Chemicals - Specialty
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LYB vs OLN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Chemicals - Specialty
LYB vs OLN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $23.67B | $3.28B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $22.48B | $6.78B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-774M | $-43M |
| Gross Margin | -19.3% | 7.4% |
| Operating Margin | -0.9% | 0.2% |
| Forward P/E | 10.2x | — |
| Total Debt | $15.96B | $3.39B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3.45B | $168M |
LYB vs OLN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| LyondellBasell Indu… (LYB) | 100 | 115.2 | +15.2% |
| Olin Corporation (OLN) | 100 | 239.4 | +139.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LYB vs OLN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LYB is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.38, yield 7.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.38, current ratio 1.77x
- Beta 0.38, yield 7.5%, current ratio 1.77x
OLN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 3.7%, EPS growth -140.7%, 3Y rev CAGR -10.2%
- 67.4% 10Y total return vs LYB's 49.4%
- 3.7% revenue growth vs LYB's -25.2%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 3.7% revenue growth vs LYB's -25.2% | |
| Value | Better valuation composite | |
| Quality / Margins | -0.6% margin vs LYB's -3.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.38 vs OLN's 1.47, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 7.5% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs OLN's 2.8% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +44.6% vs LYB's +40.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -0.6% ROA vs LYB's -3.0%, ROIC 1.7% vs -1.1% |
LYB vs OLN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
LYB vs OLN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
OLN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LYB is the larger business by revenue, generating $22.5B annually — 3.3x OLN's $6.8B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -0.6% (OLN) to -3.4% (LYB). On growth, OLN holds the edge at -0.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $22.5B | $6.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $865M | $538M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$774M | -$43M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.1B | $248M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -19.3% | +7.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -0.9% | +0.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -3.4% | -0.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.6% | +3.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | -0.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | -9.2% |
Valuation Metrics
OLN leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, OLN's 10.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LYB's 34.0x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $23.7B | $3.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $36.2B | $6.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -31.27x | -77.84x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.19x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 34.04x | 10.24x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.79x | 0.48x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.32x | 1.71x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 61.65x | 13.23x |
Profitability & Efficiency
OLN leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
OLN delivers a -2.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-2 in annual profit, vs $-7 for LYB. LYB carries lower financial leverage with a 1.56x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to OLN's 1.76x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), OLN scores 5/9 vs LYB's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -7.2% | -2.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.0% | -0.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -1.1% | +1.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -1.1% | +1.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.56x | 1.76x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $12.5B | $3.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.4B | $168M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $16.0B | $3.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -1.42x | 0.62x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LYB leads this category, winning 4 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 $7,064 for OLN. Over the past 12 months, OLN leads with a +44.6% total return vs LYB's +40.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LYB at -1.1% vs OLN's -17.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +67.1% | +34.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +40.1% | +44.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -3.4% | -43.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -9.6% | -29.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.4% | +67.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -1.1% | -17.1% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LYB and OLN 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 OLN's 1.47 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. OLN currently trades 94.5% from its 52-week high vs LYB's 87.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.38x | 1.47x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $83.94 | $30.46 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $41.58 | $18.08 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +87.5% | +94.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.4 | 58.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8.1M | 2.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — LYB and OLN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LYB as "Hold" and OLN as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 0.2% upside for LYB (target: $74) vs -15.5% for OLN (target: $24). For income investors, LYB offers the higher dividend yield at 7.46% vs OLN's 2.78%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $73.60 | $24.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +7.5% | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $5.48 | $0.80 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.8% | +1.5% |
OLN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). LYB leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
LYB vs OLN: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LYB or OLN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Olin Corporation (OLN) is the stronger pick with 3.
7% 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 OLN?
Over the past 5 years, LyondellBasell Industries N.
V. (LYB) delivered a total return of -9. 6%, compared to -29. 4% for Olin Corporation (OLN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: OLN returned +67. 4% versus LYB's +49. 4%. 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 OLN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LyondellBasell Industries N.
V. (LYB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus Olin Corporation's 1. 47β — meaning OLN is approximately 287% more volatile than LYB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 156% versus 176% for Olin Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — LYB or OLN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Olin Corporation (OLN) is pulling ahead at 3.
7% versus -25. 2% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Olin Corporation grew EPS -140. 7% year-over-year, compared to -156. 6% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V.. Over a 3-year CAGR, OLN leads at -10. 2% 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 OLN?
Olin Corporation (OLN) is the more profitable company, earning -0.
6% net margin versus -2. 5% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. — meaning it keeps -0. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OLN leads at 1. 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 OLN more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LYB: 0.
2% to $73. 60.
07Which pays a better dividend — LYB or OLN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB) offers the highest yield at 7. 5%, versus 2. 8% for Olin Corporation (OLN).
08Is LYB or OLN 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%, OLN: +67. 4%), 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 OLN?
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.
In terms of investment character: LYB is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; OLN is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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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