avient will provide additional details on its 2026 first quarter and its 2026 full year outlook during its webcast scheduled for 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on May 7, 2026.

The webcast can be viewed live at avient.com/investors, or by clicking on the webcast link here. Conference call participants in the question and answer session should pre-register using the link at avient.com/investors, or here, to receive the dial-in number and personal PIN.  This information is required to access the conference call.  The question-and-answer session will follow the company's presentation and prepared remarks.

A recording of the webcast and the slide presentation will be available at avient.com/investors/events-presentations immediately following the conference call and will be accessible for one year.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses both GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) and non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures include organic performance (which excludes the impact of foreign exchange), adjusted EPS, adjusted operating income, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margins, free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow. Avient's chief operating decision maker uses these financial measures to monitor and evaluate the ongoing performance of the Company and each business segment and to allocate resources.

The Company does not provide reconciliations of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted EPS, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, to the most comparable GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis because the Company is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items, and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing and amount of certain items, such as, but not limited to, environmental remediation costs and associated recoveries, mark-to-market adjustments on pension and other post-retirement obligations, acquisition-related charges, and other non-routine costs. Each of such adjustments has not yet occurred, are out of the Company's control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information.

To access Avient's news library online, please visit www.avient.com/news.

About Avient

Our purpose at Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT) is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.  Our local touch and customer engagement, combined with our global presence, allows us to serve customers with agility.  We harness the collective strength of more than 9,000 employees worldwide to collaborate and build on each other's ideas.  In doing so, we innovate solutions that help our customers overcome their challenges or capitalize on opportunities provided by the fast-changing world and secular trends. Our expanding portfolio of offerings includes colorants, advanced composites, functional additives, engineered materials, and Dyneema®, the world's strongest fiber™.  By intersecting our broad portfolio of technologies with the product roadmaps of our customers, we help create differentiated and high-performance products that make the world better and more sustainable. Visit www.avient.com to learn more.

Forward-looking Statements

In this press release, statements that are not reported financial results or other historical information are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. They are based on management's expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. They use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial condition, performance and/or sales. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the global credit markets that could adversely impact the availability of credit already arranged and the availability and cost of credit in the future; the effect on foreign operations of currency fluctuations, tariffs and other political, economic and regulatory risks; disruptions or inefficiencies in our supply chain, logistics, or operations; changes in laws and regulations in jurisdictions where we conduct business, including with respect to plastics and climate change; changes to foreign trade policy, including new or increased tariffs and changing import/export regulation; fluctuations in raw material prices, quality and supply, and in energy prices and supply; demand for our products and services; production outages or material costs associated with scheduled or unscheduled maintenance programs; unanticipated developments that could occur with respect to contingencies such as litigation and environmental matters; our ability to pay regular quarterly cash dividends and the amounts and timing of any future dividends; information systems failures, cybersecurity breaches and cyberattacks; our ability to service our indebtedness and restrictions on our current and future operations due to our indebtedness; amounts for cash and non-cash charges related to restructuring plans that may differ from original estimates, including because of timing changes associated with the underlying actions; and other factors affecting our business beyond our control, including without limitation, changes in the general economy, changes in interest rates, changes in the rate of inflation, geopolitical conflicts and any recessionary conditions. The above list of factors is not exhaustive.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports on Form 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K that we provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Attachment 1

Avient Corporation
Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income and Earnings Per Share (Unaudited)
(In millions, except per share data)

Senior management uses comparisons of adjusted net income attributable to Avient common shareholders and diluted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) attributable to Avient common shareholders, excluding special items, to assess performance and facilitate comparability of results. Further, as a result of Avient's strategic shift towards an innovator of materials solutions, it has completed several acquisitions and divestitures which have resulted in a significant amount of intangible asset amortization. Management excludes intangible asset amortization from adjusted EPS as it believes excluding acquired intangible asset amortization is a useful measure of current period earnings per share. Senior management believes these measures are useful to investors because they allow for comparison to Avient's performance in prior periods without the effect of items that, by their nature, tend to obscure Avient's operating results due to the potential variability across periods based on timing, frequency and magnitude. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation from, or solely as alternatives to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Below is a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. See Attachment 3 for a definition and summary of special items.

