LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
LYBBusiness Overview
ticker: LYB step: 01 generated: 2026-05-13 source: quick-research
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) — Business Overview
Business Description
LyondellBasell is one of the world's largest plastics, chemicals, and refining companies, with operations in 100+ countries. The company is the global leader in polyolefin technology — producing polyethylene and polypropylene that go into packaging, automotive components, pipes, and consumer goods. In Q1 2025, LYB closed its Houston Refinery (a strategic exit from refining), sharpening focus on chemicals and circular economy initiatives. The company is navigating a prolonged polyolefin downturn driven by global overcapacity from Chinese capacity additions. FY2024 revenue was $40.3B.
Revenue Model
Revenue comes from manufacturing and selling commodity chemicals and polymers at market-based prices. Primary segments: (1) Olefins & Polyolefins Americas/EAI (~53% of revenue) — ethylene, polyethylene (HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE), propylene, polypropylene; (2) Intermediates & Derivatives (I&D) (~25%) — propylene oxide (PO), oxyfuels (MTBE), acetyls; PO/TBA capacity expanded with new plant start-up in 2024; (3) Advanced Polymer Solutions (APS) (~7%) — engineered plastics, compounding; (4) Circular & Low Carbon Solutions (CLCS) — recycled/bio-based feedstocks growing 65% in 2024. Margins are highly cyclical, driven by the spread between feedstock (naphtha/ethane) cost and polymer selling prices.
Products & Services
- Polyethylene (PE): HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE for packaging, pipes, films (largest volume product)
- Polypropylene (PP): For automotive, consumer goods, packaging
- Propylene Oxide (PO): For polyurethane foams, surfactants (auto/construction/bedding)
- Oxyfuels (MTBE/ETBE): Gasoline blending components; high-margin cyclical product
- Advanced Polymers: Engineered plastics for automotive and industrial (Catalloy, Softell)
- Circular Solutions: Mechanical/advanced recycling; bio-based feedstocks (CLCS segment)
Customer Base & Go-to-Market
Sells to polymer converters, automotive OEMs, packaging companies, construction materials firms, and chemical intermediary manufacturers globally. No significant customer concentration — commodity market-based pricing. U.S. operations benefit from cheap ethane feedstock (natural gas liquids) vs. European naphtha-based competitors, providing a structural cost advantage in polyethylene.
Competitive Position
LYB is the global #3 polyolefin producer by capacity (behind Dow and ExxonMobil Chemical), with leading market positions in polypropylene technology licensing (Spheripol, Spherizone) and PO production. The U.S. ethane cost advantage has historically provided 5-10 cents/pound margin advantage over European competitors. The strategic shift to circular/low-carbon solutions (recycled plastics, advanced recycling) is designed to capture ESG premiums and defend against plastic regulation risk.
Key Facts
- Founded: 2007 (merger of Lyondell Chemical and Basell Polyolefins)
- Headquarters: Houston, Texas / Rotterdam, Netherlands (incorporated in Netherlands)
- Employees: ~19,000
- Exchange: NYSE
- Sector / Industry: Materials / Specialty Chemicals / Commodity Chemicals
- Market Cap: ~$20–25B
Financial Snapshot
ticker: LYB step: 04 generated: 2026-05-13 source: quick-research
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) — Financial Snapshot
Income Statement Summary
| Metric | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | ~$50.5B | $41.1B | $40.3B | -2.0% |
| Gross Margin | ~12% | ~9% | ~9% | |
| Operating Margin | ~9% | ~6% | ~5% | |
| Net Income | ~$3.9B | ~$2.1B | ~$1.4B | -33% |
| EPS (diluted) | $11.81 | $6.46 | $4.15 | -35.8% |
FY2022 reflects peak petrochemical cycle margins. FY2023-2024 reflect prolonged industry downturn: global polyolefin overcapacity (driven by Chinese capacity additions) compresses margins; European energy costs add further pressure. FY2025 revenue dropped sharply to $30.15B (-25%) partly due to Houston Refinery closure (Q1 2025) removing ~$10B of lower-margin refining revenue. FY2025 adjusted EPS: ~$1.70 — near-trough.
Cash Flow & Balance Sheet (FY2024)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating Cash Flow (FY2024) | $3.8B |
| Capital Expenditures (FY2024) | ~$1.8B |
| Free Cash Flow (FY2024) | ~$2.0B |
| Cash Returned to Shareholders (FY2024) | $1.9B (dividends + buybacks) |
| Cash & Equivalents | $3.4B |
| Available Liquidity | $8.0B |
| Annual Dividend | ~$5.36/share (~11% yield at current price) |
| 2026 CapEx Guidance | $1.2B (cut from $1.9B in 2025) |
Key Ratios (approximate)
- P/E: ~28x (FY2025 trough adj. EPS $1.70) → ~12x on normalized EPS of ~$8-10
- EV/EBITDA: ~6–7x (trough) | FCF Yield: ~8–10% (FY2024 basis)
- Revenue decline (FY2024): -2% | Dividend yield: ~11% (at risk if cycle doesn't recover)
- Cash improvements achieved (2025): $800M (vs $600M target); cumulative target raised to $1.3B by 2026
- 2026 CapEx cut: $1.2B from $1.9B (significant FCF improvement)
Growth Profile
LYB is a deeply cyclical chemicals business at or near a cycle trough. Revenue and earnings have declined sharply from FY2022 peaks as the polyolefin cycle turned from boom to prolonged bust. The refinery exit (Q1 2025) removes ~$10B of low-margin revenue but improves the overall margin profile. Near-term recovery depends on polyethylene price increases (tight inventories, winter supply disruptions supportive) and eventual Chinese overcapacity digestion. Long-term, the CLCS circular economy segment is the strategic differentiator.
Forward Estimates
- FY2026: Recovery from $1.70 adj. EPS trough; Wells Fargo targets $87/share (>50% upside)
- Cumulative cash improvement: $1.3B by year-end 2026
- Polyethylene price environment: Tightening inventories and supply disruptions supportive heading into 2026
- Analyst consensus: Predominantly Hold (13 of 19); price target ~$64.18; some bulls targeting $87
Deeper Financial Analysis
The fundamental tier adds 9 additional research dimensions for $LYB.