Short Interest in LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) Expands By 18.4%

LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,080,000 shares, a growth of 18.4% from the November 30th total of 4,290,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,580,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days. Currently, 2.0% of the company’s stock are sold short.

LyondellBasell Industries Price Performance

Shares of NYSE LYB opened at $74.27 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.13, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $80.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $90.29. LyondellBasell Industries has a 1-year low of $72.93 and a 1-year high of $107.02. The firm has a market cap of $24.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.05.

LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 1st. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.98 by ($0.10). The firm had revenue of $10.33 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.60 billion. LyondellBasell Industries had a net margin of 5.29% and a return on equity of 17.05%. The company’s revenue was down 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.46 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that LyondellBasell Industries will post 7.02 earnings per share for the current year.

LyondellBasell Industries Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd were paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.22%. LyondellBasell Industries’s dividend payout ratio is 81.58%.

Insider Buying and Selling at LyondellBasell Industries

In other LyondellBasell Industries news, Director Robin W.T. Buchanan bought 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 13th. The shares were bought at an average price of $76.06 per share, for a total transaction of $380,300.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 18,175 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,382,390.50. The trade was a 37.95 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.11% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On LyondellBasell Industries

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LYB. Rockland Trust Co. grew its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 0.9% in the third quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 13,070 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $1,253,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Petredis Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in LyondellBasell Industries by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Petredis Investment Advisors LLC now owns 23,100 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $2,215,000 after buying an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its holdings in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 25.5% in the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 601 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $58,000 after buying an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators boosted its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 3.4% in the second quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 4,055 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $388,000 after acquiring an additional 132 shares during the period. Finally, Fiduciary Group LLC boosted its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 6.5% in the second quarter. Fiduciary Group LLC now owns 2,204 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $211,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 71.20% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on LYB shares. Barclays lowered their price objective on LyondellBasell Industries from $99.00 to $95.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $96.00 to $86.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 12th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of LyondellBasell Industries from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 24th. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $117.00 to $112.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $100.00 to $90.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $96.27.

About LyondellBasell Industries

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. operates as a chemical company in the United States, Germany, Mexico, Italy, Poland, France, Japan, China, the Netherlands, and internationally. The company operates in six segments: Olefins and PolyolefinsAmericas; Olefins and PolyolefinsEurope, Asia, International; Intermediates and Derivatives; Advanced Polymer Solutions; Refining; and Technology.