Three Months Ended March 31,

2026

2025

Reconciliation to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

$

EPS(1)

$

EPS(1)

Net income (loss) attributable to Avient common shareholders

$      55.7

$      0.61

$     (20.2)

$     (0.22)

Special items, after-tax (Attachment 3)

5.5

0.06

75.7

0.82

Amortization expense, after-tax

15.6

0.16

14.5

0.16

Adjusted net income / EPS

$      76.8

$      0.83

$      70.0

$      0.76

(1) Per share amounts may not recalculate from figures presented herein due to rounding

Attachment 2

Avient Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

(In millions, except per share data)

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2026

2025

Sales

$     847.4

$     826.6

Cost of sales

574.8

563.4

Gross margin

272.6

263.2

Selling and administrative expense

176.8

262.5

Operating income

95.8

0.7

Interest expense, net

(22.0)

(26.9)

Other expense, net

(1.5)

(0.4)

Income (loss) before income taxes

72.3

(26.6)

Income tax (expense) benefit

(16.5)

6.7

Net income (loss)

$      55.8

$     (19.9)

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

(0.1)

(0.3)

Net income (loss) attributable to Avient common shareholders

$      55.7

$     (20.2)

Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Avient common shareholders - Basic:

$      0.61

$     (0.22)

Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Avient common shareholders - Diluted:

$      0.61

$     (0.22)

Cash dividends declared per share of common stock

$   0.2750

$   0.2700

Weighted-average shares used to compute earnings per common share:

Basic

91.7

91.5

Diluted

91.9

91.5

Attachment 3

Avient Corporation

Summary of Special Items (Unaudited)

(In millions, except per share data)

Special items (1)

Three Months Ended
March 31,

2026

2025

Cost of sales:

Restructuring costs, including accelerated depreciation

$       (3.2)

$       (4.1)

Environmental remediation costs

(3.9)

(4.9)

Reimbursement of previously incurred environmental costs

0.3

1.3

Impact on cost of sales

(6.8)

(7.7)

Selling and administrative expense:

Restructuring and employee separation costs

(0.8)

(5.1)

Legal and other

(1.3)

(0.4)

Cloud-based enterprise resource planning system impairment

—

(86.3)

Impact on selling and administrative expense

(2.1)

(91.8)

Impact on operating income

(8.9)

(99.5)

Interest expense, net - financing costs

—

(1.7)

Impact on income (loss) before income taxes

(8.9)

(101.2)

Income tax benefit on special items

2.0

25.5

Tax adjustments(2)

1.4

—

Impact of special items on net income (loss)

$       (5.5)

$     (75.7)

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share impact

$     (0.06)

$     (0.82)

Weighted average shares used to compute adjusted earnings per share:

Diluted

91.9

91.8

(1)

Special items include charges related to specific strategic initiatives or financial restructuring such as: consolidation of operations; debt extinguishment costs; costs incurred directly in relation to acquisitions or divestitures; employee separation costs resulting from personnel reduction programs, plant realignment costs, executive separation agreements; asset impairments; settlement gains or losses and mark-to-market adjustments associated with gains and losses on pension and other post-retirement benefit plans; environmental remediation costs, fines, penalties and related insurance recoveries related to facilities no longer owned or closed in prior years; gains and losses on facility or property sales or disposals; results of litigation, fines or penalties, where such litigation (or action relating to the fines or penalties) arose prior to the commencement of the performance period; one-time, non-recurring items; and the effect of changes in accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results.

(2)

Tax adjustments include the net tax impact from non-recurring income tax items and certain adjustments to uncertain tax position reserves and valuation allowances.

Attachment 4

Avient Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

March 31, 2026

December 31, 2025

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$                427.6

$                510.5

Accounts receivable, net

513.4

435.0

Inventories, net

386.4

367.2

Other current assets

96.5

88.2

Total current assets

1,423.9

1,400.9

Property, net

967.9

988.8

Goodwill

1,739.2

1,757.6

Intangible assets, net

1,447.4

1,492.4

Other non-current assets

366.4

385.9

Total assets

$              5,944.8

$              6,025.6

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Short-term and current portion of long-term debt

$                   0.5

$                   0.5

Accounts payable

426.1

410.0

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

376.5

435.8

Total current liabilities

803.1

846.3

Non-current liabilities:

Long-term debt

1,924.0

1,922.6

Deferred income taxes

280.5

285.7

Other non-current liabilities

519.2

584.7

Total non-current liabilities

2,723.7

2,793.0

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Avient shareholders' equity

2,405.8

2,374.2

Noncontrolling interest

12.2

12.1

Total equity

2,418.0

2,386.3

Total liabilities and equity

$              5,944.8

$              6,025.6

Attachment 5

Avient Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(In millions)

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2026

2025

Operating activities

Net income (loss)

