Avient (NYSE:AVNT) Announces Earnings Results

Avient (NYSE:AVNT) announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The company reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.02, FiscalAI reports. The business had revenue of $847.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $846.35 million. Avient had a net margin of 4.81% and a return on equity of 11.11%. The business’s revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.76 earnings per share. Avient updated its Q2 2026 guidance to 0.890-0.890 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance to 2.930-3.170 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Avient’s conference call:

• Q1 adjusted EPS of $0.83 came modestly ahead of expectations, adjusted EBITDA margin expanded ~20 bps, and the company is maintaining full?year guidance (adjusted EBITDA $555–$585M, adjusted EPS $2.93–$3.17) while targeting >$200M of free cash flow.
• Packaging (?23% of revenue) showed resilience with Q1 up low single digits and management expects mid? to high?single?digit growth in Q2, driven by share gains, new products and regional strength in EMEA and Asia.
• Management flagged significant raw?material and freight inflation (hydrocarbons up ~20–60%, specialty inputs high?single?digits, freight ~+20%), a clear headwind even though they expect to remain net price positive and pass through increases.
• CFO transition announced — Jamie Beggs will depart June 1 and long?tenured Avient finance executive Giuseppe Di Salvo will assume the CFO role, bringing ~15 years at the company and 25 years of financial experience.
• The company is prioritizing innovation in electronics and high?performance computing as a growth vector, expecting the business to exceed $40M in sales in 2026 (?$10M incremental in 2026) with continued pipeline expansion.

Avient Stock Up 1.3%

Shares of AVNT traded up $0.49 on Friday, hitting $37.01. 991,984 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 524,215. The company has a market capitalization of $3.39 billion, a PE ratio of 21.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.77. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $36.71 and a 200 day simple moving average of $34.70. Avient has a one year low of $27.48 and a one year high of $44.85.

Avient Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 17th were given a dividend of $0.275 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $1.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.0%. Avient’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.95%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on AVNT shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Avient from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, February 21st. Robert W. Baird set a $43.00 price objective on shares of Avient in a report on Friday. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on shares of Avient from $37.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Avient from $42.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, KeyCorp restated a “sector weight” rating on shares of Avient in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $46.40.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Avient

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV bought a new stake in shares of Avient during the third quarter valued at approximately $215,000. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its holdings in Avient by 58.3% in the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 3,070 shares of the company’s stock worth $101,000 after purchasing an additional 1,131 shares during the last quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. purchased a new stake in Avient in the third quarter worth approximately $256,000. iSAM Funds UK Ltd purchased a new stake in Avient in the third quarter worth approximately $189,000. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its holdings in Avient by 32.0% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 5,937 shares of the company’s stock worth $198,000 after purchasing an additional 1,440 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.48% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Avient

Here are the key news stories impacting Avient this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Avient beat first-quarter expectations, reporting adjusted EPS of $0.83 versus the $0.81 consensus and revenue of $847.4 million versus $846.35 million expected, with sales up 3% year over year. Avient Announces First Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: The company reaffirmed its full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $2.93 to $3.17 and said it is targeting more than $200 million in free cash flow, which supports confidence in earnings and cash generation. Avient outlines 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.93 to $3.17 while targeting more than $200M free cash
• Neutral Sentiment: Management’s guidance for second-quarter EPS of $0.89 was slightly above the market estimate, indicating modest near-term upside but not a major surprise. A Look At Avient (AVNT) Valuation After Returning To Profit In The First Quarter
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors are also digesting commentary from the earnings call and transcript, but the main stock driver today is the better-than-expected quarter and maintained full-year outlook rather than any new negative development. Avient Corporation (AVNT) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

About Avient

Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT) is a global provider of specialized and sustainable polymer materials, delivering color, additive and engineered solutions to a wide range of industries. The company’s core offerings include masterbatches, colorant systems, compounds and resins designed to enhance performance, aesthetics and environmental sustainability. Avient serves markets such as packaging, automotive, consumer goods, healthcare, electronics, and agriculture, tailoring products to meet stringent regulatory and end-use requirements.

Formed through a corporate rebranding in 2020 following the divestiture of PolyOne’s specialty businesses, Avient traces its heritage to a legacy of polymer innovation spanning decades.