Insider Trading March 30, 2026

Westlake CFO Disposes $1.85 Million in Shares as Stock Nears Yearly Peak

Chief financial officer Mark Steven Bender sells 16,413 shares amid elevated stock prices and mixed fundamentals for Westlake Corp

By Hana Yamamoto WLK
Westlake CFO Disposes $1.85 Million in Shares as Stock Nears Yearly Peak
WLK

Westlake Corp CFO Mark Steven Bender sold 16,413 shares on March 27, 2026, for roughly $1.85 million as the company’s stock trades close to its 52-week high. The transaction leaves Bender with 28,015 shares outstanding. The sale coincides with divergent signals: a sharp six-month gain in the share price and an earnings miss in Q4 2025, while several analysts have raised price targets citing favorable industry dynamics.

Key Points

  • CFO Mark Steven Bender sold 16,413 shares on March 27, 2026 for about $1.85 million - financials sector impact includes investor perception and insider signaling.
  • Westlake shares have climbed roughly 49% in six months and trade near a 52-week high of $116.46 - markets and materials sectors see elevated valuation headlines.
  • Despite a Q4 2025 EPS miss (-4.22 USD vs. -1.4 USD forecast), several analysts raised price targets and ratings citing stronger-than-expected results and supply disruptions in polyethylene - chemicals and industrials sectors affected.

Summary

Mark Steven Bender, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Westlake Corp (NYSE: WLK), completed a sale of 16,413 Westlake shares on March 27, 2026, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The disposition generated approximately $1.85 million at a weighted average price of $112.535 per share, with transaction prices ranging from $112.33 to $112.99. Following the sale, Bender directly holds 28,015 shares.


Context and share-price backdrop

Westlake shares have risen sharply over the past six months, gaining around 49% and trading close to a 52-week high of $116.46 at the time of the filing. The insider sale thus occurred while the stock was near multi-month highs, a factual detail that accompanies other mixed signals in the company’s recent performance and analyst commentary.


Valuation note

InvestingPro’s analysis flags Westlake as appearing overvalued at current levels and places the company on its Most Overvalued list. The platform indicates that investors seeking deeper valuation metrics and an additional set of 10 ProTips for WLK may access those resources through InvestingPro’s research tools.


Recent operating and analyst developments

Westlake Chemical reported a fourth-quarter 2025 earnings per share outcome of -4.22 USD, missing the consensus forecast of -1.4 USD. Despite the EPS shortfall, several brokerages have issued more constructive guidance on the stock. BofA Securities raised its price target for Westlake Chemical to $115 from $82, citing stronger-than-expected results and potential cycle acceleration. Truist Securities increased its price target to $127 from $117 and maintained a Buy rating, attributing the stance to favorable pricing dynamics within the company’s PEM segment. BMO Capital upgraded the stock to Outperform from Market Perform and boosted its price target to $127 from $108; that upgrade reflects the effect of temporary shutdowns that have impacted global polyethylene supply due to the Iran conflict.


What the filing shows

  • Date of sale: March 27, 2026.
  • Shares sold: 16,413.
  • Weighted average sale price: $112.535 per share.
  • Price range for the sale: $112.33 - $112.99.
  • Total transaction value: approximately $1.85 million.
  • Shares owned by Bender after sale: 28,015.

Takeaway

The SEC filing documents an insider sale by Westlake’s CFO while the stock sits near its yearly high after a sizable six-month gain. That single insider transaction exists alongside a recent quarterly earnings miss and a cluster of bullish analyst moves that raise price targets and upgrade ratings, citing both company-specific and broader supply dynamics in polyethylene markets.

Risks

  • Valuation risk - InvestingPro identifies WLK as appearing overvalued at current levels, introducing downside risk for equity investors in the materials and industrials sectors.
  • Operational and earnings volatility - The company posted a substantial Q4 2025 earnings shortfall versus consensus (-4.22 USD vs. -1.4 USD), indicating near-term financial uncertainty for Westlake and related chemicals industry participants.
  • Supply-chain and geopolitical risk - Analyst upgrades reference temporary shutdowns affecting global polyethylene supply due to the Iran conflict, which could create production and pricing volatility for polymer producers and downstream users.

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