$      55.8

$     (19.9)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

47.9

45.3

Cloud-based enterprise resource planning system impairment

—

71.6

Share-based compensation expense

2.1

2.4

Changes in assets and liabilities:

Increase in accounts receivable

(83.7)

(83.7)

Increase in inventories

(22.9)

(20.3)

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

20.0

(1.0)

(Decrease) increase in restructuring obligations

(4.7)

2.5

Decrease in incentive accruals

(24.8)

(53.1)

Environmental insurance recovery

—

34.0

Accrued expenses and other assets and liabilities, net

(24.2)

(28.9)

Net cash used in operating activities

(34.5)

(51.1)

Investing activities

Capital expenditures

(19.0)

(12.5)

Net cash used in investing activities

(19.0)

(12.5)

Financing activities

Cash dividends paid

(25.2)

(24.7)

Other financing activities

(2.6)

(3.6)

Net cash used in financing activities

(27.8)

(28.3)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

(1.6)

3.4

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(82.9)

(88.5)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

510.5

544.5

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$     427.6

$     456.0

Attachment 6

Avient Corporation

Business Segment Operations (Unaudited)

(In millions)

Operating income and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) at the segment level does not include: special items as defined in Attachment 3; corporate general and administration costs that are not allocated to segments; intersegment sales and profit eliminations; share-based compensation costs; and certain other items that are not included in the measure of segment profit and loss that is reported to and reviewed by the chief operating decision maker. These costs are included in Corporate.

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2026

2025

Sales:

   Color, Additives and Inks

$     528.1

$     519.7

   Specialty Engineered Materials

320.2

308.4

   Corporate

(0.9)

(1.5)

      Sales

$     847.4

$     826.6

Gross margin:

   Color, Additives and Inks

$     178.7

$     173.1

   Specialty Engineered Materials

100.6

97.8

   Corporate

(6.7)

(7.7)

      Gross margin

$     272.6

$     263.2

Selling and administrative expense:

   Color, Additives and Inks

$      97.3

$      94.5

   Specialty Engineered Materials

53.2

50.7

   Corporate

26.3

117.3

      Selling and administrative expense

$     176.8

$     262.5

Operating income:

   Color, Additives and Inks

$      81.4

$      78.6

   Specialty Engineered Materials

47.4

47.1

   Corporate

(33.0)

(125.0)

      Operating income

$      95.8

$        0.7

Depreciation & amortization:

Color, Additives and Inks

$      22.4

$      21.7

Specialty Engineered Materials

22.6

21.5

Corporate

2.9

2.1

Depreciation & amortization

$      47.9

$      45.3

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA):

   Color, Additives and Inks

$     103.8

$     100.3

   Specialty Engineered Materials

70.0

68.6

   Corporate

(30.1)

(122.9)

Other expense, net

(1.5)

(0.4)

EBITDA

$     142.2

$      45.6

Special items, before tax

8.9

101.2

Interest expense included in special items

—

(1.7)

Depreciation & amortization included in special items

(1.2)

(0.4)

Adjusted EBITDA

$     149.9

$     144.7

Attachment 7

Avient Corporation

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)

(In millions, except per share data)

Senior management uses operating income before special items to assess performance and allocate resources because senior management believes that this measure is most useful in understanding current profitability levels and how it may serve as a basis for future performance. In addition, operating income before the effect of special items is a component of Avient's annual incentive plans and is used in debt covenant computations. Senior management believes this measure is useful to investors because it allows for comparison to Avient's performance in prior periods without the effect of items that, by their nature, tend to obscure Avient's operating results due to the potential variability across periods based on timing, frequency and magnitude. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation from, or solely as alternatives to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Below is a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. See Attachment 3 for a definition and summary of special items.

Three Months Ended

March 31,

Reconciliation to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

2026

2025

Sales

$   847.4

$   826.6

Gross margin - GAAP

272.6

263.2

Special items in gross margin (Attachment 3)

6.8

7.7

Adjusted gross margin

$   279.4

$   270.9

Adjusted gross margin as a percent of sales

33.0 %

32.8 %

Operating income - GAAP

95.8

0.7

Special items in operating income (Attachment 3)

8.9

99.5

Adjusted operating income

$   104.7

$   100.2

Adjusted operating income as a percent of sales

12.4 %

12.1 %

Three Months Ended

March 31,

Reconciliation to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:

2026

2025

Net income (loss) - GAAP

$    55.8

$   (19.9)

Income tax expense (benefit)

16.5

(6.7)

Interest expense, net

22.0

26.9

Depreciation & amortization

47.9

45.3

EBITDA

$   142.2

$    45.6

Special items, before tax

8.9

101.2

Interest expense included in special items

—

(1.7)

