LYB
LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$23.67B
5Y Perf.+15.2%
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Stock Comparison
LYB vs DOW
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
DOW
Dow Inc.
Chemicals
Market Cap$27.71B
5Y Perf.-0.3%
LYB vs DOW — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | LYB | DOW |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals |
| Market Cap | $23.67B | $27.71B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $22.48B | $39.33B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-774M | $-2.76B |
| Gross Margin | -19.3% | 6.2% |
| Operating Margin | -0.9% | -2.3% |
| Forward P/E | 10.2x | 13.0x |
| Total Debt | $15.96B | $19.60B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3.45B | $3.82B |
LYB vs DOW — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
LYB
DOW
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| LyondellBasell Indu… (LYB) | 100 | 115.2 | +15.2% |
| Dow Inc. (DOW) | 100 | 99.7 | -0.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LYB vs DOW
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LYB leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Dow Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
LYB
LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
The Income Pick
LYB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.38, yield 7.5%
- 49.4% 10Y total return vs DOW's 14.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.38, current ratio 1.77x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
DOW
Dow Inc.
The Growth Play
DOW is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth -7.0%, EPS growth -335.0%, 3Y rev CAGR -11.1%
- -7.0% revenue growth vs LYB's -25.2%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | DOW | -7.0% revenue growth vs LYB's -25.2% |
| Value | LYB | Lower P/E (10.2x vs 13.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | LYB | -3.4% margin vs DOW's -7.0% |
| Stability / Safety | LYB | Beta 0.38 vs DOW's 0.76 |
| Dividends | LYB | 7.5% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs DOW's 5.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | LYB | +40.1% vs DOW's +39.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LYB | -3.0% ROA vs DOW's -4.6%, ROIC -1.1% vs 0.6% |
LYB vs DOW — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
LYB vs DOW — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLYBLAGGINGDOW
DOWDow Inc.
1leads
LYBLyondellBasell Indust…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs DOWMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
DOW3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LYB5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LYB6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
LYB2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — LYB and DOW each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DOW is the larger business by revenue, generating $39.3B annually — 1.7x LYB's $22.5B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -3.4% (LYB) to -7.0% (DOW). On growth, DOW holds the edge at -6.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | LYBLyondellBasell In… | DOWDow Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $22.5B | $39.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $865M | $1.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$774M | -$2.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.1B | -$2.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -19.3% | +6.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -0.9% | -2.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -3.4% | -7.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.6% | -5.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | -6.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | -68.2% |
Evenly matched — LYB and DOW each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
DOW leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, DOW's 14.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LYB's 34.0x.
| Metric | LYBLyondellBasell In… | DOWDow Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $23.7B | $27.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $36.2B | $43.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -31.27x | -10.43x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.19x | 13.02x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 34.04x | 14.06x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.79x | 0.69x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.32x | 1.56x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 61.65x | — |
DOW leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LYB leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LYB delivers a -7.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-7 in annual profit, vs $-15 for DOW. DOW carries lower financial leverage with a 1.12x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LYB's 1.56x.
| Metric | LYBLyondellBasell In… | DOWDow Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -7.2% | -15.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.0% | -4.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -1.1% | +0.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -1.1% | +0.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.56x | 1.12x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $12.5B | $15.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.4B | $3.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $16.0B | $19.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -1.42x | -1.51x |
LYB leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LYB leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LYB five years ago would be worth $9,035 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,452 for DOW. Over the past 12 months, LYB leads with a +40.1% total return vs DOW's +39.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LYB at -1.1% vs DOW's -5.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LYBLyondellBasell In… | DOWDow Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +67.1% | +60.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +40.1% | +39.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -3.4% | -15.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -9.6% | -25.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.4% | +14.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -1.1% | -5.4% |
LYB leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LYB and DOW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LYB is the less volatile stock with a 0.38 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than DOW's 0.76 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | LYBLyondellBasell In… | DOWDow Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.38x | 0.76x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $83.94 | $42.74 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $41.58 | $20.40 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +87.5% | +90.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.4 | 59.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8.1M | 14.3M |
Evenly matched — LYB and DOW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
LYB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LYB as "Hold" and DOW as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 2.7% upside for DOW (target: $40) vs 0.2% for LYB (target: $74). For income investors, LYB offers the higher dividend yield at 7.46% vs DOW's 5.44%.
| Metric | LYBLyondellBasell In… | DOWDow Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $73.60 | $39.55 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +7.5% | +5.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $5.48 | $2.09 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.8% | 0.0% |
LYB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
LYB leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). DOW leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallLyondellBasell Industries N… (LYB)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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LYB vs DOW: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LYB or DOW a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Dow Inc.
(DOW) is the stronger pick with -7. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -25. 2% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB). Analysts rate LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB) a "Hold" — based on 39 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — LYB or DOW?
Over the past 5 years, LyondellBasell Industries N.
V. (LYB) delivered a total return of -9. 6%, compared to -25. 5% for Dow Inc. (DOW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LYB returned +49. 4% 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.
03Which is safer — LYB or DOW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LyondellBasell Industries N.
V. (LYB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus Dow Inc. 's 0. 76β — meaning DOW is approximately 98% more volatile than LYB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Dow Inc. (DOW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 112% versus 156% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — LYB or DOW?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Dow Inc.
(DOW) is pulling ahead at -7. 0% versus -25. 2% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LyondellBasell Industries N. V. grew EPS -156. 6% year-over-year, compared to -335. 0% for Dow Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, DOW leads at -11. 1% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — LYB or DOW?
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 — LYB leads at 9. 0%, 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.
06Is LYB or DOW more undervalued right now?
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.
07Which pays a better dividend — LYB or DOW?
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).
08Is LYB or DOW better for a retirement portfolio?
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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LYB: +49. 4%, DOW: +14. 6%), 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.
09What are the main differences between LYB and DOW?
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.
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