$LIN

Chemicals Companies Likely to Report In-Line Quarterly Results, Deutsche Bank Says

US chemicals companies are likely to report quarterly results in line with expectations, with the Middle East conflict seen as a potential tailwind, Deutsche Bank said Wednesday.The June quarter "largely played out" as expected in terms of demand, pricing and costs, supported by positive pre-announcements by Dow (DOW) and BASF, according to Deutsche Bank.In June, Dow Chief Financial Officer Jeff Tate said the company expected to post second-quarter earnings of about $2.2 billion, "which is above current consensus and roughly 10% above our prior guidance," according to a FactSet transcript. "This is largely driven by continued resilience in polyethylene demand and pricing, as well as margin upside in industrial intermediates and infrastructure."The company is scheduled to report its full second-quarter results Thursday.Earlier this month, German chemicals producer BASF increased its full-year core earnings outlook, citing "better-than-expected business development.""With the macro remaining uncertain, energy prices elevated due to the on-again, off-again Middle East conflict and underlying demand subdued, management teams are likely to remain cautious in their outlooks and guidance," Deutsche Bank analyst David Begleiter said in a note to clients Wednesday.The conflict between the US and Iran and the subsequent shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz -- the world's most important chokepoint for crude flows -- has been a "positive, or at least not a negative" for US chemicals firms and the wider industry of US material, industrial gas, coatings and agricultural companies, Begleiter wrote.The conflict disrupted energy and chemical production and exports from the Persian Gulf, which houses about 15% of global chemical supply, according to Deutsche Bank. The war impacted another 15% of global chemical capacity, while high oil prices increased input costs for chemical producers in Asia, the brokerage said.In the current geopolitical environment, Deutsche Bank has a favorable view on companies such as Celanese (CE), Corteva (CTVA), Ecolab (ECL), Linde (LIN) and PPG Industries (PPG), where investor sentiment is in the wrong position, there are short-term catalysts and organic growth and the companies can maintain prices when raw material costs decline, according to the note.Price: $31.38, Change: $+0.91, Percent Change: +2.99%