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Dow beats profit estimates on higher polyethylene prices, cost cuts

October 22, 2026 6:23 AM EDT

The Dow logo is seen on a building in downtown Midland, Michigan, in this May 14, 2015 file photograph. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo

Oct 22 (Reuters) - Dow beat ‌Wall Street ​expectations ​for third-quarter adjusted profit on Thursday as higher polyethylene prices and cost-cutting measures helped the chemicals maker ‌offset higher raw material and logistics costs.

The closure ⁠of the Strait of Hormuz following the escalation of the Iran conflict ‌in late February has disrupted ‌oil and petrochemical flows, tightening global chemical supplies and driving a sharp increase in plastics and polymer prices.

Earlier this ​year, Dow announced plans to cut 13% of its workforce to cut costs. The company has also been ⁠reviewing assets across its global portfolio, as part of a broader effort to boost ​profitability.

CEO Karen S. Carter said in a statement that Dow remains on track to generate more than $1 ​billion in annual EBITDA uplift ‌in both 2026 and 2027 through its cost-cutting and portfolio optimization initiatives, including the closure of ⁠higher-cost upstream assets.

Shares of the company were up over 1% in premarket trading.

Third-quarter net sales from Dow's packaging and specialty plastics segment ⁠rose over 18% to $5.8 billion from a year ago, driven by higher ​polyethylene and functional polymers prices in all regions.

Net sales at its industrial intermediates and infrastructure segment rose 7.9% to $3.06 billion, and performance materials ‌and coatings were up over 8% to $2.25 billion from a year ago.

The Michigan-based company reported an ‌adjusted profit of 71 cents per share for the quarter ⁠ended September 30, compared ‌with analysts' average estimate ​of 64 cents, according to data compiled by LSEG.

(Reporting by Pooja Menon in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini ‌Ganguli)



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