Taiwan chemicals maker 材料-KY (Everest Materials) reported weaker second-quarter profit and its stock fell sharply, bad news for shareholders.

• Quarterly profit dropped 35% from the prior quarter, and sales were down more than a quarter from a year earlier.
• The stock fell over 6% at the open on the earnings news, with heavy trading volume.
• The company blames the conflict abroad and shifting supply and demand, with customers delaying deliveries and working down stockpiles.
• Foreign investors have actually been buying the stock this month, even as local funds trimmed their holdings.
• Management is pushing into new products like smart glasses and pouched tobacco to revive growth.

Outlook: The company expects demand to pick up in the second half as customer stockpiles clear, but the stock likely stays under pressure until profit margins recover.