According to CNBC, JPMorgan added Celanese to its focus list, kept an overweight rating on the chemicals and specialty materials company, and raised its price target to $76 from $68, implying 76% upside from Wednesday's close. Analyst Jeffery Zekauskas said Celanese's acetyl chain earnings could rise meaningfully in 2026 on price inflation in acetic acid derivatives such as VAM and VAE, as well as in acetic acid itself, and described the stock as "unloved." He also said engineered materials volume, excluding the Micromax divestiture, is likely to improve year over year on easier comparisons and stronger demand from medical and electronics end markets. Celanese shares have fallen about 10% in 2026. The company reported better-than-expected second-quarter results on Wednesday, but investors remained focused on its financial leverage and high net debt-to-EBITDA ratio. Zekauskas said Celanese has characteristics that fit long-term investment strategies and noted that automotive customer sales now account for less than half of engineered materials revenue, while electronics sales rose 11% year over year in the second quarter and medical sales climbed 19%.