DOW vs LYB vs HUN

For growth investors, Huntsman Corporation (HUN) is the stronger pick with -5.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -25. 2% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB). Analysts rate Dow Inc. (DOW) a "Hold" — based on 35 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, LyondellBasell Industries N.

V. (LYB) delivered a total return of -9. 6%, compared to -37. 9% for Huntsman Corporation (HUN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HUN returned +50. 8% versus DOW's +14. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LyondellBasell Industries N.

V. (LYB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus Huntsman Corporation's 1. 73β — meaning HUN is approximately 355% more volatile than LYB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Huntsman Corporation (HUN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 92% versus 156% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Huntsman Corporation (HUN) is pulling ahead at -5.

8% versus -25. 2% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Huntsman Corporation grew EPS -44. 5% year-over-year, compared to -335. 0% for Dow Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HUN leads at -10. 9% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

LyondellBasell Industries N.

V. (LYB) is the more profitable company, earning -2. 5% net margin versus -6. 6% for Dow Inc. — meaning it keeps -2. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DOW leads at 0. 7% versus -1. 1% for LYB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HUN leads at 13. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, LyondellBasell Industries N.

V. (LYB) trades at 10. 2x forward P/E versus 13. 0x for Dow Inc. — 2. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DOW: 2. 7% to $39. 55.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB) offers the highest yield at 7. 5%, versus 5. 4% for Dow Inc. (DOW).

For long-horizon retirement investors, LyondellBasell Industries N.

V. (LYB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 38), 7. 5% yield). Huntsman Corporation (HUN) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LYB: +49. 4%, HUN: +50. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.