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RYAM vs LYB
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Chemicals - Specialty
RYAM vs LYB — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $662M | $23.67B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.43B | $22.48B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-469M | $-774M |
| Gross Margin | 6.1% | -19.3% |
| Operating Margin | -0.2% | -0.9% |
| Forward P/E | — | 10.2x |
| Total Debt | $779M | $15.96B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $75M | $3.45B |
RYAM vs LYB — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rayonier Advanced M… (RYAM) | 100 | 452.5 | +352.5% |
| LyondellBasell Indu… (LYB) | 100 | 115.2 | +15.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RYAM vs LYB
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
RYAM is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth -10.1%, EPS growth -9.7%, 3Y rev CAGR -5.1%
- -10.1% revenue growth vs LYB's -25.2%
- +132.7% vs LYB's +40.1%
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 RYAM's -25.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.38, current ratio 1.77x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -10.1% revenue growth vs LYB's -25.2% | |
| Quality / Margins | -3.4% margin vs RYAM's -32.8% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.38 vs RYAM's 2.13, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 7.5% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +132.7% vs LYB's +40.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -3.0% ROA vs RYAM's -26.9%, ROIC -1.1% vs 0.6% |
RYAM vs LYB — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
RYAM vs LYB — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — RYAM and LYB each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LYB is the larger business by revenue, generating $22.5B annually — 15.7x RYAM's $1.4B. LYB is the more profitable business, keeping -3.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to RYAM's -32.8%. On growth, RYAM holds the edge at -10.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.4B | $22.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $62M | $865M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$469M | -$774M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$62M | $3.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +6.1% | -19.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -0.2% | -0.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -32.8% | -3.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -4.3% | +13.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -10.4% | -100.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -149.0% | -100.0% |
Valuation Metrics
RYAM leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, RYAM's 9.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LYB's 34.0x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $662M | $23.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.4B | $36.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.56x | -31.27x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 10.19x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.55x | 34.04x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.45x | 0.79x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.00x | 2.32x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 61.65x |
Profitability & Efficiency
RYAM 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 $-147 for RYAM. LYB carries lower financial leverage with a 1.56x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to RYAM's 2.38x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -147.1% | -7.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -26.9% | -3.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +0.6% | -1.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.6% | -1.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.38x | 1.56x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $704M | $12.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $75M | $3.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $779M | $16.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.91x | -1.42x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
RYAM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in RYAM five years ago would be worth $13,812 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,035 for LYB. Over the past 12 months, RYAM leads with a +132.7% total return vs LYB's +40.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RYAM at 21.0% vs LYB's -1.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +67.6% | +67.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +132.7% | +40.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +77.3% | -3.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +38.1% | -9.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -25.5% | +49.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +21.0% | -1.1% |
Risk & Volatility
LYB leads this category, winning 2 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 RYAM's 2.13 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LYB currently trades 87.5% from its 52-week high vs RYAM's 82.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.13x | 0.38x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.85 | $83.94 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.35 | $41.58 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +82.9% | +87.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.9 | 60.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.2M | 8.1M |
Analyst Outlook
LYB leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RYAM as "Hold" and LYB as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 0.2% upside for LYB (target: $74) vs -8.4% for RYAM (target: $9). LYB is the only dividend payer here at 7.46% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $9.00 | $73.60 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 39 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +7.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $5.48 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.5% | +0.8% |
RYAM leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). LYB leads in 2 (Risk & Volatility, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
RYAM vs LYB: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RYAM or LYB a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.
(RYAM) is the stronger pick with -10. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -25. 2% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB). Analysts rate Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (RYAM) a "Hold" — based on 9 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 — RYAM or LYB?
Over the past 5 years, Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.
(RYAM) delivered a total return of +38. 1%, compared to -9. 6% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LYB returned +49. 4% versus RYAM's -25. 5%. 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 — RYAM or LYB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LyondellBasell Industries N.
V. (LYB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. 's 2. 13β — meaning RYAM is approximately 457% 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 2% for Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — RYAM or LYB?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.
(RYAM) is pulling ahead at -10. 1% 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 -966. 1% for Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RYAM leads at -5. 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 — RYAM or LYB?
LyondellBasell Industries N.
V. (LYB) is the more profitable company, earning -2. 5% net margin versus -28. 6% for Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. — meaning it keeps -2. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RYAM leads at 0. 6% 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 RYAM or LYB more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LYB: 0.
2% to $73. 60.
07Which pays a better dividend — RYAM or LYB?
In this comparison, LYB (7.
5% yield) pays a dividend. RYAM does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is RYAM or LYB 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). Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (RYAM) carries a higher beta of 2. 13 — 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%, RYAM: -25. 5%), 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 RYAM and LYB?
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: RYAM is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LYB is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. LYB pays a dividend while RYAM does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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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