{
  "id": 5613216,
  "title": "Sasol (SSL) Chases A Decade Low In Debt",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/sasol-ssl-chases-a-decade-low-in-debt",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-03T08:49:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Finance",
    "slug": "yahoo-finance",
    "url": "https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/sasol-ssl-chases-decade-low-084958048.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sasol Limited (NYSE: SSL) reported fiscal 2026 results on September 1, showcasing a turnaround with net debt falling to its lowest level in ten years. Secunda output reached a five-year high at 7.26 million tonnes, driven by improved coal quality and gas availability following the installation of a destoning plant. Adjusted EBITDA increased 17% year over year to ZAR 61 billion. The company plans to reduce external coal purchases from 8.8 million tonnes to between 5 million and 7 million tonnes in fiscal 2027 as its own production climbs toward 34 million tonnes by 2028. Net debt decreased by 11% to $3.3 billion, while available liquidity rose by 21% to approximately $5 billion. Free cash flow grew 26% to ZAR 11.9 billion, excluding a one-time legal settlement. International Chemicals, previously a drag on the portfolio, reported $604 million in adjusted EBITDA due to a 7% cut in fixed costs and stronger fourth-quarter market conditions. The retail fuel market share climbed to 13% from 9% over the past five years, and renewable capacity expanded to 500 megawatts, targeting 2 gigawatts by 2030. Despite these positive developments, Sasol faces challenges, including two employee fatalities, currency fluctuations, weaker long-term polyethylene pricing, and impairments on the Secunda liquid fuels refinery and South African polyethylene unit. The company's capital spending guidance for fiscal 2027 is higher at ZAR 23 billion to ZAR 26 billion, and dividends remain on hold until net debt is sustainably below $3 billion. Sasol's hedge fund count decreased from 16 to 12, but short interest remains low at 1.12% of float. With a forward P/E of 7.81, the stock is trading at a significant discount to earnings, indicating a market waiting for proof of the turnaround. The company's operations and balance sheet are improving faster than chemical markets are recovering, suggesting that the bull case relies on ongoing growth in own coal production and International Chemicals' momentum. Conversely, a persistently strong rand and an oversupplied global chemicals market could cap margins, regardless of Sasol's internal efforts. While acknowledging the potential of SSL as an investment, the reporter believes other AI stocks offer greater upside potential and lower downside risk.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}