Westlake Chemical Corporation · Houston, TX United States ·(NYSE: WLK)

Money matters, and vertically integrated Westlake Chemical turns matter into money. The company produces petrochemicals and plastics such as PVC. Its petrochemicals include ethylene, ethyl benzene, and styrene, which are building blocks in plastics. Its plastics offerings include PVC and polyethylene, both of which are common in packaging products and grocery bags. Westlake also produces the chlorine used in PVC, as well as caustic soda. Other Westlake operations produce PVC products such as pipe (North American Pipe), fencing (Westech Fence), and windows. The Chao Group -- which has various investments, including Titan Group, a Malaysian plastics maker -- owns 70% of Westlake. To read the full description, subscribe now.