Depreciation & amortization included in special items

(1.2)

(0.4)

Adjusted EBITDA 

$   149.9

$   144.7

Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of sales

17.7 %

17.5 %

Three Months Ended

June 30, 2025

Reconciliation to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

$

EPS(1)

Net income attributable to Avient common shareholders

$             52.6

$             0.57

Special items, after-tax

5.7

0.07

Amortization expense, after-tax

15.2

0.16

Adjusted net income / EPS

$             73.5

$             0.80

(1) Per share amounts may not recalculate from figures presented herein due to rounding

SOURCE Avient Corporation

Avient (AVNT - Free Report) reported $847.4 million in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 2.5%. EPS of $0.83 for the same period compares to $0.76 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $845.85 million, representing a surprise of +0.18%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +2.89%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.81.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Avient performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Sales- Specialty Engineered Materials: $320.2 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $321.51 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +3.8%.Sales- Color, Additives and Inks: $528.1 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $524.71 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +1.6%.Sales- Corporate: $-0.9 million versus $-0.92 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -40% change.Operating Income (Loss)- Color, Additives and Inks: $81.4 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $79.98 million.Operating Income (Loss)- Specialty Engineered Materials: $47.4 million versus $49.13 million estimated by three analysts on average.Operating Income (Loss)- Corporate: $-33 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $-31.13 million.View all Key Company Metrics for Avient here>>>

Shares of Avient have returned +2.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +11.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.

MarketBeat Instant News Alerts

2 hours ago

Amkor Technology Target of Unusually Large Options Trading (NASDAQ:AMKR)MarketBeat

Amkor Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMKR - Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading on Friday. Investors acquired 12,436 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 48% compared to the average volume of 8,425 call options.

NASDAQ:AMKR

Read Amkor Technology Target of Unusually Large Options Trading (NASDAQ:AMKR)

3 hours ago

CocaCola (NYSE:KO) EVP Jennifer Mann Sells 23,984 SharesMarketBeat

CocaCola Company (The) (NYSE:KO - Get Free Report) EVP Jennifer Mann sold 23,984 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.41, for a total value of $2,000,505.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 157,400 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $13,128,734. The trade was a 13.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

NYSE:KO

Read CocaCola (NYSE:KO) EVP Jennifer Mann Sells 23,984 Shares

Trending News All MarketBeat Instant News Alerts Sort By

Time Frame

Alert Type

Keywords

Page 1 of 324

Get 30 Days of MarketBeat All Access for Free

Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools.

Start Your 30-Day Trial

Sign in to your free account to enjoy these benefits

In-depth profiles and analysis for 20,000 public companies. Real-time analyst ratings, insider transactions, earnings data, and more. Our daily ratings and market update email newsletter. Sign in to your free account to enjoy all that MarketBeat has to offer.

Key Takeaways AVNT posted Q1 adjusted EPS of 83 cents, topping estimates as sales rose 2.5% year over year.Avient said Q1 sales benefited from a 5% favorable FX impact, lifting revenues to $847.4 million.AVNT maintained full-year 2026 EPS and EBITDA guidance despite uncertainty in the second half. Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings of 83 cents per share for the first quarter of 2026, up 9.2% from 76 cents a year ago. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 81 cents by 2.5%.

Net sales were $847.4 million, up 2.5% year over year and slightly ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $845.8 million. The top line improved despite a challenging backdrop, with sales growth supported by currency translation. AVNT highlighted that first-quarter sales growth included a 5% favorable foreign exchange impact.

Profitability improved alongside revenues. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $149.9 million from $144.7 million a year ago, taking adjusted EBITDA as a percent of sales to 17.7% from 17.5%. The results benefited from productivity improvement and cost-control actions.

AVNT Segment HighlightsColor, Additives and Inks sales were $528.1 million in the quarter, up 1.6% from $519.7 million a year ago. Segment EBITDA increased to $103.8 million from $100.3 million, implying an EBITDA margin of about 19.7% versus roughly 19.3% in the prior-year quarter.

Specialty Engineered Materials generated sales of $320.2 million, up 3.8% from $308.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Segment EBITDA rose to $70 million from $68.6 million, translating to an EBITDA margin of about 21.9% compared with approximately 22.2% a year ago.

Avient Balance Sheet and Cash FlowAvient ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $427.6 million, down from $510.5 million in the prior quarter. Long-term debt was essentially steady at $1,924 million versus $1,922.6 million at year-end 2025.

