LYB Stock: Insider Activity, Filings & Research

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) — Drillr’s hub for LYB insider activity, SEC filings, earnings signals and AI research. Over the trailing 3 months, LYB insiders filed 0 open-market buys and 7 sales (SEC Form 4).

Sentiment

0/100

Buys (3m)

Sells (3m)

Net (3m)

-$27.0M

Insider trades by month Buys Sells

May

Jun

Aug

Nov

Mar

May

Context3-month price +8.7%Institutions mixed (13F)

Date	Insider	Type	Shares	Price
May 26, 2026	Karlin Bridget Edirector	Grant	2,321	—
May 26, 2026	KAMSKY VIRGINIA Adirector	Grant	2,321	—
May 26, 2026	Buchanan Robin W.T.director	Grant	2,321	—
May 26, 2026	Griffin Rita Edirector	Tax	639	$69.72
May 26, 2026	Manifold Albert Judedirector	Tax	689	$69.72
May 26, 2026	Buchanan Robin W.T.director	Tax	1,247	$69.72
May 26, 2026	Dudley Robert W.director	Tax	708	$69.72
May 26, 2026	Manifold Albert Judedirector	Grant	2,321	—
May 26, 2026	Hanley Michael Seandirector	Grant	2,321	—
May 26, 2026	AIGRAIN JACQUESdirector	Grant	4,437	—
May 26, 2026	Benet Lincoln Edirector	Tax	1,410	$69.72
May 26, 2026	Griffin Rita Edirector	Grant	2,321	—
May 26, 2026	AIGRAIN JACQUESdirector	Tax	575	$69.72
May 26, 2026	CHASE ANTHONY Rdirector	Grant	2,321	—
May 26, 2026	Benet Lincoln Edirector	Grant	2,321	—

Source: LYB SEC Form 4 filings, latest May 26, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.

Overview

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) is a multinational chemical company founded in 2009 and headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company was formed through the merger of Lyondell Chemical Company and Basell Polyolefins, creating one of the world's largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies. LyondellBasell went public in 2010 and has since established itself as a major player in the global petrochemicals industry, operating manufacturing facilities across the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Business

LyondellBasell operates in the petrochemicals and plastics manufacturing industry, producing essential building blocks for countless everyday products. The company transforms crude oil and natural gas into polymers and chemicals that become everything from food packaging and automotive parts to medical devices and construction materials. The company operates through six main business segments: 1. **Olefins and Polyolefins Americas** (~40% of revenue): This segment produces olefins (ethylene and propylene) and polyolefins (polyethylene and polypropylene) in North America. Olefins are basic chemical building blocks created by "cracking" petroleum or natural gas, while polyolefins are plastics made by linking these molecules together. Polyethylene is used in shopping bags, milk jugs, and pipes, while polypropylene is found in yogurt containers, carpets, and automotive parts. 2. **Olefins and Polyolefins Europe, Asia, International** (~25% of revenue): Similar operations to the Americas segment but serving European, Asian, and other international markets, though currently operating at reduced capacity due to challenging market conditions. 3. **Intermediates and Derivatives** (~20% of revenue): Produces propylene oxide (used in foam insulation and automotive seats), styrene (for disposable cups and insulation), and acetyls (for paints and adhesives). These are specialty chemicals that serve as ingredients for other manufacturers. 4. **Advanced Polymer Solutions** (~5% of revenue): Creates engineered plastics and compounds for specialized applications, particularly in automotive and electronics industries, including materials that are lighter, stronger, or have specific properties like flame resistance. 5. **Refining** (~5% of revenue, being exited): Converts crude oil into gasoline and other fuels, though the company is shutting down this business by 2025 to focus on higher-margin chemical operations. 6. **Technology** (~5% of revenue): Licenses chemical production technologies and sells catalysts (substances that speed up chemical reactions) to other manufacturers worldwide.

Revenue model

LyondellBasell generates revenue primarily through product sales of chemicals and plastics to industrial customers. The company sells its products to manufacturers who use them as raw materials in their own production processes. Key customer industries include packaging, automotive, construction, electronics, and consumer goods companies. The business model is heavily influenced by several factors that can significantly impact margins: **Margin-enhancing factors** include periods when crude oil and natural gas feedstock costs are low relative to product prices, strong demand from end-use industries, limited new capacity additions by competitors, and successful operational efficiency improvements. The company's integrated model - where it produces both the basic chemicals (olefins) and converts them into higher-value products (polyolefins) - provides some protection against margin compression. **Margin-pressuring factors** include volatile feedstock costs (crude oil and natural gas prices), overcapacity in global markets leading to price competition, weak demand from key end markets like automotive and construction, trade policy disruptions affecting export markets, and planned or unplanned production downtime. The cyclical nature of the petrochemicals industry means margins can swing dramatically based on supply-demand dynamics. The company has been implementing a Value Enhancement Program targeting $1 billion in recurring annual EBITDA improvements through operational efficiency gains, cost reduction, and portfolio optimization. Additionally, LyondellBasell is developing a Circular and Low-Carbon Solutions business focused on chemical recycling and renewable feedstocks, which commands premium pricing and is expected to contribute $1 billion in EBITDA by 2030.

