LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) Issues Earnings Results

by · The Markets Daily

LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB – Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Friday. The specialty chemicals company reported ($0.26) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.18 by ($0.44), Briefing.com reports. LyondellBasell Industries had a negative net margin of 3.70% and a positive return on equity of 7.50%. The business had revenue of $7.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.75 EPS. The business’s revenue was down 9.2% on a year-over-year basis.

Here are the key takeaways from LyondellBasell Industries’ conference call:

  • Historic safety performance: 2025 was the safest year in company history with a record low total recordable incident rate, achieved despite extensive maintenance and turnaround activity.
  • Strong cash execution and higher targets: LYB generated $2.3 billion of cash from operations with a 95% cash conversion, exceeded its Cash Improvement Plan to save $800 million, and is targeting an additional $500 million in 2026 plus $1.5 billion of recurring annual EBITDA from the Value Enhancement Program by 2028.
  • Deep, prolonged industry downturn: Industry margins were ~45% below historical averages in 2025 with polyolefins at decade-low margins, pressured by weak durable-goods demand, global capacity additions, trade disruptions and high European energy costs.
  • Portfolio and growth actions: Progressing the divestment of four European assets on track for completion in Q2 2026, advancing MoReTec‑1 (on track for 2027 startup), and prioritizing low-/no-cost efficiency projects while realigning other growth timing.
  • Conservative 2026 financial posture: 2026 CapEx is guided to ~$1.2 billion (≈$800M sustaining / $400M growth), year-end liquidity was $3.4 billion cash and $8.1 billion available, and the company returned $2 billion to shareholders in 2025 while the board continues to review dividend policy.

LyondellBasell Industries Stock Down 6.0%

Shares of NYSE:LYB traded down $2.98 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $46.97. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 9,284,364 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,049,217. LyondellBasell Industries has a 12-month low of $41.58 and a 12-month high of $79.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.12 billion, a P/E ratio of -12.52 and a beta of 0.70. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $46.41 and a 200-day moving average of $49.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00.

LyondellBasell Industries Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were given a $1.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.7%. LyondellBasell Industries’s dividend payout ratio is currently -146.13%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on LYB shares. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $50.00 to $46.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of LyondellBasell Industries in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of LyondellBasell Industries from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 22nd. Zacks Research upgraded LyondellBasell Industries from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Finally, Wolfe Research decreased their target price on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $40.00 to $39.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Hold rating and five have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, LyondellBasell Industries has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $52.42.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on LyondellBasell Industries

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other LyondellBasell Industries news, EVP Kimberly A. Foley acquired 5,661 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $43.56 per share, for a total transaction of $246,593.16. Following the completion of the acquisition, the executive vice president owned 67,688 shares in the company, valued at $2,948,489.28. This trade represents a 9.13% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of LyondellBasell Industries

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in LYB. Woodline Partners LP boosted its holdings in LyondellBasell Industries by 40.4% in the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 21,899 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $1,542,000 after acquiring an additional 6,297 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth boosted its stake in LyondellBasell Industries by 35.4% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 6,866 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $483,000 after purchasing an additional 1,796 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its position in LyondellBasell Industries by 69.5% during the 2nd quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 29,488 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $1,706,000 after purchasing an additional 12,087 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC increased its stake in LyondellBasell Industries by 13.9% during the 2nd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 49,348 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $2,855,000 after purchasing an additional 6,032 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 9.9% during the second quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 41,416 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $2,397,000 after acquiring an additional 3,715 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.20% of the company’s stock.

LyondellBasell Industries Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE: LYB) is a global chemical company headquartered in Houston, Texas, that specializes in the production of polyolefins and advanced polymers. Through its extensive portfolio, the company supplies raw materials for a wide range of end markets, including packaging, automotive, construction, electronics and consumer goods. By combining proprietary process technologies with expertise in catalysts, LyondellBasell aims to deliver value-added solutions that enhance product performance and sustainability.

The company’s integrated operations encompass the manufacture of olefins and polyolefins, advanced polymer products, chemical intermediates and refining activities.

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