Net cash used in operating activities was $34.5 million compared with $51.1 million used in the prior-year quarter, while capital expenditures were $19 million versus $12.5 million a year ago.

AVNT’s OutlookAVNT guided to second-quarter adjusted earnings of 89 cents per share, which management said would represent 11% growth over the prior-year quarter. The company also emphasized that its first-half expectations are now slightly better than expected versus the start of the year.

For full-year 2026, Avient maintained its adjusted EPS guidance range of $2.93 to $3.17 and reiterated its adjusted EBITDA outlook of $555 million to $585 million. Management noted that the outlook for the second half of the year is less certain, supporting its decision to keep the full-year targets unchanged.

AVNT’s Price PerformanceShares of Avient have lost 9.7% in the past year against the 18.4% growth in the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AVNT's Zacks Rank & Other Chemicals ReleasesAVNT currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 

Kronos Worldwide (KRO - Free Report) reported a first-quarter 2026 net loss of 4 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 33 cents. Kronos expects gross margin to improve as higher-cost inventory produced in late 2025 works through the system and it realizes the benefit of lower-cost production in 2026.

Huntsman Corporation’s (HUN - Free Report) first-quarter 2026 adjusted loss per share was 20 cents compared with a loss of 11 cents in the year-ago quarter. It was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 23 cents. The company expects margin improvement across regions from its pricing initiatives. It anticipates second-quarter adjusted EBITDA of $60-$75 million for Polyurethanes, $30-$40 million for Performance Products and $50-$55 million for Advanced Materials.  

Olin Corporation (OLN - Free Report) reported a first-quarter 2026 adjusted loss of 65 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 67 cents. Olin guided second-quarter 2026 adjusted EBITDA to a range of $160 million to $200 million.

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Avient (AVNT - Free Report) Avient Corporation is a global specialty-materials company focused on color, additives, inks, engineered polymers, advanced composites, and performance fibers, combining materials science, formulation expertise and manufacturing scale. Formed as PolyOne Corporation on Aug. 31, 2000, the company changed its name to Avient Corporation, effective June 30, 2020.

AVNT is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 11.15; value investors should take notice.

For fiscal 2026, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.00 to $3.06 per share. AVNT boasts an average earnings surprise of +2.1%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, AVNT should be on investors' short list.

Key Takeaways Avient added eight natural graphite Therma-Tech formulations for thermal management applications.New grades offer high thermal conductivity, lower costs and support sustainability goals.Avient's expanded portfolio works with standard injection molding equipment and diverse uses. Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) has expanded its Therma-Tech product line with the launch of eight new thermally conductive formulations based on natural graphite. The new materials are aimed at helping manufacturers improve heat management while supporting efforts to reduce weight, lower costs and advance sustainability objectives.

Rising electrification across transportation, industrial equipment, appliances and electronics is placing greater emphasis on improving thermal management while reducing weight and costs. As a result, OEMs and product designers pursuing lightweighting strategies are increasingly evaluating plastic materials as alternatives to traditional metal components in thermal management applications.

The natural graphite used in the new grades has a lower carbon footprint and generally requires less energy to produce than synthetic graphite. Certain grades in the expanded portfolio contain post-industrial recycled content to help meet sustainability objectives. The technology utilizes natural graphite to achieve high thermal conductivity while offering performance on par with more expensive specialty filler systems.

The expanded portfolio offers a more cost-efficient option than existing high-performance thermally conductive technologies. The new grades retain the thermal performance and design flexibility of existing Therma-Tech products and can be evaluated against metal and thermally conductive polymer materials. They are also compatible with standard injection molding equipment, reducing the need for specialized manufacturing systems.

The new natural graphite-based grades are designed for applications that require thermal management, reduced weight and design flexibility. They can be used in LED lighting components, automotive heat sinks, heat exchange equipment, electronics and appliance housings, and healthcare devices.

Avient will present its Therma-Tech thermally conductive products at the FIP and Equiplast trade shows in Europe from June 2 to 5.

Shares of Avient have lost 3.5% over the past year against the industry’s 9.5% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AVNT’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksAVNT currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Orla Mining Ltd. (ORLA - Free Report) , LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB - Free Report) and Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV - Free Report) .

While ORLA and LYB sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each at present, FNV carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ORLA’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.64 per share, indicating a rise of 82.2% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.16%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LYB’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $8.73 per share, implying a 413.5% year-over-year surge. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the four trailing quarters and missed in the remaining two.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FNV’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $8.85 per share, calling for a 58.6% year-over-year increase. Its earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 10.28%.