LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB), headquartered in Houston, Texas, operates as a chemical company. Valued at $26 billion by market cap, the company manufactures plastic, chemical, and fuel products. It offers products for the manufacturing of personal care products, fresh food packaging, lightweight plastics, construction materials, automotive, and more. The global leader in developing and supplying materials is expected to announce its fiscal first-quarter earnings for 2026 in the near term.
Ahead of the event, analysts expect LYB to report a profit of $0.29 per share on a diluted basis, down 12.1% from $0.33 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company missed the consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters while surpassing the forecast on another occasion.
For the full year, analysts expect LYB to report EPS of $3.58, up 110.6% from $1.70 in fiscal 2025. Its EPS is expected to rise 17% year over year to $4.19 in fiscal 2027.
LYB stock has underperformed the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 16.7% gains over the past 52 weeks, with shares up 9.5% during this period. Similarly, it underperformed the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF’s (XLB) 16.9% returns over the same time frame.
LYB's underperformance is driven by market oversupply, pressuring prices, with margins 45% below historical averages. In addition, higher feedstock costs, maintenance expenses, and weak demand also weighed on its profitability.
Analysts’ consensus opinion on LYB stock is cautious, with a “Hold” rating overall. Out of 20 analysts covering the stock, four advise a “Strong Buy” rating, two suggest a “Moderate Buy,” 12 give a “Hold,” and two recommend a “Strong Sell.” While LYB currently trades above its mean price target of $65.47, the Street-high price target of $87 suggests an upside potential of 13.4%.
On the date of publication, Neha Panjwani did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
More news from Barchart
- The Market Is Split on Palantir Stock. Should You Buy or Avoid Now?
- The 4 Questions Investors Should Ask Before Buying Any ETF
- ‘For Every Assassination, an American Tech Company Will Be Destroyed’: What Does That Mean for Tesla Stock?
- Nvidia Is Losing Ground in China: How to Play the Sales Slump in NVDA Stock Here
