LYB LyondellBasell Industries NV

LyondellBasell Industries is one of the world's largest plastics, chemicals, and refining companies, producing polyolefins, polypropylene compounds, and advanced recycling solutions. Sector: Materials.

LyondellBasell Industries NV (LYB) is an individual stock. The analysis below presents key financial metrics for the company, covering profitability, capital efficiency, valuation, margins, and growth.

On a capital return basis, ROIC is 3.67%, WACC is 5.23%, and the economic spread is -1.56%. On balance, returns on capital are currently insufficient to clear the funding cost hurdle, which historically correlates with pressure on long-term value creation. Supporting metrics show ROE at -6.73% and ROA at -0.23%, a combination that helps frame whether profitability strength is broad enough to hold through different market conditions. Taken together, the return profile suggests a company that likely needs operating improvement before returns quality can be considered durable.

From a pricing standpoint, the company sits at trailing P/E of 19.42, forward P/E of 19.04, PEG of 0.38. The narrow spread between trailing and forward multiples implies earnings expectations are relatively stable — the company is not being priced for an earnings inflection. Growth-adjusted valuation is compelling at this PEG level — the multiple appears reasonable given the expected earnings trajectory. A current ratio of 1.77 suggests the the company have sufficient short-term liquidity without excess. In total, the multiple and liquidity readings describe a company where valuation is a secondary risk relative to earnings delivery — the numbers are defensible if estimates hold.

Stripping to unit economics, gross margin sits at 8.76%, operating margin at 2.94%, and free cash flow margin at 1.27%. Gross margins are thin, indicating limited pricing power or high direct costs relative to revenues. At this operating margin level, businesses are generating little to no earnings after overhead — a sign of early-stage or high-investment dynamics. At this FCF margin level, cash generation after capital expenditures is limited — businesses may require external financing to sustain growth. Read as a whole, the margin picture suggests a business with strengths in parts but no clear margin dominance end-to-end.

Revenue trends and analyst expectations together suggest: TTM revenue growth of -9.71% signaling contraction in aggregate revenues across the company, while the estimated 12-month price change of -14.90%, where consensus targets point to downside risk over the next 12 months. At 2.0%, projected EPS growth is present and positive — not a standout catalyst, but a stabilizing element in the overall forward picture. There is always distance between what is reported and what is priced; the question of whether that distance is closing or widening is what makes the setup interesting. In either direction, the fundamental driver of returns will be whether the company can sustain the trajectory that is already being priced. The estimated 12-month price change is based on analyst consensus price target estimates, sourced from publicly available data, and should not be interpreted as a reliable prediction of future performance.

Given the mix of signals across the metrics reviewed, investors should approach with care — the forward case carries meaningful execution and valuation risk.

This summary is based on publicly available quantitative data and is not intended as investment advice. Carefully consider your personal financial circumstances before making any decisions.