Competitive moat

LyondellBasell's competitive moat is moderate and primarily stems from its scale advantages and integrated operations. The company benefits from significant economies of scale in a capital-intensive industry where large, efficient facilities provide meaningful cost advantages. Its integrated model - producing both basic olefins and converting them into higher-value polyolefins - provides some protection against margin volatility and supply chain disruptions. The company's global footprint and established customer relationships create switching costs, as industrial customers prefer reliable, long-term suppliers for critical raw materials. LyondellBasell's technology licensing business also provides a recurring revenue stream with higher margins, though this represents a small portion of total revenue. However, the moat faces significant challenges. The petrochemicals industry is highly commoditized with limited product differentiation, making companies vulnerable to price competition and cyclical downturns. New capacity additions, particularly from low-cost producers in the Middle East and Asia, can quickly erode pricing power. The company's European operations are particularly vulnerable to high energy costs and competition from regions with cheaper feedstocks. **Potential disruption** comes from several sources: increased regulatory pressure on plastic production due to environmental concerns, potential shifts toward alternative materials, trade policy changes affecting global supply chains, and the long-term transition toward circular economy models. While LyondellBasell is investing in recycling technologies, these initiatives are still in early stages and face technical and economic challenges. The company's decision to exit refining and focus on chemicals represents an attempt to strengthen its competitive position, but success will depend on execution and market conditions.

Risks & safety

**Overall Assessment**: Moderate financial safety with adequate liquidity but elevated cyclical risk. **Debt and Solvency**: - Debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, indicating moderate leverage - Current ratio of 1.83 provides adequate short-term liquidity - $3.4 billion in cash and short-term investments as of Q1 2025 - Strong cash generation capability ($3.8 billion from operations in 2024) **Valuation Metrics**: - P/E ratio of 32.6 (Q1 2025) reflects cyclical earnings trough - EV/EBITDA of 17.2 appears elevated due to temporarily depressed EBITDA - Price-to-book ratio of 1.87 suggests reasonable asset valuation **Other Considerations**: - Negative free cash flow of -$1.1 billion in Q1 2025 due to working capital timing - Cyclical industry creates earnings volatility and unpredictable cash flows - Company maintains disciplined capital allocation with consistent dividend payments - $500 million cash improvement plan launched to address current challenges

Recent development

Over the past few years, LyondellBasell has undergone significant strategic transformation focused on portfolio optimization and sustainability initiatives. The company launched a comprehensive Value Enhancement Program targeting $1 billion in recurring annual EBITDA improvements through operational efficiency gains, cost reduction, and asset optimization. A major strategic pivot involved the decision to exit the refining business by Q1 2025, shutting down the Houston refinery to focus resources on higher-margin chemical operations. The company is exploring converting the refinery site into a hub for circular and low-carbon solutions, including advanced recycling technologies. LyondellBasell has made substantial investments in Circular and Low-Carbon Solutions (CLCS), establishing this as a separate business unit with ambitious targets of $500 million incremental EBITDA by 2027 and $1 billion by 2030. Key developments include constructing the MoReTec-1 advanced recycling facility in Germany, acquiring full ownership of APK recycling technology, and expanding circular plastics volumes by 65% in 2024 to over 200,000 tons. The company has been actively reshaping its geographic footprint, conducting a strategic review of European assets due to challenging market conditions and high energy costs. This includes potential asset sales or capacity rationalization to improve competitiveness. Conversely, the company acquired a 35% stake in the NATPET joint venture in Saudi Arabia, expanding its presence in cost-advantaged Middle Eastern markets. Recent operational improvements include implementing a $500 million cash improvement plan in 2025, focusing on working capital reduction, fixed cost savings, and capital expenditure optimization. The company has also been investing in digital technologies and operational excellence initiatives to enhance efficiency across its global manufacturing network.

LYB company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.

Track LYB with Drillr

SEC filings, earnings calls, insider activity, alt-data signals — all queryable through Drillr's AI terminal and MCP API.

Try Drillr for free